4 Friday, June 9, 2017 brooklintowncrier.com Our Brooklin Kids By Leanne Brown Sticking with it Let's face it: who hasn't found themselves at a sport or activity with a child who doesn't want to be there? One year, my daughter played soccer. She hated it and didn't want to go. We agreed she would finish the season, then she could try something new. She reluctantly played the remaining weeks but she tried. Why would I make her go if she hated it? Youth sport experts emphasize the importance of having fun. While I agree children can only learn to love a game if they're having fun, there's also the opportunity to teach them about commitment. Fun is about the enjoyment of sports. Commitment means deciding to do something, giving it 100%, and finishing what she starts. Commitment also teaches them that their time and the time others are giving have value. Often, as in competitive sports, it becomes a family commitment as well. Other family members also making sacrifices so they can participate. Today there's less opportunity for kids to learn patience. Some may want to quit after two practices if they're harder than expected. But if they stick with it, their skills will improve and they might enjoy it enough to play another season. When a child is frustrated with a new skill, use the phrase "you can't do it yet." This implies that time and practice will make them reach their goal, that they will get there. When a child commits and sees results, they learn that commitment over time produces results! Learning commitment to a team, not just to your own whims, is a hard lesson. Kids are not born as team players, but they can learn to become one. Being on a team is actually one of the most rewarding and fun aspects of children's sports. The commitment teammates make to one another builds a bond that sticks with kids long after the season. Getting the commitment Before sign-up day, make it clear to your child she must participate for the whole season or session, an entirely reasonable expectation. Getting a kid to make a commitment is not easy but there are ways to encourage it. Parents often put their child in the same sports or activities that friends are in. However, that isn't necessarily the best approach. Instead ask what he'd like to join; you may be surprised by the choice. While all his friends enjoy soccer, he may prefer swimming. Once they're involved in their sport/activity of choice, the commitment typically increases. Then the season starts great, but suddenly your child wants to quit. Ask what's changed and remind him of the commitment made when the season began. One of the most common reasons kids want to quit is burnout due to early specialization in one sport played year-round. For these kids, the season never seems to end. By changing sports or activities during the year, kids have the chance to learn or practice something new, using different muscles and skills, meeting new friends, experiencing a variety of coaching styles, plus having fun. I am not going to tell you it's never okay to let your child quit during a season. Each situation is different. But by sticking with it for the season, you may find they improve more than just their sports skills. Those who stay will be champions. WORSHIP DIRECTORY WORSHIP DIRECTORY Burns Presbyterian Church 765 Myrtle Rd West (just 4 minutes north of Brooklin) 10am Worship, Kids Zone Fun & Nursery Care "Discovering God, Sharing God's Love" 905.655.8509 www.Burnschurch.org St. Thomas' Anglican Church 101 Winchester Road East Sunday Services: 8:30 and 10:30 am Sunday School & Nursery Program (10:30am) Wednesday 10:00 a.m. Communion and Healing Service 905-655-3883 www.stthomasbrooklin.ca Brooklin United Church 19 Cassels Rd. E. Sunday Services at 10:30 am Sunday School & Nursery Care www.brooklinunited.ca 905-655-4141 Come catch the Spirit! Renaissance Baptist Church of Brooklin 40 Vipond Road (Just West Of Library) Sunday Worship & Kids Program 10:30 a.m. 905-655-4554 www.brooklinrbc.ca We're here for Brooklin! Community Calendar If you have a community not-for-profit event you would like included in the calendar, please email it to editorofBTC@gmail.com with the subject line "calendar." Priority will be given to Brooklin events. Some editing may occur. Sat., June 10: 9 am - 12 noon Community Care Durham's 12th Annual Walk for Mental Health Awareness