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Why is engineering an occupational passion of mine-

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Why is engineering an occupational passion of mine-

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Why is nature an aesthetic passion of mine-

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Why is nature an aesthetic passion of mine-

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Why is exercise a recreational passion of mine-

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Why is exercise a recreational passion of mine-

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Why is history an academic passion of mine-

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Why is history an academic passion of mine-

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“All we know about the new economic world tells us that nations which train engineers will prevail over those which train lawyers. No nation has ever sued its way to greatness. ” -Richard Lamm

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“A wonderful fact to reflect upon, that every human creature is constituted to be that profound secret and mystery to every other.” -Charles Dickens

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How psychology is affecting us in everyday life-

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How psychology is affecting us in everyday life-

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Applied psychology | Benefits & Applications in Everyday Life | Britannica

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Applied psychology, the use of methods and findings of scientific psychology to solve practical problems of human and animal behaviour and experience. A more precise definition is impossible because the activities of applied psychology range from laboratory experimentation through field studies to

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The practical applications of psychology in society-

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The practical applications of psychology in society-

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To discuss the importance of Psychology in our everyday lives we must first understand what Psychology is. The definition of Psychology is the scientific study of behavior and mental process; however, it can be applied to many other things in life. Everything we do in life is related to Psychology. Psychology is basically the study of who we are, why we are that way, and also what we can become.

Psychology is important in many different ways, one example of why it is so important is, the research that has been done on many life threatening diseases. By using psychology, psychologist have studied diseases such as, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, and many other neurological diseases. Today, we know a whole lot more about these diseases than we did in the past, scientist have even been able to produce medicines that may help victims of these diseases. Psychology is also very important in the education system.

By using intelligence test schools, students can be evaluated and given the correct amount of help that they need in school. For example, IQ test are given to place children in "gifted programs," by using these test these students are ensured that they will receive the best quality of learning at a pace that is just right for them. On the other hand, these test also let teachers and faculty know which students may need extra help in certain areas in school.

Another reason why psychology is important is, the insight previous research has given us. For example, by studying psychology we learn to understand how the body and mind works. An example of why understanding how the mind and body work is, by understanding them we can do the less complicated things in life, such as control stress, manage time, and study more effectively. Another example would be the research done on psychological illnesses. Using psychological research, doctors have now developed medicine and even cures for victims of the illnesses.

It is also in reference to the usage and application of skill, knowledge and understanding various activities undertaken by humans and how they are used through daily activities, whether that is within events, talking to people, education and employment, relationships and even treating mental health issues.

There are sub-areas of psychology, including in sports education, business and media, physical conditions and even human development. It involves other areas of study, including humanities, natural sciences and the social sciences.

Why Psychology Is So Important
The subject studies the mental processes and behavior of people.

It can be applied to various areas of the life of a human.

Everything a person does is connected to the subject.

In its primary form, psychology studies a person - who and what they are - it looks into why they act and think the way they do and how someone can improve himself.

It is extremely important for many factors, including helping to diagnose various diseases, including Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, and helping with understanding a person's behavior and more about them.

Many doctors have been able to use the research from psychological studies to develop drugs and medicines to help with alleviating certain illnesses.

The subject allows people to understand more about how the body and mind work. It can help wit decision making and avoiding stressful situations.

It can help with managing times, set and achieve goals and become more effective with the way that a person lives. It also helps many tackle their mental illnesses and live life.

Psychology has helped me personally as a student.
I can understand who I am and look at events on a more positive aspect.

I have become more determined to do the things I will enjoy and write on topics that I like. Whenever I have a problem, I can handle it better and make better decisions within my life, whether it is the projects I work on or the way I handle my time.

BY EMMANUEL ASHITEY,
FROM UNIVERSITY OF GHANA, LEVEL 200
PSYCHOLOGY AND INFORMATION STUDIES.
0540981328.

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The Importance Of Psychology In Everyday Life In Ghana

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To discuss the importance of Psychology in our everyday lives we must first understand what Psychology is. The definition of Psychology is the scientific study of behavior and mental process; however, it can be applied to many other things in life. Everything we do in life is related to Psychology.

