'Go Girl' Encourages Sports In Life

The debate on whether physical activities were healthy for young girls and women has long past. Yet, society still places obstacles in front of females who want to participate in sports.

On The Early Show, sportscaster Hannah Storm discusses her new book, “Go Girl! Raising Healthy Confident and Successful Girls Through Sports.” The book stresses thei mportance for girls to participate in physical activities and the parents' role in keeping society from eroding young females’ interest in sports.

With three daughters of her own, Hannah Storm says she would like to make sure women have fewer barriers to break down in the future and that women have the proper mental outlook to get past any form of gender bias they might find in their way. Most importantly, Storm believes athletics can help keep a young woman healthy and happy — putting girls in a good position to accomplish anything they set out to do as young adults.

“Go Girl” gives suggestions on keeping girls interested in sports as they make the transition from childhood to adolescence. There is also expert advice on nutrition, coaching, injuries, sportsmanship, weight issues and other topics. The book also shares information on more than 20 sports, explaining terminology, how the games are played and how to get kids involved.

Storm says sports has a number of benefits for girls:

Health Fitness

• Reduced risk of chronic illness in later life
  
• Improved muscle-to-fat ratio
  
• Stronger immune system
  
• Stronger bones
  
• Less menstrual discomfort
  

Academic Fitness

• Higher GPAs
  
• Better SAT scores
  
• Lower risk of dropping out
  
• Better chance of getting into, staying in and performing well in college
  

Emotional/Psychological Fitness

• Improved self-esteem, self control and self confidence and perceptions of competence
  
• Lower risk of pregnancy and drug and alcohol abuse
  
• Less likely to smoke or have eating disorders
  
• Less likely to have anxiety or depression
  

Read an exerpt from "Go Girl! Raising Healthy, Confident and Successful Girls through Sports"

Chapter 2: Baby in Motion

From birth to 2 years there's little a parent can do to accelerate their baby's acquisition of large movement skills. Sitting, crawling, or walking are skills which are "hardwired." Consulting growth or development charts and worrying about when your daughter lifts her head or starts running around the yard is rarely necessary. The author points out the "30-percent rule" where developing movement skills more than 30 percent later than average may be cause for concern. Most children walk between 12 and 15 months so a child who shows no inclination of walking by 17 months old may benefit from a visit to the pediatrician, or in some cases, a specialist.

There's also rarely any connection between early movement skill development and future athletic success — just as there's rarely any connection between late development and being doomed to warm the bench. Hence, the American Academy of Pediatrics statement that: "structured infant exercise programs (should) not be promoted as being therapeutically beneficial for the development of healthy infants."

WHAT PARENTS CAN DO is provide babies with the freedom to learn these skills at their own pace. Before she's sitting up, set up a crib gym within her reach so she can practice hand-eye coordination. Usually within six to 10 months of birth, she'll be on her feet. Hold her hands as she pushes up to a standing position or bounces to a song on your stereo. When she's up and walking, offer her push-and-pull toys or a hobbyhorse. Babies can be motivated with encouragement, expecially when you get involved in their activities.

There are very few differences with the way boys and girls develop at these ages, so there's no reason to give balls to the boys and dolls to the girls. In fact, in some respects, girls are more advanced in areas of balance, agility, accuracy of movements and overall coordination of these skills. Girls eventually fall behind because they don't usually get enough encouragement from parents and other adults. This is a cultural hurdle which parents must fight to get over.