Can your child work through their frustrations without you?

As a parent, have you ever wondered why some of the coaches don't allow parents to assist in the lessons their children take?

We live in a society where the parents are sometimes overprotecting their kids... If the child gets injured, or falls, or something doesn't go their way, they look for comfort and understanding in the arms of their parents.
We, as parents, want to help our children...

However, as a tennis coach (and parent), I have witnessed too many players misbehaving on the tennis court. Often, it is just a simple error that triggers the frustration or meltdown.
Consistently, the children tend to be more "dramatic" when parents are present; the parents' good intentions ultimately create future setbacks.
Sometimes it is easy to forget that the mistake (or problem) can actually teach our children a whole lot more in the long run. If they miss a shot or lose a point, they try to seek comfort and understanding from their parents by looking towards them. Or on occasion, pretending that they are sick or perhaps injured...
When their parents are not present, they learn to understand that when problems occur, the only way to deal with them is by handling these problems by themselves...!

So what is my point?

Parents... whether a tennis practice or a match, allow your children to make mistakes and errors... let them fall and learn how to get back up by themselves! Let them get frustrated and learn that being "down" is their chance to find solutions and overcome problems. Let your kids succeed on their own!

I promise --- the results are "sweeter" this way...


Cosmin Miholca