Pushing Children Toward Parents' Interests? You're Doing It Wrong, Says Psychiatrist

DETROIT (WWJ) - As a parent, are you pushing your child toward something you loved as a kid, like a sport? You might be doing more harm than good.

Birmingham-based functional psychiatrist Dr. Michael Miletic says it's common for a parent to push their child toward an activity that the parent loves. But too many times, the child ends up hating the activity.

Sound familiar? Well, Miletic said there's a simple solution.

"Find out what they love and then join them," Miletic told WWJ's Brooke Allen. "Even if you've never played basketball, for example, but that's what they love, then get into the world of basketball. That's the way you connect with kids and it's through that connection that the kid's excitement will grow."

Miletic said when a child picks an activity they enjoy, parents should expect and reward commitment and effort -- and leave the coaching up to the coaches. He said always be your child's biggest supporter, whether they are performing well or not. And that after-game ice cream trip might not be such a bad idea, either.

Here's some tips to help you along the way:

1. Attach and connect. Don't instruct.
2. Think of providing a fenced in playground. Safety, boundaries, freedom to play.
3. Meet your child at his/her level. Don't push them to your expectations.
4. Once your child picks their activity, expect and reward commitment and effort.
5. Be a parent. You're not a coach, critic or scout.