"The bottom line for children is to make it fun and competitive," says McDuff. He adds that it is important to pick out the positives of play for all those who participate. He also recommends changing sports through the year for a young child so that the child is fresh when the next season comes round. "Even if a child has an exceptional talent in one sport, I think it helps long-term to compete in another where the talent is not as high." This suggestion is consistent with recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics, which says diversification will lead to more consistent athletic performance and fewer injuries.

Finding the Right Sport for Your Child

Most young children, regardless of their sex, enjoy games—both boys and girls love to play baseball, rollerblade, and turn cartwheels. While a child who is seen to be talented may be encouraged to pursue a specific sport, it is important to remember that children involved in an intensive training program for one sport may be at greater risk of injury than those involved in more than one pursuit.

It is also important to ensure that your child is engaged in a sport that is age-appropriate. Joe Churley, MD, professor of pediatrics, adolescent and sports medicine at Houston's Baylor College of Medicine, says that before the age of five the closest kids come to sports is throwing, catching, running, jumping, and swimming—basically "sports" is letting them do what they like to do in a safe, supervised environment.

He also says that between ages six and nine, children have better visual and motor skills and that their attention span is also improved. "They can do sports that are a little more complex, like baseball and—maybe even football and basketball." He also advises parents that the emphasis has to be on building skills rather than competing.

Dr. Churley goes on to say that although growth spurts at ages ten through twelve can cause problems, children at these ages can follow instructions, track objects more easily and put together complex sports like hockey, basketball, soccer, and football.

The Mental Game

Brekon Jones, a Sport Psychology Trainer and Performance Coach in Sydney,Australia, says that "combining mental and physical skills training gives the young athlete the maximum opportunity to achieve peak performance."

"I recommend the use of positive self-talk and positive affirmations," agrees Dr. McDuff. "I try to help individuals or teams develop specific phrases that if repeated, will reinforce the desired action. For example, I did some work for a gymnastics club recently and in meeting with the coaches we agreed that it was vital for young gymnasts to learn to keep their core muscles tight. Through discussions they decided to use the term 'beam tight.' Beam tight was then shortened to 'BT' which also meant belly tight or butt tight (two core muscle groups). To make practice more fun (another important strategy for children) they introduced 'BT' checks and competitions."

Dr. McDuff adds that for individuals, finding a light and positive phrase that fits within the rhythm of the sport, one that is positive and can be repeated, is important. One young runner he is working with has decided on "run light" and "lift up." Visualizations are usually added to these affirmations for teens, and Dr. McDuff has found that with younger female athletes, if you want a positive outcome you should comment on it with enthusiasm and sincerity and this will often trigger a positive momentum.

Your child's developing character traits will also determine to what extent she develops as an athlete, as her character helps shape her day-to-day behavior and serves as the basis for her actions–both on and off the playing field. The experts all agree that the main factor influencing your child's character through organized sports involvement is that she enjoy playing the game, win or lose.