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Sporting Themes


© Heather Goldsmith

Aug 18, 2001


The spirit of excitement, the crowd roar, the sweaty players, the goals scored. This all adds up to a physical game of chasing the ball or reaching the limit in some kind of sport. And kids love it. They love it all. Not every kid is going to go wild over books. Plenty never really catch the sense of excitement involved in reading. If they'd rather kick a ball than read a story, why not seek out books on this theme? Sport has immersed itself into every aspect of our lives and there are now some excellent titles covering a wide range of popular sports. There is immediate interest if you chose books about the sports in which they already participate.

Because they already understand the game, even if this is only at a beginner level, kids will appreciate the struggles and triumphs of the characters in the story. They'll enjoy the insider view of the game as it's played out in the tale. Just having the game described, in detail, as the players make their moves, etc, will liven their imagination. They already know what these actions look like, as they act them out each time they play. As your kids read about the characters in action, their personal playing skills will improve.

Non-fiction titles cover all aspects of rules of play, improving player performance and even history of the game. Books with big coloured photographs giving step-by-step instruction are popular with kids less inclined to read a dry, boring paragraph describing what to do. But if they're interest is sparked enough, you might be surprised what they will read. If your child has played their sport for several years, they'll appreciate any books on how to improve their game. Discovering how and where the sport originated might also interest them. A great way to introduce them to a bit of history is by locating books on the history of their favourite sport or sporting personalities.

Reading about their favourite sports personalities will show them the determination it takes to succeed. They will also catch a sense of excitement and a vision for what they want to achieve in life. This may be about their game or any other aspect of their lives. Winning personalities are inspirational to all of us. Of course, your kids will pick up tips from these expert players and improve their skills, too. A sense of comradeship is encouraged and this can keep flagging spirits bolstered during off-season times or while the kids are feeling ill or recovering from a sports related injury.

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Here's the follow-up discussion on this article: View all related messages
2.   Sep 22, 2001 5:06 AM
In response to message posted by BeckySAHM:

Hi Becky,
Great, hope the titles are enjoyed at home. ;-) ...

-- posted by bwheather
1.   Sep 20, 2001 6:34 AM
Yes, kids (and grownups) should get to read about what they love doing. My husband is a basketball coach and he only reads the sports page in the newspaper:) I still have "Winning Basketball for Girls ...

-- posted by BeckySAHM



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