X

Countywide promotion celebrate girls, women's love of sports set for Feb. 2

Posted 1/6/11

The St. Lawrence County Branch of the American Association of University Women (AAUW) says it has organized a countywide promotion of the 25th National Girls and Women in Sports Day, on Feb. 2 this …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

Log in

Countywide promotion celebrate girls, women's love of sports set for Feb. 2

Posted

The St. Lawrence County Branch of the American Association of University Women (AAUW) says it has organized a countywide promotion of the 25th National Girls and Women in Sports Day, on Feb. 2 this year, to help girls and women celebrate their love of sports.

With no immediate intervention, AAUW says, one in three American children born in 2000 will contract type II diabetes. One in six girls today is either obese or overweight.

AAUW suggests that there are simple steps parents can take to motivate a girl and keep her active. For example, AAUW suggests making physical activity a part of her daily routine. We live in a society where brushing one's teeth and taking a bath are considered necessities in our daily routine, and physical activity offers just as many benefits. Spontaneous 10-minute breaks with a girl, such as turning on the radio and dancing, can make a difference.

They also suggest leaving notes of encouragement in her lunchbox or tennis shoes. Offer to accompany a girl during her activity or invite her on a walk, or skating, or go for a cross-country ski.

Positive role models make a difference in everyone’s lives, and girls model their behavior and actions after the women in their lives. Women can take girls to local sporting events and read magazine articles about female athletes.

Let her make her own decisions, AAUW says. Girls are more likely to follow through on a commitment when they've made their own decisions. Parents can set a good example by demonstrating commitment. Set aside time daily with your daughter to focus on a physical activity.

If a girl does not play sports by the time she is 10 years old, there's less than a 10 percent chance she'll be playing when she's 25, AAUW says. So give your girl a basketball, glove, soccer ball or other sport gift to send her the message that you think she can play sports.

Take your daughters to a women's sports event to at the local high school, college. Introduce her to the excitement of women's sports. Help grow the fan base! There are a number of opportunities to get girls to a game during February.

And AAUW says be sure every girl in your family wears a sports shirt that illustrates her special activity on Feb. 2 to celebrate NGWSD.