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How engineering and technology is changing the world-

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How engineering and technology is changing the world-

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GE Vice President and GE Healthcare Chief Technology Officer Mike Harsh today addressed attendees at The Economist's inaugural 'Technology Frontiers' conference where he talked about how technology will change the face of healthcare.

The London-based conference provided a platform for business leaders from across the globe to appreciate how technology will transform the world around us.

Reviewing some of the principal innovations of the past decades, Harsh explained how medical technology has experienced explosive growth on a global scale over the past fifty years. "X-ray, surface chemistry, CT, ultrasound, and mammography are now household names and available in countries anywhere around the world," he said.

In the last decade in particular, healthcare has moved toward customized, individualized treatment - transitioning from 'see and treat' to helping clinicians detect signs of a disease at a molecular level. Speaking at the conference, Mike Harsh said that today's challenge is to transform our approach to health globally from one of 'disease treatment' to one based on prevention, prediction and pre-symptomatic detection, with a long-term care paradigm focused on keeping patients in the home-care setting.

This change, which is now technologically within reach, will save lives, reduce healthcare costs and enable an aging population to lead longer, healthier lives, contributing to society and the economy along the way.

The World Health Organization has stated that 80% of heart disease, stroke and diabetes are preventable; and that 40% of cancers could be avoided by lifestyle changes. So, prevention works.

Mike Harsh told the conference audience: "We do not have to wait for technological advances over a 20-year period; We simply need to apply the technologies and information systems already available. Changing our approach to healthcare from reactive to preventative combined with a move from institutional to community or home-based care for long-term chronic conditions will reduce hospitalizations, be more sustainable and efficient, and benefit not just patients, but the healthcare system as a whole."

The future of healthcare technology holds tremendous promise for increasing patient access to earlier diagnosis and treatment of disease, improving healthcare quality and decreasing healthcare cost.

He concluded: "In addition, by combining functional features with emotional benefits, or a focus on industrial design along with user experience, companies such as GE Healthcare are using advanced technology to bring a better emotional experience for patients."

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How Technology Will Change the Future of Healthcare

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GE Vice President and GE Healthcare Chief Technology Officer Mike Harsh today addressed attendees at The Economist's inaugural 'Technology Frontiers' conference where he talked about how technology will change the face of healthcare. The London-based conference provided a platform for business leaders from across the globe to appreciate how technology will transform the world around us.

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July 24,2010 by: Dallas Browne

Innovation is a product of progress and this is seen thru new infrastructures such as bridges and buildings that are created by engineers and architects. It is not easy to create a building, house and any sort of groundwork because in order to accomplish, you have to obtain the proper knowledge and education.

The engineering industry continues to proliferate because more and more structures are being built and the need for manpower is also at hand. In as much the demand is getting high in the engineering industry, individuals are encouraged to take up a course in the Engineering careers. Engineering is not just focused on one field of expertise. There are actually different fields to choose from depending on your abilities and what specific course suit you best. More often than note, engineers play a big role in semi-conductors and manufacturing companies. As the rise of semi-conductor companies continues, there is also a need for more engineers to work in these companies.

All over the world there are hundreds of semi-conductor companies which are working for different products and services needed in mechanical and electronic companies. For example, some companies work for airplane parts such as chips and other accessories.

Chips can not only be created by one engineer because it has to pass thru a series tests and quality control before hitting the target market. It therefore shows that every semi-conductor must employ hundreds to thousands of engineers to be working in different departments on different shifts. This example shows that more and more engineers are needed to take part in the semi-conductor industry. Thus, engineers are paid well in these companies because the job is not an ordinary thing to do and that they must have the right kind of learning or education so that they can perform the task efficiently.

In line with the engineering careers, a board examination is needed in order to qualify in a good position in big companies and corporations. For this reason, additional studies and review are given to engineering graduates so they can be fully equipped with the knowledge and abilities pass the board examination. Board passers are automatically given a position in any semi-conductor company without any difficulty. That is why, engineers can stick to their jobs for a long period of time as they stay longer in a company, and they can achieve a higher level of position and at the same time obtain a higher compensation.

