Use "shaping" to help your child master sports skills

Shaping is a psychological term borrowed from learning theory and can be very useful when it comes to helping your child become a star on the field!

1. Define specifically the behavior you want to teach (i.e. helping your child make accurate throws)

2. Offer hearty verbal praise only when your child makes throws closer to you

3. With bad throws throw the ball back to your child but do not criticize, belittle, or show sarcasm (just simply throw the ball back and encourage the next throw)

4. Once your child has mastered throwing, link the behavior to the next advanced skill (i.e. making an accurate throw to a base)

5. Repeat steps 1-4