ACTIVE SEARCHING FOR ACTIVE PASTIMES
Whether you were the star player or the kid who picked flowers in the middle of the field all game, almost everyone has memories of being on a sports team when they were young. Some lose interest over time and pursue other activities, while others find they really enjoy their sport, maybe have a real talent for it, and continue playing until they are young adults. Whatever the case, parents should take a couple of factors into consideration when determining if their child is ready for sports. If they begin playing too early, it might turn them off to the sport before they really understand it. It could also result in premature wear on muscles and bones that prevents them from playing their sport later on. Most experts believe that the proper age for introducing your child to sports is somewhere between 6 and 9 years old. When they are younger than 6, it is important for them to be active, but their motor skills are not yet developed enough to play most competitive sports. Trying to get them to understand this fact at that age might only make them frustrated with the sport and make them dislike it before they can even give it a try. Even when children are between the ages of 6 and 9, they might not be ready for sports that require higher forms of coordination, like football or hockey. Instead, try sports like T-ball, soccer, or karate. They won’t be ready for more intensive sports until they are 10–12 years old.
Their personality can be just as significant as their age when it comes to choosing the right sport.
Some children might not show interest in organized sports at all. If your child does not seem interested in any sports, even though they are old enough to understand the rules and are coordinated enough to play, you might want to consider other activities, like art or music classes. Still, it is essential that they are active for at least an hour every day, no matter their interests. Sometimes kids will get frustrated with the sports they play (even if they like playing them), and they might want to quit. If your child doesn’t seem to like the sport you signed them up for, encourage them to at least finish out the season. They might just need a little more time to warm up to it. However, if they still aren’t enjoying it at the end of the season, help them find other activities that they might like better. Ultimately, when a child is ready to play sports, it is important to stay in tune with what brings them joy and what keeps them mentally and physically healthy.
If your child does not seem to enjoy team sports, you might see if they may like more individual sports, like running or swimming.
WHAT WE BRING TO THE TABLE THE SMILEY LAW FIRM CELEBRATES CRAWFISH SEASON
From the bayous to the Big Easy, you can smell it in the air: cayenne, paprika, and garlic. Peak crawfish season is here, meaning there’s no better time for a good boil. Whether you dive into some mudbugs at one of our great seafood restaurants here in town, hold your own backyard boil, or get out to the countryside, you’re sure to find the same key ingredient: great company. Our firm is made up of a healthy mix of Louisiana natives and those who came from elsewhere but fell in love with the Pelican State. One thing we all agree on is the truly special sense of community that comes with breaking shells alongside friends and neighbors. There’s something about being elbow-to-elbow at a rowdy boil that breaks down barriers and brings people together. Maybe it’s because there’s no shy way to eat a crawfish. Whether you’re a lawyer, an office assistant, a dock worker, a doctor, or a farmer, everyone’s going to get a little messy around that picnic table. And we think that’s a good thing!
As a community firm, we value staying close to our roots. We aren’t interested in becoming a big, disembodied law office that treats every person we represent as a case number. Every one of us loves to get out and enjoy the sights, sounds, and people of this community. You’ll find us at the Crescent City Classic, jazz performances, local hole-in-the-wall restaurants, and more than a few crawfish boils. But more than anything, what helps keep our firm true to its roots is you. We’re proud to say that we’ve grown our firm almost exclusively through the referrals of those whom we’ve helped. That accomplishment simply wouldn’t be possible without such a supportive community at our back. We really can’t say this enough: Thank you for singing our praises over the years. When it comes to representing the people of New Orleans in personal injury cases, we’ll always bring our very best to the table.
2 • www.SmileyFirm.com
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