You can take part in the engineering industry and choose any field from different engineering careers. There are more to learn about engineering careers online that you can browse on websites and choose the best one that fits your interest. Engineers are important people in the society because they work for infrastructures, electricity and mechanical equipment in the community. The proper knowledge and education are needed in order to operate all these. If you see yourself applicable in this kind of field, choose a career in engineering and the best you can in the future.

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Why Engineers are Important in the Community

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July 24,2010 by: Dallas Browne Innovation is a product of progress and this is seen thru new infrastructures such as bridges and buildings that are created by engineers and architects. It is not easy to create a building, house and any sort of groundwork because in order to accomplish, you have to obtain the proper knowledge and education.

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The study of mind and behavior in relation to a particular field of knowledge or activity.

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The application of science and mathematics by which the properties of matter and the sources of energy in nature are made useful to people.

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Topics Such As

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"History doesn't repeat itself, but it does rhyme"
-Mark Twain

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"Adversity causes some men to break; others to break records"
-William Arthur Ward

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The national parks have been woven into the fabric of American life for so many generations that it's hard to imagine the nation without them.

But the decision to set these special places aside was not an obvious, or easy, one. No road map existed for the journey that created the national parks because no places quite like them existed anywhere in the world.

The parks were born because in the mid-1800s a relatively small group of people had a vision-what writer Wallace Stegner has called "the best idea we ever had"-to make sure that America's greatest natural treasures would belong to everyone and remain preserved forever.

"Americans developed a national pride of the natural wonders in this nation and they believed that they rivaled the great castles and cathedrals of Europe," explains David Barna, National Park Service Chief of Public Affairs.

Yosemite was at the heart of America's nascent national parks movement. The California valley's splendor inspired some of its earliest European visitors to demand protection, even as settlers moved ceaselessly westward, "civilizing" the West and displacing native peoples.

Elegant voices, like that of naturalist John Muir, brought the grandeur of such lands to those who had never seen them. His prolific and widely published writings stressed how such wild places were necessary for the soul, and his advocacy later became the driving force behind the creation of several national parks.

Responding to such calls, Congress and President Abraham Lincoln put Yosemite under the protection of California during the Civil War. In 1872 Lincoln's former general, President Ulysses S. Grant, made Yellowstone America's-and the world's-first truly national park. More parks soon followed suit and, beginning in the late 19th century, cultural sites like Arizona's prehistoric Casa Grande were honored as well.

President Theodore Roosevelt was one of the park system's greatest patrons. During his administration (1901-09) five new parks were created, as well as 18 national monuments, four national game refuges, 51 bird sanctuaries, and over 100 million acres (40 million hectares) of national forest.

But even as the number of parks swelled no central organization existed to manage them. Consequently, many lacked protection and funding. In the early 20th century the future character of the parks remained very much in doubt.

Private commercial interests, including hotels, railroads, ranches, and sawmills, saw great profit potential in the parks and began to exploit their resources-often relatively unchecked.

Some in government, like forester Gifford Pinchot, shared a utilitarian vision for the parks that included more than preservation. Pinchot and others suggested that the parks become part of a Forest Service that would promote the well-managed use of their timber and other resources to serve "the greatest good for the greatest number." This philosophy led to the damming, in 1913, of Yosemite's Hetch Hetchey Valley for the San Francisco water supply.

Birth of the National Park Service

But others preached preservation and lamented the lack of an overarching federal management that could make this possible. In 1915 a millionaire industrialist named Stephen Mather began a crusade to establish a distinct National Park Service dedicated to the preservation ideal. Mather garnered support from titans of industry, as well as schoolchildren, newspapers, and even the National Geographic Society. ( See more about National Geographic and the national parks.)

His efforts succeeded, and when the National Park Service was created in 1916, Mather became its first director and began work with a mandate to protect the parks "unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations," and to promote their use by all people.

