From the Desk of Mr David Smith - Senior Deputy Headmaster: College

An article, by Jeff Wicks, which appeared in the Sunday Times on 12 March is one all parents should have read. It was titled the following: “Pushy parents ‘a danger’ to the kids”
What follows is a synopsis of the main points in the article:
Pressure-driven depression is very real amongst teenagers. According to Sports Science Institute psychologist Clinton Gahwiler, a key driver in depression is “identity foreclosure”, when performance becomes everything. This happens when a teenager settles on an identity prematurely, without exposing themselves to other avenues which might also have shaped their personality, values and outlook. Teenagers are pushed too early to specialise in one sport, or when parents, coaches or schools overemphasise the meaning of sporting achievements like being selected for the first team. When self-worth was threatened by injury or failure, the child falls victim to depression.

Many teenagers are taught to believe their value and worth is based on how well they performed on the sports field or in the classroom. When Kagiso Rabada failed to make the junior Gauteng cricket team, his parents took him to dinner to celebrate making the trials -  an attitude and approach all parents should copy. Teenagers must play to enjoy the game and parents must support their kids no matter what team they represent. The worst possible scenario is pushing teenagers to play a sport to fulfil what parents could not achieve in their youth.
Certainly much to consider from this article. Have a wonderful weekend