INCLUSION: Parenting Strategies I Learned From Inclyousion Sports
Hi everyone 👋! Kristen here. I’m excited to share a bit about my personal experience with how Inclyousion Sports has shaped my parenting over the years. I hope it’s helpful for you if things like transitions or having hard conversations are challenges you’ve been experiencing.
I knew Inclyousion Sports would provide life-changing experiences for children. What I didn’t expect was how it would also provide life-changing lessons for me as a parent.
Before Inclyousion Sports, I often felt frustrated by the outbursts from my children that resulted from transitions. When I turned off the tv, tried to get everyone in the car, helped everyone get upstairs for bedtime, and supported teeth brushing routines, it often led to screaming, crying, dysregulation, and overwhelm. I quickly learned that the strategies we used at Inclyousion Sports to engage children were the same strategies that would work to turn things around at home.
Here are three powerful strategies I’ve learned through Inclyousion Sports that have transformed the way I parent.
1. The Magic of the Transition Countdown
At Inclyousion Sports, we often give kids a countdown before shifting from one activity to the next.
“Five more minutes of soccer, then we’re heading to water break!”
“Two more turns at the obstacle course, then it’s time to clean up!”
It’s a simple tool, but it works wonders—especially for kids who need help with transitions or don’t love surprises.
At home, I started using it before things like:
Turning off the TV
Leaving the playground
Cleaning up toys
Starting bedtime
“Okay, in 1 minute, we’re putting on pajamas.”
“One more game of Candy Land, then it’s time for dinner.”
Transitions feel smoother for everyone when kids feel prepared and they understand expectations in advance.
2. Using Visual Schedules for Structure
Most kids thrive with clear, predictable routines—and I’ve found that mine do too. At Inclyousion Sports, we often use visual schedules or icons to show what’s happening next during a class: warm-up, skills practice, water break, team cheer.
So I thought: Why not try this at home?
To master challenging times of our routine, we used visual schedules for morning routines and bedtime.
Brushing teeth, getting dressed, packing lunch… all laid out in simple steps they can see and follow. It gives them a sense of control, and it takes the pressure off me to repeat myself 20 times before school.
Tip: You don’t need anything fancy. Sticky notes, pictures from magazines, or hand-drawn icons work just fine.
3. Having Real Conversations About Similarities and Differences
At Inclyousion Sports, we celebrate every child—regardless of ability, background, or experience. And we talk about it openly.
We say things like:
“Some kids use words to talk. Some use pictures or devices.”
“Some people wear glasses. Some use wheelchairs. Everyone plays in their own way.”
Bringing this same mindset home has helped me start open, age-appropriate conversations with my child about differences—not as something to fear, but something to understand and respect.
We talk about:
How friends might move, communicate, or play differently
What inclusion looks like in school and on the playground
How to notice similarities and celebrate differences
These conversations are helping my children grow into a more empathetic, curious, and kind human. To feel supported with these conversations, I often lean on books written by experts in the space that I need support with - we don’t need to go at this alone.
We created Inclyousion Sports to support children. But what I didn’t expect was how much it would support me, too. These strategies—transition countdowns, visual schedules, and open conversations—aren’t just tools for sports. They’re tools for life.
Interested in more parenting strategies? Check out below!
3 Ways Parents Prevent Their Child's Sports Success - and How to Avoid Them!
Tips For A Successful First Sports Experience
5 Ways Sports Can Boost Your Child’s Self-Esteem