Sacrifices were made as the system grew to include today's 392 national parks, monuments, battlefields, seashores, recreation areas, and other areas. Many native peoples were displaced and, when eastern parks like Shenandoah were created, so were settlements of U.S. citizens.

But in the final analysis, America's system of national parks became a unique triumph-and one that carries with it a great responsibility.

"Never in its 200 years has this nation needed the National Park System more," Barna says. "It stands as a collective memory of where we have been, what sacrifices we have made to get here, and who we mean to be. By investing in the preservation, interpretation, and restoration of these symbolic places, we offer hope and optimism to each generation of Americans."

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National Parks in the Beginning -- National Geographic

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The national parks have been woven into the fabric of American life for so many generations that it's hard to imagine the nation without them. But the decision to set these special places aside was not an obvious, or easy, one.

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John Graham-Cumming: The greatest machine that never was

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Computer science began in the '30s ... the 1830s. John Graham-Cumming tells the story of Charles Babbage's mechanical, steam-powered "analytical engine" and how Ada Lovelace, mathematician and daughter of Lord Byron, saw beyond its simple computational abilities to imagine the future of computers.

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How the Brain Decides What Is Beautiful-

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How the Brain Decides What Is Beautiful-

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3,020,679 views | Anjan Chatterjee • TEDMED 2016

Anjan Chatterjee uses tools from evolutionary psychology and cognitive neuroscience to study one of nature's most captivating concepts: beauty. Learn more about the science behind why certain configurations of line, color and form excite us in this fascinating, deep look inside your brain.

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This talk was presented at an official TED conference. TED's editors chose to feature it for you.

Anjan Chatterjee uses tools from evolutionary psychology and cognitive neuroscience to study one of nature's most captivating concepts: beauty. Learn more about the science behind why certain configurations of line, color and form excite us in this fascinating, deep look inside your brain.

This talk was presented at an official TED conference. TED's editors chose to feature it for you.

About the speaker

Anjan Chatterjee seeks to answer a tantalizing question: Why is beauty so gripping?

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Anjan Chatterjee: How your brain decides what is beautiful

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Anjan Chatterjee uses tools from evolutionary psychology and cognitive neuroscience to study one of nature's most captivating concepts: beauty. Learn more about the science behind why certain configurations of line, color and form excite us in this fascinating, deep look inside your brain.

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"Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better" -Albert Einstein

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"History will be kind to me for I intend to write it"
-Winston Churchill

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Why and how habitats are being destroyed-

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Why and how habitats are being destroyed-

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Habitat destruction occurs when the conditions necessary for plants and animals to survive are significantly compromised or eliminated.

Most areas of the world's oceans are experiencing habitat loss. But coastal areas, with their closeness to human population centers, have suffered disproportionately and mainly from manmade stresses. Habitat loss here has far-reaching impacts on the entire ocean's biodiversity. These critical areas, which include estuaries, swamps, marshes, and wetlands, serve as breeding grounds or nurseries for nearly all marine species.

Causes of Ocean Habitat Loss

Humans and Mother Nature share blame in the destruction of ocean habitats, but not equally.

Hurricanes and typhoons, storm surges, tsunamis and the like can cause massive, though usually temporary, disruptions in the life cycles of ocean plants and animals. Human activities, however, are significantly more impactful and persistent.

Wetlands are dredged and filled in to accommodate urban, industrial, and agricultural development. Cities, factories, and farms create waste, pollution, and chemical effluent and runoff that can wreak havoc on reefs, sea grasses, birds, and fish.

Inland dams decrease natural nutrient-rich runoff, cut off fish migration routes, and curb freshwater flow, increasing the salinity of coastal waters. Deforestation far from shore creates erosion, sending silt into shallow waters that can block the sunlight coral reefs need to thrive.

Destructive fishing techniques like bottom trawling, dynamiting, and poisoning destroy habitats near shore as well as in the deep sea.

