Presbyterian | Your Story | Centennial Care | Winter 2021

8 Encourage them to try different sports. It’s good for kids to try different things. And variety helps keep them from getting bored or injured. Put safety first. For starters, make sure kids: ● Use the right helmets, pads, guards, and other gear ● Warm up and stretch ● Take breaks during practices and games and time off each week from sports ● Drink plenty of fluids ● Know that they should tell you and the coach if they’re hurt Sources: American Academy of Pediatrics; Safe KIDS Worldwide game rules for sports parents Staying active and gaining confidence are just a couple of the ways that kids win when they choose to play sports. But having fun is the best part. So, if your child is a young athlete, keep these positive parenting tips in mind: Be their No. 1 fan. Whenever you can, go to your child’s practices and games. Seeing you there shows you care. Focus less on winning. What matters is trying, having fun and being a good sport. Say positive things to your child and to other teams, referees, and coaches. Watch for warning signs. Some kids may diet, exercise to the extreme, or take unsafe substances because they feel pressured to perform. Or they can just get burned out on the game. If you suspect your child isn’t having fun or training safely, start a conversation. And remember: You can ask their provider for help too. 3 2 1 5 5 4 Your care. Your choice. Having a choice in your healthcare is important to you and to Presbyterian Health Plan. That is why we have worked to add convenient facilities to our network throughout the state. Finding a more convenient location for things like labs, diagnostic screenings, and X-rays, just to mention a few, just got a little easier. Just visit www.phs.org/yourcareyourchoice to find care options and provider-specific info for common services you might need.