I am a baseball Mom! My youngest son has been playing ball for nine years now. There nothing better than spending my weekends at the ball park watching my son interact with others, learn the game, sportsmanship, how to lose and so much more! This book is great for young ones about to take that step. It teaches them a bit about the game and to just get out and have fun! I highly recommend this book to anyone thinking about getting their child into t-ball! Author Kevin Christofora has provided us with a guest post below, outlining five tips that can help you survive that first season!
*Sponosred Guest Post provided by Kevin Christofora, link http://thehometownallstars.com/
Now that spring is upon us, many parents are preparing for their
first Little League or T-Ball season. At
first, it can be overwhelming, but, with a little planning and some veteran
advice, you can ensure that you and your child get the most fun out of the
season, with the fewest headaches. Many
parents of the T-ball-aged kids have the most to learn, but many routines are
very similar to other ages.
Here are five tips that can help you survive your first season:
(1)
Leave enough time to get dressed.
Make sure that you budget enough time for your
child to get dressed. Remember that they
will have new pants, long knee-high socks, a uniform shirt, and... where did
that hat go? It’s much easier to set everything out the night before, so
not only are you not searching the house for your child’s hat, you also don’t
discover that you forgot to throw their shirt in the dryer.
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve looked
all over the house only to discover that the shirt got mixed in the dresser
drawer with the regular shirts, that one of my children left their hat in the
car, or even searched everywhere to discover that they forgot to wear their hat
home from the last game.
Also, make sure to set out their cleats as
close to the door as possible. It’s
important to keep them somewhere that they will be easy to find, but not
somewhere that your child will track mud through your house.
(2) Teach your kids to be organized.
Get in the habit of using a small shoestring backpack for kids. Remember to pack a glove and a water bottle, and make sure that you write their name on both. Help your child get in the habit of gathering all of their things into their bag after practice.
This is good practice for later years, when they have more to carry. Coaches will help teach responsibility, reminding them that their parents are not responsible for their baseball stuff; they are responsible for themselves. Coaches are aiding and helping to support tat parent role by teaching respect and responsibility in addition to the sport.
(3)
Don’t forget sunscreen and bug spray.
Sunscreen and bug spray can help save you from
the woes that come with sunburn and bug bites. I am not a promoter of
the product, however, my favorite bug spray comes from my local hardware store:
Woodstock Hardware invented an all-natural bug spray, Bug Be Gone, that they
tested in the forests of Central America, and the physical test on human arms
out performed all commercial products. Guaranteed protection....and no
chemicals on you or your kids. In the day and age of the zinka virus, it
is important to get quality bug spray.
(4)
Remember to keep your kids fueled for
practice.
Keep in mind that older kids are going to have
a longer, harder practice, so they will need a larger water bottle than their
younger siblings. All routines need a food plan. Most
weekly baseball requires juggling the parent’s career, what time they get home
from work, and preparing to eat before or after the sports activity. I strongly suggest light, healthy, high-fuel
small foods. Keep the belly growling for more active and eager,
aggressive athletes. Full bellies only promote lazier results on the
field.
(5)
Have a game plan for homework and bedtime.
Plan the homework, and bathing routines to
work with bedtimes and rest assured, after a hard day running around the
fields, your child will be very cooperative at bedtime.
Good luck with your new endeavors, and don’t forget to enjoy the
games and the memories that your child is making!
Kevin Christofora
Christofora, a father and little league coach, hopes his book series, The Hometown All Stars, will inspire children to play outside more often. A devotee of America's pastime, he aims to teach young people about baseball and the habits of a healthy lifestyle in the form of a fun and educational bedtime story.
He has appeared on ESPN Radio, 660 News Radio, Santa Fe - KVSF 101.5, and WDST-FM Woodstock, and has had articles featured in About Families Online, KidzEdge, Mom Blog Society, and several other publications.
