How Children Succeed

More Than Winning You may sometimes hear it said that “winning isn’t everything, it’s the ONLY thing!” This obviously isn’t true for youth sports and I dare to say that it isn’t accurate for pro sports either. I am writing this blog post from my cousin’s apartment in Harrisburg, PA as we prepare to make…

TEACHING KIDS OPTIMISM When you were a child, or even as an adult, you may have been told to “cheer up” or “look on the bright side.”  While this is undoubtedly good advice, did you ever think about how optimism affects you physically and emotionally?  Research has shown that optimists are healthier, live longer and…

Physically Active Preschoolers It may seem that preschoolers, with all their energy, need no help staying physically active.  Actually, the opposite is true.  If preschoolers are guided through planned physical activity, studies have shown that they will be healthier and happier. Preschoolers At Risk For Health Problems According to www.healthykids.org, today’s preschoolers are at risk…

THE EDUCATIONAL CHALLENGE Many children are living with chronic stress. Over time this stress damages the brain and makes it very difficult for children to learn. The Effects of Stress on The Brain: Sympathetic nervous system activates “flight or fight” response; Body increases heart rate; Adrenal gland releases Cortisol (see below); and Blood glucose is…

Psychologists believe that today’s children face more stress than past generations. This has a lot to do with children’s social support system and their environment. Many children aren’t raised surrounded by both parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins like they were in past generations. The high incidents of both parents working, high divorce rates, step…

What an awesome time for soccer in the US! Not only are we able to watch great World Cup match this summer, but Team USA is representing and playing well! I was honored to play alongside Clint Dempsey for two years when we were with the New England Revolution (of MLS). Although it was a…

The Entrepreneur Mindset While operating an expanding national franchise, I have had the opportunity to speak with many interested candidates. Throughout the qualification process I have noticed that a consistent factor between a Serious Candidate and a less serious candidate is their MINDSET. My goal of this letter is to shed some light on the…

[et_pb_section admin_label=”section”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”] Sports … When to begin? As an athlete, I certainly want my children to get “into” sports. Having 9 younger siblings and 3 young children of my own, I have had plenty of opportunity to observe and experiment. Coaching youngsters for over 15 years have…

Movin’ and Groovin’ We were born to move and yet we have stopped! Just a few generations ago, physical activity was an integral part of daily life and now, in the name of “progress,” physical INACTIVITY almost seems normal. This epidemic has recently come into focus within our culture and we need to continue to…

Teaching Kids Integrity My 2 year-old daughter climbed up on the bathroom counter and was playing in the Medicine Cabinet the other day. When my 4 year-old son saw this, he came down stairs right away to tell us. “Mom,” He said, “Gemma is doing something wrong upstairs.” We figured so much since she was…