The Durham-wide event is at Palmer Park in Port Perry Pre-register by calling 905-430-8014 or 905-985-7784 or visit www.ccdwalk.org, or drop in to a CCD office. Master of Ceremonies: former NHLer Jim McKenny. Sun., June 11 - 2:30 pm Decoration Day Service at Groveside Cemetery Wed., June 14 (& 28): 7:00 pm - Brooklin Horticultural Society Meetings Both at Brooklin United Church, 19 Cassels Rd. Marian Bolken will speak on "Picking Peonies for your Garden". She's former Grand Champion at the Oshawa Peony Festival and member of Canadian Peony Festival. Event will include members' Iris & Peony Show. Enjoy social time beforehand. June 28 - featuring Anna van Maris on "Rain Gardens." Anna is president of Parklane Landscape that showcases & promotes the value of sustainability. Event will include members' Rose Show. Come early for refreshments & to buy draw tickets. Fri., June 16: 1:00 - 3:00 pm Lynde Creek Cleanup: Kinsmen Park Gazebo (behind library) Free food for 50 people. An historian will speak about the history of the Lynde Creek and Brooklin. The Whitby Chamber of Commerce will be announcing its new partnership with Durham Sustain-ability. Prizes for every 5 lbs of garbage picked up via a raffle. Note: This activity is for those 18 years and older For information, contact: Andrew Valyear, Skyview Electronics, 905-259-2913 Sat., June 17: 10:00 am - 3:00 pm WindReach Farm's Celebrating Canada event. See page 6. Fri., June 23: 4:00- 5:00 pm (4th Friday of each month) Teen Leadership Council at Brooklin Library Whitby Public Library's Brooklin Branch seeks members for Teen Leadership Council. Participants will share ideas, assist with special events and programs, and have a say about what goes on at the library. TLC members in grades 9-12 also earn community service hours. Grade 7-12 students may come to this month's meeting to see what it's about! Snacks provided. No registration required. For more information, email teenservices@whitbylibrary.ca. Sat., June 24 - 7:00 pm Mt. Zion United Church Annual B.B.Q. and entertainment . Advance ticket sales: Adults $15, Children (12 and under) $5 . Please call Jones 905-649-5200: Taylor 905-649-3332 or email evelynjones02@gmail.com. Mondays: 6:30-7 pm: French Family Storytime: Children and their caregivers can join Madame Sue for weekly French Fam- ily Storytime! A half hour of stories and songs in French, with a dash of English! Registration not required. Just drop in! At Central Library's Children's Program Room Mon-Fri Community Care Durham delivers hot or frozen meals.Order by calling Karen Andrews 905-668-6779 1st & 3rd Tuesdays Community Care Durham Basic Foot Care at St. Thomas' Anglican Church. 905-668-6779 1st & 3rd Wednesdays Brooklin Rotary (A satellite of Rotary Club of Whitby) meets at Oakridge 1847 at 7:00 pm Join us to find out how you can be more involved in our community. Our motto is "Service Above Self". For more info email: danielleharder@outlook.com CLASSIFIEDS Guitar Drum Lessons Repairs Rentals patricksguitarstudio.com Sarah's Sewing Alterations, Mending, Crafts, Costumes - Call or text: 905 242-4251 blue.dragonfly@rocketmail.com Assault at Fair A 15-year-old teen was treated and released from hospital with a minor stab wound after a group of males tried to rob him of parts of his clothing at the Brooklin Fair. On Saturday, June 3, 2017 at approximately 9:20 p.m., Central West Division officers were called to the Brooklin Fair regarding a disturbance. They arrived to find a teenaged male on the ground suffering from multiple lacerations and a stab wound. He was transported to a nearby hospital and was treated and released. Witnesses say the 15-year-old victim from Clarington was with friends when a large group of males approached him. One suspect attempted to rob him of pieces of his clothing and when the victim refused, the group began assaulting him. During the disturbance, the victim received a non-life threatening stab wound. The suspects fled the area. The investigation is continuing. Anyone with new information is asked to contact D/Cst. Willis of the Central West Division Criminal Investigations Bureau at 1-888-579-1520 ext. 1829. Anonymous information can be sent to Durham Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or online at www.durhamregional- crimestoppers.ca and tipsters may be eligible for a $2,000 cash reward