Tourism brings millions of boaters, snorkelers, and scuba divers into direct contact with fragile wetland and reef ecosystems. Container ships and tankers can damage habitat with their hulls and anchors. Spills of crude oil and other substances kill thousands of birds and fish and leave a toxic environment that can persist for years.

Perhaps the most devastating of all habitat-altering agents, however, is climate change. Scientists are still coming to grips with the consequences that excessive atmospheric carbon dioxide and Earth's rapid warming are having on ecosystems. But there is ample evidence indicating that the oceans are bearing the brunt of these changes.

As Earth's temperature rises, it is primarily the oceans that absorb the extra heat. Even small temperature changes can have far-reaching effects on the life cycles of marine animals from corals to whales.

In addition, warmer temperatures cause excess melting of ice caps and glaciers, raising sea levels and flooding estuaries.

High levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide, caused mainly by the burning of fossil fuels, are absorbed by the oceans, where the gas dissolves into carbonic acid. This elevated acidity inhibits the ability of marine animals, including many plankton organisms, to create shells, disrupting life within the very foundation of the ocean's food web.

Ongoing efforts to safeguard ocean habitats include the creation of gigantic marine sanctuaries where development is curtailed and fishing is prohibited. Laws banning the dumping of sewage and chemicals into the ocean and policies that foster better stewardship of wetlands are having positive effects. But scientists agree that drastic measures will be needed to avert the ocean crises being created by climate change.

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Marine Habitat Destruction -- National Geographic

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Habitat destruction occurs when the conditions necessary for plants and animals to survive are significantly compromised or eliminated. Most areas of the world's oceans are experiencing habitat loss. But coastal areas, with their closeness to human population centers, have suffered disproportionately and mainly from manmade stresses.

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A stroll outside on a sunny day is a great pick-me-up. Now it may also be just what the doctor ordered.

The benefits of nature for both body and soul are finding their way to the prescription pad as more health care providers are telling their patients to take a hike -- literally.

Many health care researchers and practitioners say that ecotherapy (also known as green therapy, nature therapy, and earth-centered therapy) -- a term coined by pastoral counselor Howard Clinebell in his 1996 book of the same name -- can have regenerative powers, improving mood and easing anxiety, stress, and depression.

But that's not all. Health care providers are also giving their patients "nature prescriptions" to help treat a variety of medical conditions, from post- cancer fatigue to obesity, high blood pressure, and diabetes.

Scientists have long known that sunlight can ease depression, especially seasonal affective disorder (SAD). New research is expanding those findings. A 2007 study from the University of Essex in the U.K., for example, found that a walk in the country reduces depression in 71% of participants. The researchers found that as little as five minutes in a natural setting, whether walking in a park or gardening in the backyard, improves mood, self-esteem, and motivation.

The growing interest in ecotherapy has even given rise to academic programs, such as one begun at John F. Kennedy University, which offers a graduate-level certificate in ecotherapy, an umbrella term that includes horticultural therapy, animal-assisted therapy, time stress management, and managing "eco- anxiety."

John F. Kennedy University ecotherapy professor Craig Chalquist, PhD, co-author of Ecotherapy: Healing with Nature in Mind, has acknowledged that research has not proven that spending time in nature can prevent, treat, or cure any particular condition.

But a growing body of research offers a "hopeful picture" of the effectiveness of ecotherapy, Chalquist says.

Kathy Helzlsouer, MD, director of the Prevention and Research Center at Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore, has long been recommending to breast cancer survivors that they get outdoors more.

For 30% to 40% of breast cancer survivors, persistent fatigue follows their treatment, says Helzlsouer. To help her patients learn how to manage this fatigue, Helzlsouer created "Be Well, Be Healthy," a holistic program that includes tips not only on managing stress and improving diet and exercise patterns, but also on incorporating nature as part of the healing process.

Continued

"Among the frustrations we saw in our patients," Helzlsouer says, "was that they didn't have the energy to garden, a favorite activity for many of them."

For people who enjoy gardening, Helzlsouer prescribes getting back outside, even if it's starting out with five minutes of weeding. People who aren't gardening enthusiasts are advised to find a nearby park where they can take a walk, "commune with nature," and reap the mind-body results of a relaxing setting and physical exercise.

