Importance of Parental Support

Geck Family - One of the best examples of parental
support in karate and its benefits.

We all want the best for our kids, and deep inside, we know the importance of support and guidance that we as parents must provide. There are lot of talk about why we should support, and the importance of it, but hardly any on HOW to support a child in their endeavor.

Supporting an activity, is more than showing up and paying for it. It is more than a pat on a back, and a toy award, for an achievement. Support has many dimensions that must be adhered to, sometimes in spite of the wants of the participant. Allow me to elaborate.

As a parent, we want the best for our child. I like to change that phrase so that in actually benefits the child more. WE SHOULD WANT THE BEST RESULT, for our child. This small twist changes the dynamics of support.

When we show up to watch our child perform, receive and award, pass an exam, or achieve any little step in their progress, we have done the STANDARD amount of support. The bare minimum. Indeed, if we can not even give that, we shouldn't expect much from our children either.

To surpass the standard and go beyond, we must take further steps. We should get involved and be committed. Read about the activity, educate ourselves, research it, even do it ourselves as well. Whether it is Karate, dance, gymnastics, or other such activities, get involved. Find out more about the teacher, are there classes where both of you can do it together, ask if you can act as an assistant, ask for books or articles to read. Get involved.

Another part of support is to know the complete purpose of it. In engineering, there is structural supports. Obviously, they are there to circumvent wrong types of movement, or to guide the structure in the correct direction. As in any structural support, once you can see the benefits of an activity for your child (beyond their schoolwork that is), then you must support it completely.

This sometimes means standing firm, when your child wants to quit one activity, for sake of another, or just quit. This is when your structural support must kick in. To support them, you must redirect the pressure, and re-motivate them, so that they continue with the activity.

Talk to your coach/sensei/sifu or instructor. Find out what the challenge is, and help to resolve it. If an activity is beneficial to their growth as an individual, then don't just throw your hands up and give-up. Ask for help, and find out how they can be redirected to benefit from the activity.

Remember that support is more than just cheering. Sometimes, it is standing firm, when they are wavering.