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Sports: A Time for Learning and Fun

By Keith McCormick, Director of Cultural Programs, Chicago Children's Museum

Long before my work at the museum, I led an after-school program at a youth center on Chicagoís South Side. The kids would arrive ready for fun and relaxation, but learning always had to come first. The challenge: how to combine learning and kidsí natural interest in games and sports.

Basketball presented a ready solution to this quandary. Games of H-O-R-S-E became spelling lessons, as new words were substituted to track each playerís ability to replicate the othersí shooting feats. Scorekeeping became math lessons, and even science entered into the mix when we filled one basketball with air, another with water, and a third with helium to see how each would bounce. While the students hypothesized correctly that the water-filled ball would be too heavy to bounce, they were surprised when the ones filled with helium and air behaved in pretty much the same way. Everyone had fun while learning about scientific processes.

More important, perhaps, were the lessons they learned about getting along and working together. Sports teach teamwork, leadership, and fairness. Sports also provide a common ground. Mark Saalfeld, vice president of Community Connections at CCM, witnessed this first-hand when his eight-year-old son participated in a soccer team comprised predominantly of Latino players. By the end of the season, differences in culture and language were eclipsed by a shared enthusiasm for soccer and the success of their team.

While playing sports is an opportunity for learningónot to mention exerciseóis there value in simply watching sports? The onset of the football playoffs means that many parents will be spending weekends watching television coverage.

Here are some ways to turn this event into a playful learning experience for the whole family:

Keeping score: Sports offer ready-made math problems! For example, your team has three tries to move the ball ten yards. On the first try, your team runs the ball eight yards, and on the second, your quarterback gets sacked, for a loss of four yards. How many yards do you have to move the ball for a first down? (Feel free to use your fingers!)

The science of sports: A wicked curve ball, the rainbow arch of a three-point shot, and the perfectly thrown frozen-rope pass to the end zone are all great demonstrations that can bring physical concepts to life. How are these tricks actually accomplished? What makes a curve ball curve? Learning the cause and effect behind amazing athletic feats can open up the world of physicsóand spark a curiosity to learn more.

Location, location, location: Where is your team playing this week? Is the weather cold or warm? Take out a map and find the city. Why is it usually warm and sunny in Miami and San Diego and cold and windy in Green Bay and Buffalo? International sports competitions, like the World Cup, the Olympics, and the International Grand Prix, provide an occasion to learn about different countries, cultures, and climates.

History speaks: Sports represent history in the making, a perfect launching pad for discussing social evolution at large. Talk to your child about the Negro League, the accomplishments of players like Jackie Robinson, and the connection to the Civil Rights Movement. Point out that 1908, the year the Cubs last won the World Series, was also the first year that women were allowed to compete in the Olympic Games. You can also relate sport to events in your own familyís history: How did Grandpa respond when the White Sox won in 1959? Where were you when your home team won the championship?

Something to root for: Nothing draws a family together like a shared sports mania. Create your own colorful team logo, decorate a homemade sign, or paint your face to celebrate your team. Prepare special game-day snacks in team colors. Have fun getting ready for the event!

Sharing in sports as a family is a fun way to learn together and should never feel like work (for you or your children). Balance structured activities with pure enjoyment of the game, and soon you will have a cherished collection of family sports memories to share.

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