by James Lynne

Created on: March 19, 2009   Last Updated: March 22, 2009

In explaining to a child why an athlete might take performance enhancing drugs to obtain a competetive edge, it is important to do so in a manner that safeguards children from the temptation to copy them without unduly judging the athlete the child admires. Performance enhancing drugs is an ugly part of the sports world. Children are copycats by nature and they easily form attachments to athletes who society views as heroes. It is important to teach children the difference between making a bad choice and being a bad person.

Talking to children about values is an excellent way to lead into a discussion about how even athletes can value the wrong things. For younger children, reading books to them about values is an excellent discussion starter. The children's book, "King Midas and the Golden Touch," is an excellent story for starting such a discussion with younger children. Older children benefit from straight talk about positive and negative ways to achieve the things they want in life.

Parents must help children understand there is a difference between "the person" and "what the person does." Athletes, like movie stars, are often inappropriately referred to as heroes in the media. It is difficult for children to understand this difference without assistance. Just because a person is famous does not make him a hero anymore than just because he might exercise bad judgment makes him a bad person. This is an important part of discussion between parent and child, but parents must be cautious. Children are easily disillusioned when their heroes fall.

The only difference between athletes and non-athletes is their level of athletic skill. Athletes are people, prone to the same human shortcomings as others. Just because a young person is a skilled athlete does not make him immune to bad decision making. Parents need to help their children understand this. Athletes perform a skill. That does not make them into heroes. Parents help their children appreciate the contributions of all people by discussing the difference between how a person acts, his character, and what skills he demonstrates on the sporting field.

The parent who creates balance by focusing on the social contributions of firefighters, police officers, teachers and others who offer unselfish contributions to society, rather than maintaining a single focus on athletics, helps his child to understand the difference between fame and service. An undue emphasis on athletics and athletic competition becomes a seedbed

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