If you’re the parent of a teenager, motivation can feel like one of life’s great mysteries. Whether it’s schoolwork, sport, rehabilitation exercises, or even getting out of bed on time, many parents find themselves stuck between encouraging their child and feeling like they’re constantly nagging. One of the most helpful shifts we can make as […]
Motivation in Adolescents: Why “Ask, Don’t Tell” Really Matters Read More »
With more children taking part in sports like baseball, cricket, and tennis, we’re seeing a rise in elbow injuries among young athletes. While sport is fantastic for fitness and development, growing bodies are more vulnerable to certain types of overuse injuries — and if these aren’t recognised early, they can become more serious and take much
Little Leaguer’s Elbow: What Parents Need to Know Read More »
Is Your Child Getting Enough Sleep? Teenagers need more sleep than adults—ideally 8–10 hours per night. Yet most teens don’t get enough, and the consequences are wide-reaching. Research shows that those who sleep less than 7 hours are more likely to fall ill, suffer injuries, crave sugary foods due to hormonal imbalance, and underperform academically.
Why Sleep is the Ultimate Performance Enhancer for Growing Teens Read More »
The adolescent growth spurt is known as Peak Height Velocity (PHV). This typically happens around age 11 for girls and around age 13 for boys but children of the same age could be up to three years older or younger than their peers in terms of biological maturation.
Children of the same age are not at the same stage of growth and maturation Read More »
Adolescence is a window of opportunity for developing a smarter, faster brain in preparation for more advanced skills needed in adulthood. These incredible changes in the adolescent brain are often described as “neuroplasticity”. Neuro = brain and “plasticity” describes the adaptations that the brain makes in response to demands placed upon it. From emotional to
The Amazing Adolescent Brain Read More »
Young athletes often push themselves close to their capacity and frequently suffer a sports injury. It is important to know how best to apply first aid principles to limit any soft tissue damage and help the young athlete get safely back to sport. Over recent years the principles have changed from the R.I.C.E Protocol where it was
How do you treat a sports injury? Read More »
Can I take my child to the physio who helped me? When addressing sports injuries in children and young people, it is crucial to understand that children are not simply mini adults. Their growing bodies require a specialised approach in the assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of injuries. Children’s injuries are rarely covered at undergraduate level so many
Kids Are Not Mini Adults Read More »
The Long Win: The Search for a Better Way to Succeed Cath Bishop After a summer of sport including the Olympics and The European Cup amongst many other huge sporting events, I was stunned by the number of times the word “cost” was used when referring to the toll that sport places on athletes. It
Does your view of success influence your child’s long term success? Read More »
As a parent, ensuring that your child is engaged in physical activities is important for their overall health and well-being. However, it’s equally crucial to monitor how they cope with their activities to avoid injury or burnout. Here’s a guide to help you navigate your child’s sports and physical activity schedule, ensuring they remain healthy,
Managing Your Child’s Return to School and Sport: Striking the Right Balance Read More »
MTSS (medial tibial stress syndrome) or ‘shin splints’ is the name often given to exercise-induced pain in the shin bone (the tibia) most likely associated with repetitive stress to the muscles, tendons, and tissues that attach to the shin bone. They are prevalent within an adolescent population, particularly at certain times of the year. It’s
Let’s Talk About: Shin Splints Read More »
Do you know the most common cause of low back pain in junior cricketers? At the start of the cricket season, the increased opportunity to play in multiple games and training sessions may prove too tempting for junior cricketers. If children have not done sufficient pace bowling training before the season starts, this sudden increase
How much is it safe to bowl? Read More »
Injuries occur when the volume or intensity of activity exceeds the current capacity of the muscles and bones such as at the start of a new term or season. They do more than they have trained for. Alternatively, their capacity to exercise might be lower due to inadequate sleep, or nutrition or perhaps they have
How to boost a child’s capacity to do more sport Read More »