Super Bowl is not just for grownups. Watching the Super Bowl is fun and learning for kids too. Not all children will be interested, but some will have favorite teams and players. Here are a few ways that kids can be involved in this and other sports.
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numbers: Kids can learn numbers from player jerseys.
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colors: team colors cover the rainbow.
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language development: There’s lots of conversations about Super Bowl and that stimulates kids’ language learning–but careful with some of the words!
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shapes: What shape is the flag for measuring for first down? How about the score board? What other shapes are there?
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opposites: Over-under, win-lose, up-down, in-out, behind-in front, happy-sad, black-white, big-little, go-stop, and I’m sure there are more.
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resilience: What do players do after they fall down on the field? They get up and try again. That’s an important lesson for anyone.
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attention/observing skills: Kids get to practice paying close attention to the action and observing carefully what’s happening.
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social skills: Being part of a team is a social skill. Kids watch adults being part of a team.
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emotional regulation: One of the big learning opportunities is how to handle winning & losing. Sometimes, this is hard for grownups.
Learning comes in so many different ways–and disguises. We don’t even notice because these opportunities can seem so natural and ordinary. That’s how it should be. Not from flashcards and expensive programs, but from participating in what families and communities are doing. As parents and caregivers, we can use what’s happening to involve kids. Sometimes, during the Super Bowl, there’s as much action at home as there is on the screen. Perhaps, even more. Families and friends get together, hands are busy getting food ready to share, and the excitement just seems to grow. All of this and more is how the Super Bowl is fun and learning for kids. Will your family be tuning into the game?