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Daddy Plays Best

Sharing Your Athletic Interests With Your Kids

By Jonathon Allen

Dr. Shepherd also emphasizes that parents seeking to get their child into a pastime or sport should try to make it fun for the kids. "Take the time to move at their pace. Parents should never force a child to do things they don't want to do, because it can create negative associations with the activity."

In addition to moving at the child's pace and, in some cases, having a non-parent coach teach them the basics, parents should make learning the sport as safe as possible.

"Always approach sports with an attitude of safety first," says Dr. Shepherd. "Kids need to feel safe in order to feel confident. This means the child and parent should both wear helmets when biking, or life vests when out on a body of water. Parents teaching water sports to their children should have CPR training. Also, it's important to remember that stretching and warm-up is doubly important for growing bodies in order to avoid injury."

No matter what the activity, experts agree that there are lifelong payoffs for both dads and kids who share a sport or pastime. Learning her father's favorite leisure activity -- surfing -- has certainly paid off for 20-year-old Julia Christian of Palos Verdes, Calif., who is now one of the hottest female surfers on the competitive Pro-Am circuit.

"My dad taught me to surf when I was about 8," says Christian. "He was very patient with me and he always made it fun. Now, surfing is my whole life. It pays the bills and allows me to travel to competitions all over the world with some of the coolest people I know. My favorite surfing partner is still my dad, though. I always love to paddle out with him. He even still teaches me a few things after all these years."

Want to see more?

• Do you love the water? Teach your child to after reading H2-(N)O? Is Your Baby Ready for the Backstroke?
• Do you love the water? Teach your child to after reading In the Swim of Things: Getting Your Preschooler to Embrace the Water
• Make sure you're not pushing your little athlete too hard in Too Much Encouragement: Why overzealous parenting could harm your child
• Don't take your child for a ride until you read Biking and Your Child's Safety