Other health care professionals are also finding that being in a natural environment has numerous benefits. School nurse Stacy Bosch, of the Clark County School District in Nevada, sees many students who are overweight or have type 2 diabetes. More often than not, these kids spend very little time outside.

To get the kids -- and their parents -- away from the TV and the computer and increase their physical activity in order to help control weight and blood sugar, Bosch writes a prescription for the entire family to go to one of the county's nature areas and simply take a walk.

So far, Bosch has received positive feedback from families that have followed her prescription. "They're excited to be doing something together that will benefit all of them," she says.

Bosch is one of three dozen health care professionals who took part in the inaugural Health Care Nature Champions training program, offered through a partnership between the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Environmental Education Foundation, and a variety of health care professionals and organizations. The idea for nature champions resulted from the 2007 Children and Nature Summit, during which U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service staff met with doctors, educators, and outdoors professionals about finding ways to overcome "nature-deficit disorder" in children. The two-year pilot project aims to improve family health by connecting children and their families with nature sites that are easy to get to.

Maria Brown, MD, a member of the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine's department of pediatrics, says the Nature Champion program is a handy tool for prescribing a more active lifestyle for kids and their families.

"It gives health care providers a concrete, positive way to suggest their patients get more physical activity," Brown says. "Who's going to argue with a prescription to get outside more?" The prescriptions come with maps to nearby parks and refuges, many of which offer outdoor experiences led by park rangers and volunteers.

Continued

Most major medical organizations recommend that children get at least 60 minutes of physical activity a day, Brown says.

"What the 'Children and Nature Initiative' is trying to advocate for is that as much of this time as possible be outside," Brown says, adding that outdoor time is good for children's physical, mental, social, and emotional development.

"Most people understand the importance of getting kids moving," says Angelique Marquez, RD, of the Children's Heart Center in Las Vegas. Even before being trained as a Nature Champion, Marquez prescribed outdoor activity for patients who had heart disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or diabetes.

For families that don't live near a park, there are other ways to incorporate nature into their daily lifestyle. Marquez suggests walking to school or to the store or playing on a playground.

Kids should always be supervised by a responsible adult, Brown advises, and parents should be familiar with which playgrounds are safe in their neighborhood. For playground safety tips, check the web site of the National Association for Playground Safety.

Safety is an important factor for adults, as well. Whether you're taking an urban hike or a walk in the park, the USDA Forest Service recommends that you do the following:

Go with a companion (or at least let someone know where and when you'll be going)

Keep your eye on the weather

Wear appropriate clothing for the conditions and locale

Be aware of your surroundings

Especially if it's warm outside, take along a bottle of water so you won't become dehydrated

Slather on the sunscreen, and, if necessary, insect repellent.

Being outside not only improves physical health but offers mental clarity as well, which is one reason certified sex counselor Eric Marlowe Garrison suggests that his clients meet him outside.

"People talk more when they're moving," says Garrison, who practices in New York City and Richmond, Va. "The act of physical movement triggers the mind. I can accomplish more with my clients during a 45-minute walk in Central Park than in two hours in my office."

Continued

Garrison, who calls himself a "country boy" at heart, started taking his practice outside about five years ago. At that time, his decision was based on personal preference, but he now finds that research is backing up his instincts.

In a 2010 Japanese study of shinrin-yoku (defined as "taking in the forest atmosphere, or forest bathing"), for example, researchers found that elements of the environment, such as the odor of wood, the sound of running stream water, and the scenery of the forest can provide relaxation and reduce stress; those taking part in the study experienced lower levels of cortisol, a lower pulse rate, and lower blood pressure.

For Garrison, however, the studies really don't matter. They only confirm what he has long believed. "I can't deny what I'm seeing with my clients," he says. "There's a world of benefit to being out in nature."

Sources

SOURCES:

Kathy Helzlsouer, MD, MHS, director, Prevention and Research Center, Mercy Medical Center, Baltimore.

