Title:  When To Let Them Quit
Feed: CWKN #386, May 21, 2008
Time:  1:43
SUGGESTED LEAD:  IT’S ESTIMATED THAT 83-PERCENT OF CHILDREN AGED 6 TO 17 ARE INVOLVED IN SOME KIND OF EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITY.  ALMOST INEVITABLY, THERE COMES A TIME WHEN THEY WANT TO STOP, OR CHANGE ACTIVITIES, BUT THEIR PARENTS HAVE A DIFFERENT IDEA.  THAT STORY IN TODAY’S CONNECT WITH KIDS.
<<PKG>>

Nats:  playing clarinet

NARR:  12-YEAR-OLD IMANI CHILDS RARELY MISSES A NOTE ON THE CLARINET, BUT THIS SPRING, SHE TOLD HER MOM SHE WANTED TO QUIT. (:09)

SUPER: Imani Childs, 12 years old (:10)
“It’s fun, but I’ve been doing it for like three years, and I want to get into something new.”

NARR:  IT’S A DILEMMA MILLIONS OF PARENTS FACE:  SPORTS, MUSIC, DANCE …  WHEN DO YOU LET THEM QUIT … AND WHEN DO YOU MAKE THEM STICK IT OUT? (:10)

SUPER: Rawne Heinrich, Imani’s Mother (:27)
“If she has a real valid point, and really truly does not like it, then I wouldn’t force her.”

NARR:  SOME KIDS QUIT BECAUSE THE LESSONS GET TOO DIFFICULT… AND THEY ARE AFRAID OF NOT BEING GOOD ENOUGH … (:06)

SUPER: Rick VanHaveren, Ph.D., Psychologist (:38)
“Maybe a fear of failure or maybe they have failed in the past, and that led to embarrassment.”

NARR:  OTHER KIDS DON’T MIND THE CHALLENGE … THEY QUIT BECAUSE THEY JUST LIKE TO TRY DIFFERENT ACTIVITIES … AND THEN MOVE ON. (:07)

SOT: Rick VanHaveren, Ph.D., Psychologist
“I think if they’re reaching some challenges and succeeding or failing and after a while then developing some other interests, I think that’s just part of their personality.”

NARR:  AND EXPERTS SAY SAMPLING A RANGE OF ACTIVITIES ALLOWS KIDS TO DISCOVER WHAT THEY REALLYLIKE. 

BUT IF A CHILD WANTS TO QUIT BEFORE GIVING SOMETHING A CHANCE … PARENTS SHOULD PUSH THEM TO STICK IT OUT BUT … LISTEN TO THEIR CHILD … AND NEGOTIATE. (:17)

SOT: Rick VanHaveren, Ph.D., Psychologist
“negotiate some goals, the amount of time you might spend on that activity, or things that you might do during that activity that might make it more enjoyable.”

NARR:  IMANI’S MOM MADE A DEAL. STICK WITH THE CLARINET BUT NEXT YEAR, IMANI CAN GO OUT FOR CHEERLEADING TOO. (:08)

SOT: Imani Childs, 12 years old
“I like starting new things, but I don’t want to go do something that I know I’m not going to stick with just to try it out.”

NARR:  I’M COLLIN SIEDOR FOR CONNECT WITH KIDS. (:03)

SUGGESTED TAG:   EXPERTS SAY THE BIGGEST WARNING TO PARENTS …  DON’T PROJECT YOUR OWN GOALS AND INTEREST ONTO YOUR CHILD.  IF THEY’RE TRULY NOT INTERESTED IN SOMETHING, FORCING THEM TO DO IT WILL ONLY INVITE REBELLION.