I have to admit that I wasn't much of a sports fan before GreenGuy (my son) took an interest in football and baseball, but some of my favorite movies revolve around sports. One of my favorite movies is Remember the Titans, starring the one and only Denzel Washington. I could watch this movie over and over again for so many reasons. It really is a must-see movie, and one that is appropriate for children who are at least 8 or 9 years old (use your discretion).
There are so many benefits to playing, coaching, or even just watching, team sports. They really teach you a lot about real life, no matter how old you are. Even if you don't like to play, though, it is also fun to read about sports and watch others playing them. And just think about how much can be learned by collecting and analyzing sports cards!
I realize that I've already recommended many great baseball books (see links at the end of this post), but I have two more, as well as some great games and toys to really bring them to life. Fathers can connect with their children on so many levels with sports.
For dads and their 4 to 6 year olds:
Introduce the game of baseball and practice counting to 20 with The Baseball Counting Book, by Barbara Barbieri McGrath. I love two things about this book: it can serve as a great starting point for discussions of the many rules of baseball (depending upon the level of interest of your child), and it shows girls, boys, and many different races of children, playing together. What a great way to start your child off learning about the basics of this popular sport.
For dads and their 6 to 10 year olds:
Read the inspirational story of a girl who had a passion for baseball, and learn some history along the way, with Deborah Hopkinson's picture book, Girl Wonder: A Baseball Story in Nine Innings. It will remind us all how important it is to do what it is that we love most, and how with passion and determination, we can all live out our dreams.
For dads with older children:
Please refer to some of my prior posts below.
Related Games and Toys for Dads to Share with Their Children:
When my son was between the ages of 8 and 10, he loved to play MLB Showdown with his friends. It's a great card game that you can play with baseball cards. They're no longer making new cards, but it's fun to trade cards or look for your favorite players on Ebay.
Even though he's outgrown the game now, he still enjoys collecting baseball and football cards with my husband. It's a great way for children to learn a variety of important skills. Sorting and organizing them is one lesson, statistics and probability is another, and the value of money (prices of cards fluctuate) is yet another. The best part is that they do not realize that they are learning!
Here are some other great products I recently came across that dads might enjoy playing with their children:
Baseball Guys, by Kaskey Kids, come in two different colors, and can be used to recreate a game situation. The company has other award winning sports figures as well. The only product they offer specifically for girls, though, is Soccer Girls. Please note that this company is re-launching its web site in about two weeks, although I find the current one to be very informative!
Another award-winning product dads might enjoy playing with their children is Front Porch Classics Circa Baseball. It's a wooden pinball machine, and is recommended for ages 8 and up.
A great game, also for ages 8 and up, is Baseball Theme TiViTz "TiVi" Mental Math Strategy Game. Hey, why not work on math skills why you're at it? It's another opportunity for children to learn through play.
Lastly, why not do a puzzle together? This 1000 piece baseball puzzle, by White Mountain Puzzles, will provide dads with hours of fun with their children.
So this Father's Day, why not encourage dads (and grandfathers, too) to combine a read aloud with a real game of baseball, or a "hands-on" activity? It'll be quality time spent together, and it may just get dads to continue reading aloud to their children in the future.
You can find some other great baseball books for fans of all ages at these previous posts:
- Great Baseball Books for Young Fans, Part 1
- Favorite Chapter Books for Young Athletes
- A Truly Unforgettable Sports Fiction Series
- Great Baseball Books for Middle School and High School Fans
- Great Books for Young Baseball Fans, Part 2
Would you like to share any of your favorite sport-related books, movies, toys, or games? Feel free to add to this list, or to comment on any of the above suggestions.
