Sports and Mothers

Parents have a significant influence on their child's decision to participate in sport and physical activity. Growing up in a family where the parents have a sport and physical activity background, children tend to socialize into organized sport and physical activity faster than their peers whose parents were not historically physically active. While some parental influence is based on the assumption that sport and physical activity has certain lifelong health and fitness benefits, parents also encourage their children to participate in sport and physical activity to make new friends, learn new skills, and increase confidence.

Mothers are a powerful influence on their child's physical activity patterns throughout their adolescent years. Directly and indirectly, mothers send messages to their child about what sports and physical activities are ...