Why it's Important to Watch the Olympics
Posted
by
WinterKids
on Wednesday, August 3, 2016
Every two years I count down the days until the Olympic Games begin. Whether it be the winter or summer, I absolutely LOVE the Olympics. Each opening ceremony is full of excitement and anticipation while you observe the host countries representation of their history, people and culture. The opening ceremonies are a glimpse into how the rest of the games will be presented. It’s the country's chance to show the whole world that they deserve to be host, and that the next two and a half weeks will be magical. Every closing ceremony is packed with celebrations leaving you with anticipation for the next Olympics in two years. Not every child is into sports, which is completely OK because the Olympics can teach so many life lessons beyond sports skills.
 The amount of hard work, passion and dedication each Olympian commits should be a lesson for all of us. And I’m not saying everyone should become an Olympian, and if you don’t then you’ve failed. Instead, I’m saying a child should find a passion, or even many, and work to make that passion a strong presence in their lives.  It’s important to have ways for kids to express themselves and have healthy activities to direct their energy towards. And it’s important for parents to encourage this and support whatever path or paths a child chooses to take. Whether it is learning a difficult song on the trumpet, mastering a new recipe in the kitchen or taking on a blue run on the slopes, we should celebrate and promote when children show interests in activities. Watching the athletes at the Olympics and hearing their stories can help inspire our younger generation to get out there and conquer. Perhaps you and your family can choose a few athletes to highlight and learn their story.
 The Olympics represent global unity. Often the news is filled with terrible things happening around the world and inundated with hateful situations. The Olympics provides an escape from all that. For two weeks you and your children can watch uplifting, positive stories. It is news that can improve a child’s opinion on the world. Each athlete seems to truly support each other and celebrate in each other’s victories and help pick one another up after defeat. This is particularly true with the opening and closing ceremonies. The ceremonies provide a place free of competition. Everyone is celebrating their journey and sharing in their happiness together. I particularly like during the closing ceremonies when the camera pans to the athletes. You can see all the athletes co-mingled as they’ve built new friendships despite the outcomes of their chosen events or the country they represent. The Olympics provide an important message of unity that all children should see.
And what about the culture!? Having the Olympics hosted in different countries each time is exciting. The opening and closing ceremonies always provide a peek into what is special about that country. The ceremonies exhibit local wardrobe, music, language and history. Throughout the whole Olympics, news agencies often share pieces that highlight the country. Learning about different places than our own can help expand our minds. Challenge your kids to examine and reflect on the differences between the host country and your own. Perhaps you can have each member of the family learn a new fact and share it at dinner. Even further, have a family cook night where each person chooses a cuisine from the region to make. Even if the food doesn’t turn out to perfection (maybe have the local pizza place on speed dial, just in case) it can provide a fun interactive activity for the whole family.
The 2016 Olympic Games in Rio De Janeiro is the perfect time to come together as a family and celebrate. Learn about a new sport, discover a new bucket list location or simply enjoy a break from everyday life but remember that it all means more than just some people competing for medals. Kick it all off this Friday, August 5th with the opening ceremonies. I know I’ll be watching!
What event are you and your family looking forward to most? Let us know in the comments below!
Categories:
Family Fun
Tagged: 2016 Olympics, Athletes, Brazil, Bucketlist, Culture, Olympians, Rio, Role Models
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