10 Reasons to Tune into the Olympics with Little Ones

Olympics

I remember watching the Olympics when I was younger. I fell in love with women’s gymnastics as a little girl and will never forget watching Mary Lou Retton bring home the gold in the 1984 Summer Olympics. I was just 8 years old, but I’ve been watching the competition ever since.

A few years later, my brother and I cheered for one of our hometown athletes, Nicole Haislett, who was a three-time Olympic gold winner swimming competition in the 200-meter freestyle and team relay. It was so exciting to see someone we went to school with competing on the global stage. After all, St. Petersburg, Florida doesn’t get the limelight too often.

Every year it seems a few favorites steal the show – as they should. Michael Phelps made swimming exciting again as the most decorated Olympian in history. Gabby Douglas and the “Fierce Five” were incredibly inspiring, and Usain Bolt is the fastest person ever timed on the track. Who will it be this year?

Fast forward to 2016 and I find it just as exciting to watch the Olympics opening ceremony as an adult and with my 5-year old son for the following 10 reasons:

1. Tuning into the Olympics is a great excuse to gather the family around the TV with some snacks and a few family-friendly wagers. Kids will be showered with patriotism and will be humming along to the “The Star Spangled Banner” each time an American wins, but also learning to show respect for other countries and seeing how others stand and listen quietly as other national anthems are played. It is never too early to learn to show respect and understanding for other countries’ customs and traditions.

2. I love the pageantry of the opening ceremonies. The 79 competing countries is a great geography lesson. Pull out a map of the globe and point out to your kids where and how far the country is from the U.S.

3. To see the excitement in the athletes’ eyes is heart-warming, and the coordination it must take to pull off an event of this magnitude is truly amazing. There is nothing else like it in the world.

4. Enough bad news has been plastered on our TVs for weeks. This is one place you can count on seeing smiles, happy tears and no headlines that make you leap for the remote control before your little one hears the gory details.

5. If you or your child(ren) don’t like a particular sport, no worries. There are dozens of other sports to choose from and cheer for. You may find a new favorite this year like sevens rugby, kitesurfing or golf. Chances are your kids have been to THE PLAYERS Championship in our own backyard and will know a few of the elite competing for gold.

6. I think the Olympics teach a strong lesson about the importance of teamwork. It’s never too early to learn about that.

7. Getting to the Olympics is no easy feat. No one is born an athlete … it takes tons of practice to perfect a sport and even then you still need practice to stay competitive. The power of practice shines through over the course of the next few weeks and is great for kids and the littlest of athletes to understand.

8. The back stories relayed to viewers at home – especially of the underdogs – makes it even more rewarding to watch. Sometimes it’s disappointing, but the message of perseverance is loud and clear.

9. Who doesn’t love the medal ceremony? What an honor and a privilege to represent your country that is proudly cheering for you back home – and to take home a bronze, silver or gold medal is beyond a dream for any athlete. Kids can get out some paper and markers and make medals to wear.

10. In the end, winning isn’t everything. Most athletes who go to the Olympics do not win a medal or even expect to win. They are there for the love of their sport, love of their country, and the chance to do their best. In today’s trophy-loving culture, messages like this are often lost on children. I know my son keeps asking when he will get a trophy for playing summer flag football, and it reminded me of this last point. I will make sure to point out that not everyone gets a medal, and that’s ok. It’s an honor and privilege to be selected to even be in Rio, and that’s what’s most important.

Best of luck to everyone competing, and go USA!

Kerry Schicker
Boy mom. Household CEO. Corporate leader. Outdoor lover. Social seeker. Sun worshipper. Curious traveler. Champagne enthusiast. These words describe me, Kerry Schicker, and contributor for Jacksonville Mom. I first approached founders Vicky and Megan after a heartbreaking miscarriage a few years ago. I had a very unpleasant experience with my OB at the time and I needed to get it off my chest so I wrote an anonymous blog that resonated with some of our readers. I have since written dozens of blogs mostly about motherhood. I have a passion for writing. My 20-year career has grown through some form of writing including TV news reporting and producing, magazine publishing, public relations, advertising, marketing, blogging and my current day job doing HR and employee communications for a Fortune 300 FinTech company. I am thankful that Jacksonville has such a supportive community for moms like me, and I can't imagine raising my two boys anywhere else.

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