Young athletes today often feel that they are invincible. Parents know this is not the case. Teaching your child proper nutrition, training and having them understand the dangers that come with sports is very important. Here are a few tips to pass down to your little star athlete.

Nutrition

Teaching your child to stay healthy starts with a healthy diet. Eating a proper well-balanced meal will give your child energy to perform at their best. Make sure they are drinking enough water (about five 8 oz. glasses a day), milk, and avoid high sugar-loaded drinks such as soda. Replace sugary and salty snacks with fruit and vegetables.

Warm Up

It is vital to understand the importance of warming up before any physical activity. Before practice or a game, a simple jog for a few minutes increases blood flow to the muscle; helps reduce muscle soreness and the risk of injury. After warming up, a full body stretch improves muscle control, flexibility and range of motion. These exercises will help them perform at their highest ability.

Preparation

There are many forms of preparation for today’s athlete. One that is essential is making sure they get enough sleep. It is recommended that they need 8 hours of sleep at night. If your child isn’t getting enough sleep, it can cause them to be sluggish and their performance and interest in the sport may decrease.

Playing a sport is a fun valuable learning experience for your kids. At McKolosky Chiropractic, we want them to enjoy themselves, be knowledgeable and safe during the season too. Good luck kids!