Go Girl!: Raising Healthy, Confident, and Successful Girls Through Sports

NBC sportscaster Storm, mother of three daughters, believes that participating in sports is a crucial part of maturation. Not only is the physical activity important for children, but playing sports allows them to develop self-confidence, learn about teamwork and perform better academically. In chronological order from babies through teens Storm offers advice on raising fitter and more active children, including baby exercise through stretches for older girls. In addition to pointers on participation for the kids, the author offers guidelines for parents such as how they should be supportive but not assume the role of a coach. Storm, writing with Jenkins (Sports Medicine Bible for Young Athletes), also includes tips on how to evaluate athletic programs and what to look for in coaches. Nutritional information, weight issues and other health concerns are also discussed. She concludes with a detailed look at the rules of various sports including basketball, rugby and field hockey. There's also a section on working out with weights, which would have been more useful had there been illustrations. This is a breezy primer on sports with practical information. However, much of the information especially the general parenting and health advice will be familiar to most parents. The book will be most useful to parents who have never participated in sports themselves and are uncomfortable with athletic activities. (May)