What Young Athletes Can Learn from the Winter Olympics

The Milan Winter Olympics are in full swing, and parents and kids across the country are tuning in to watch the world's best compete. As you sit down together, remind your kids that the Games are about more than gold medals. They are about the stories, struggles, and lessons they can take into their own lives. Whether its curling or downhill skiing, each moment and event is a chance to talk about values that will last a lifetime.

Patience and Dedication

The Olympics happen only every four years, making them a powerful reminder that patience and dedication can take you a long way. These athletes commit years to their sport, training day-in and day-out for a moment they may not even qualify for. In a world hyper-focused on results, this message is more important than ever.

Ask your kid: How do you think these athletes got here?

Sportsmanship and Respect

Some of the most meaningful moments happen after the competition ends. Watching athletes shake hands and congratulate each other shows kids that respect matters whether you win or lose. When you see these moments, point them out to your kid as behavior that they should take after.

Not only is this respect seen in the interactions with rival teams, but also in how athletes show up for their own teammates. Celebrating wins and being supportive of other team members is one of the best - and sometimes the hardest - ways to show sportsmanship. This shows children that someone else's win is not your loss.

Ask your kid: Did you notice how they acted after the event ended? How can you show up for your teammates like that?

Resilience

The Olympics provide countless examples of athletes who show resilience. This is evident even in the qualifiers, where athletes who fell short in the past may finally have their moment to shine. Other ways Olympians show resilience is by fighting through setbacks, supporting their team when things don't go their way, or coming back stronger after a disappointment. Olympians show kids what it looks like to keep going even when things get hard.

Ask your kid: What do you think it means to keep trying after a setback? Can you think of a time when things got hard and you didn't give up?

The Power of Community

When medalists are asked about their journey, they often mention family, friends, coaches, and the community that lifted them up. These athletes remind us that becoming your best isn't a solo effort. Support systems matter, and so does being a part of one.

Ask your kid: Do you feel supported in your sport or interest? How can you show up and be supportive for those around you?

Don't let it end there

Don't let the lessons you teach or the conversations you have stop when the events are over. Use these moments as reminders and teachable moments that carry into practices, games, school, and everyday life.