The gym teacher selects captains to head up two teams. Then, one by one, either the captains or the teacher chooses which students to play on the individual teams. And one by one, the number keeps dwindling until you are the last one standing. As a teacher, coach or parent, working with children can be both challenging and fulfilling. Rather than making children feel left out or unworthy, try to build their self-esteem and confidence.
Sports can help.
Encourage kids to do their best and make athletics a positive experience. Dream Big, a program developed by the Big Ten Conference to help shape a young girl's future through her involvement in sports, recommends the following tips for working with children to build self-esteem and make all kids feel like they belong in sports. Practice active listening to indicate to the children that you are hearing them. It's important to repeat key messages back to them so all is understood and clear. Give players lots of eye contact and smiles.