Sage Journals: Discover world-class research

Abstract

In the United States, children are encouraged to enroll in sports activities. Studies show that these activities are positively associated with reduced delinquent behavior and increased academic and social performance. Research using parents' reports in interviews and surveys shows that parents view extracurricular sports activities as an arena for socializing their children to important values and skills that go beyond the benefits of participation in athletic activities. Through analysis of parent–child interaction using video data of naturalistic family interaction during formal participation in organized sports (e.g. Little League), informal participation (e.g. backyard pick-up games), and passive participation in sports (e.g. watching televised athletic events), this article reveals that parents play an active role in this socialization process. This article underscores the important function that sports have in family daily life as a socializing tool for culturally cherished skills and values.

Keywords

ethnography family interaction language socialization morality sports activities sports values

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Alwin, D.F. (2001) ‘Parental Values, Beliefs, and Behavior: A Review and Promulga for Research into the New Century’, in Sandra L. Hofferth and Timothy J. Owens (eds) Children at the Millennium: Where Have We Come From, Where are We Going?, pp. 97–140. New York: JAI Press .

Andersen, R.E. , Crespo, C.J. , Bartlett, S.J. , Cheskin, L.J. and Pratt, M. (1998) ‘Relationship of Physical Activity and Television Watching with Body Weight and Level of Fatness Among Children’ , JAMA 279: 938–942 .

Arendell, T. (2000) ‘“Soccer Moms” and the New Care Work’ . Working Paper No. 16, Sloan Center for Working Families, University of California, Berkeley.

Dukes, R.L. and Coakley, J. (2002) ‘Parental Commitment to Competitive Swimming’ , Free Inquiry in Creative Sociology 30(2): 185–197 .

Dunn, J.S. , Kinney, D.A. and Hofferth, S.L. (2003) ‘Parental Ideologies and Children's After-School Activities’ , American Behavioral Scientist 46(10): 1359–1386 .

Eccles, J.S. , Barber, B.L. , Stone, M. and Hunt, J. (2003) ‘Extracurricular Activities and Adolescent Development’ , Journal of Social Issues 59(4): 865–889 .

Goran, M.I. , Reynolds, K.D. and Lindquist, C.H. (1999) ‘Role of Physical Activity in the Prevention of Obesity in Children’ , International Journal of Obesity 23: S18–S33 .

Gutierrez, K. , Izquierdo, C. and Kremer-Sadlik, T. (2005) ‘Middle Class Working Families' ldeologies and Engagement in Children's Extracurricular Activities’ . Working Paper No. 39, Sloan Center for the Everyday Lives of Families, University of California, Los Angeles.

Hofferth, S.L. and Sandberg, J.F. (2001) ‘How American Children Spend Their Time’ , Journal of Marriage and Family 63(2): 295–308 .

10.

Kimiecik, J.C. and Horn, T.S. (1998) Parental Beliefs and Children's Moderate-to-Vigorous Physical Activity , Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport 69(2): 163–175 .

11.

Lareau, A. (2003) Unequal Childhoods: Class, Race, and Family Life. London: University of California Press .

12.

Larson, R.W. (2001) ‘How U.S. Children and Adolescents Spend Time: What It Does (and Doesn't) Tell us About Their Development’ , Current Directions in Psychological Science 10(5): 160–164 .

13.

Larson, R.W. and Verma, S. (1999) ‘How Children and Adolescents Spend Time Across the World: Work, Play, and Developmental Outcomes’ , Psychological Bulletin 25(6): 701–736 .

14.

Mahoney, J.L. , Larson, R.W. , Eccles, J.S. and Lord, H. (2005) ‘Organized Activities as Development Contexts for Children and Adolescents’, in Joseph Mahoney (ed.) Organized Activities as Contexts of Development: Extracurricular Activities, After-School and Community Programs, pp. 3–22. Mahwah: Lawrence Erlbaum .

15.

Ochs, E. (1997) ‘Narrative’, in Teun A. Van Dijk (ed.) Discourse as Structure and Process, pp. 185–206. London: Sage .

16.

Ochs, E. and Schieffelin, B.B. (1994) ‘Language Acquisition and Socialization: Three Developmental Stories and Their Implications’, in Ben G. Blount (ed.) Language, Culture, and Society, pp. 470–511. Prospect Heights: Waveland .

17.

Ochs, E. and Taylor, C. (1992) ‘Family Narrative as Political Activity’ , Discourse and Society 3(3): 301–340 .

18.

Ochs, E. , Taylor, C. , Rudolph, D. and Smith, R. (1992) ‘Storytelling as a Theory Building Activity’ , Discourse Processes 15: 37–72 .

19.

Odgen, C.L. , Flegal, K.M. , Carroll, M.D. and Johnson, C.L. (2002) ‘Prevalence and Trends in Overweight Among US Children and Adolescents, 1999–2000’ , JAMA 288: 1728–1732 .

20.

Paugh, A.L. (2005) ‘Learning about Work at Dinnertime: Language Socialization in Dual-Earner American Families’ , Discourse and Society 16(1): 55–78 .

21.

Saarni, C. (1989) ‘Children's Understanding of Strategic Control of Emotional Expression in Social Transactions’, in C. Saarni and P. Harris (eds) Children Understanding of Emotions. New York: Cambridge University Press .

22.

Schiefflin, B.B. and Ochs, E. (1986) ‘Language Socialization’ , Annual Review of Anthropology 15: 163–191 .

23.

Zaff, J.F. , Moore, K.A. , Papillo, A.R. and Williams, S. (2003) ‘Implications of Extracurricular Activity Participation During Adolescence on Positive Outcomes’ , Journal of Adolescent Research 18(6): 599–630 .

24.

Zeman, J. and Garber, J. (1996) ‘Display Rules for Anger, Sadness, and Pain: It Depends on Who Is Watching’ , Child Development 67(3): 957–973 .

Lessons from sports: children's socialization to values through family interaction during sports activities

Abstract

Keywords

Get full access to this article

References