Sibling rivalry at the Olympics: See Kathy Feinstein's Today Show Interview
/
Competing for an Olympic medal is an enormous undertaking in any scenario ... but what if the competition includes your sibling? In fact, there are a surprising number of sibling pairs competing in the Olympics this summer, including six pairs from the U.S.
How to support siblings who compete
Kathy Feinstein, a licensed mental health counselor and certified sports performance consultant, has some specific suggestions for parents who are trying to support children at a variety of skill levels.
"It's so easy to fall into the trap of giving the child that is excelling in a sport a lot of attention, while the other kid gets left behind," she tells TODAY.com
First, she says, avoid comparison. Even the most well-intentioned parents may revert to pitting their kids against each other in order to motivate them.
She also suggests avoiding labels like "the athlete" or "the smart one." The child with the label may feel pressured to live up to that specific label.
"Focus on praising the process and not the outcome," says Feinstein. Rather than giving your child kudos for winning a medal at a track event, perhaps praise how smoothly they were able to leap over hurdles, both literal and figurative.
As an overall note, Feinstein encourages parents to sit down and really think about how athletics fit into family values.