Eric Marlowe Garrison, MAEd, MSc, certified sex counselor, New York.

Maria Brown, MD, St. Agnes Hospital, department of pediatrics, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore.

Angelique Marquez, RD, Children's Heart Center, Las Vegas.

Stacy Bosch, RN, MSN, NCSN, Clark County School District, Nev.

Craig Chalquist, PhD, professor, John F. Kennedy University, Pleasant Hill, Calif.

Tsunetsugu, Y. Environmental Health Preventive Medicine, January 2010.

Chalquist, C. Ecopscyhology, June 2009.

Mind.org.uk: "Mental Health and the Environment."

U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service: "Recreational Activities: Outdoor Safety."

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Nature Therapy (Ecotherapy) Medical Benefits

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A stroll outside on a sunny day is a great pick-me-up. Now it may also be just what the doctor ordered. The benefits of nature for both body and soul are finding their way to the prescription pad as more health care providers are telling their patients to take a hike -- literally.

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What do youth sports teach our children, really? 

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What do youth sports teach our children, really? 

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What do youth sports teach our children, really?

There are a lot of great points to youth sports that extend far beyond the playful hitting and yelling. It is the life skills that they learn and will take with them forever.

Posted on September 5, 2014 by Suzanne Pish, Michigan State University Extension

It's the beginning of the school year and in my family that means the beginning of football season. My oldest son participates in the Rocket football league which in our town means you're between 8- and 12-years-old. There has been a lot of controversy about whether or not young children should begin to play football. As a mother it is hard to watch your child be under a pile of other players, wondering if they are going to get up, and listening to coaches yelling at them. But, there are also a lot of great points to football and it goes far beyond the hitting and yelling. These boys are learning life skills that they can use the rest of their lives.

According to Michigan State University Extension these are the top life skills children learn while participating in a sport:
Social skills
The social aspect of sports might be what entices children to play in the first place. Youth sports participation enables children to spend time with friends in a safe environment and obtain social skills that are likely to last a lifetime. Aside from bonding with peers, youth learn to solve conflicts effectively, reach common goals and learn to be more assertive, all while getting physical fitness. A child's communication skills also are enhanced after playing a sport, giving a child needed life skills.
Competitive skills
Although there is such a thing as being too competitive, it's important for a child to understand the positive aspects of competition. Adults are surrounded by competition, from getting a job to moving up in the work force, and when children learn the basics of competition early, they have a better chance of succeeding. Sports participation helps children cope with competition in a friendly environment. Working to achieve a goal or being part of a team will help youth gain healthy competitive skills that they can use for the rest of their lives.
Sportsmanship
Sportsmanlike behavior is a lesson that children obtain from playing sports. Children learn to positively handle both the winning and losing aspect of playing a sport, and good sportsmanship is a trait that carries over from childhood to adulthood. Athletes who focus on mastering personal improvement have a good chance on later becoming good citizens and hard workers. Good sports tend to better cooperate with others and make moral decisions instead of being ego-oriented individuals who behave badly, according to Education World, an online resource for educators .
Leadership abilities
Achieving leadership skills is a life lesson learned when children participate in sports. Obtaining leadership qualities that range from being a good character, to respecting others, to being task oriented can be accomplished in both team and individual sports. A solid support system, such as a strong parental involvement and effective coaching can help mold a child into being a leader now, and later in life.

The coaching staff for my son's team told them in the huddle that giving 100 percent on the field will only help them to give 100 percent in whatever else they do in life. Do these boys understand that concept at this young age? Maybe not, but having the discipline to play as a team day after day and to give all they can to their team will certainly pay off for them in the long run as adults.

Need more parenting information? Check out MSU Extension's Nurturing Families program.

This article was published by Michigan State University Extension. For more information, visit http://www.msue.msu.edu. To have a digest of information delivered straight to your email inbox, visit http://www.msue.msu.edu/newsletters. To contact an expert in your area, visit http://expert.msue.msu.edu, or call 888-MSUE4MI (888-678-3464).

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