Be The Best Sports Parent You Can Be: CTV Morning Live with Rosey Edeh and Janine Charron

Parenting in Sports: Be the Role Model Your Child Deserves to See
The power of parenting in sports lies in modeling the behaviors and values we want to instill in our children.
Too often, parents unintentionally ruin the joy of the game by placing unnecessary pressure on their children, constantly criticizing their performance, or focusing solely on outcomes.
Instead, the most impactful thing we can say is, “I love to watch you play!”
As parents or caregivers, our responsibility extends beyond cheering from the stands.
It’s about teaching a positive attitude, great work ethic, and sportsmanship-values that will make the journey through sports and life far more fulfilling.
How we treat referees, coaches, and other parents sends a powerful message to our children.
Complaining about ice time, blaming others, or gossiping undermines the community we hope to build.
Our children observe and model our behaviour, so it’s crucial that we show compassion, empathy, and respect, even in challenging moments.
Let’s choose to be the example we want our children to follow.
Support referees who make mistakes, acknowledge the effort coaches put into volunteering, and handle issues directly with kindness and solutions in mind.
By doing so, we create an environment where children can thrive, not just as athletes but as well-rounded individuals, learning the value of teamwork, resilience, and respect.
After all, the greatest reward is looking at our children and thinking, “I taught them that.”