Parenting Bookshelf: Squash Your Kids!

If you want to think healthy, think squash. Like the carb-filled vegetable that’s good for the athletic body, the sport of squash was also ranked number one by Forbes magazine. But perhaps the most important facet for Northeast residents is that squash is a game for all seasons. Played inside, squash can bring families together in any weather, and in any age range.

Richard Millman, director of National Performance for the United States Squash Racquets Association, has teamed up with Rye resident Georgetta Morque, a competitive squash player, sports writer, and daughter of a former national squash champion to bring us the new book, RAISING BIG SMILING SQUASH KIDS, a Complete Roadmap for Every Parent and Coach ($29.95, Mansion Grove House).

Says Morque: “Through squash, kids will learn to challenge themselves and others, work on decision making and critical thinking, get great exercise while having fun, and learn about sportsmanship and other important life lessons.”

This 240-page hardcover starts at the beginning to guide you through the process of getting your child into his/her first class, and discusses the age at which a child can begin learning (3-9 years right into adulthood), how often you should practice, how to keep kids motivated, physical conditioning, teaching winning ways, and measuring true progress.

Because a child should be brought into squash at his own pace, the authors outline exactly how to proceed with the first class — minus the frustration — and later, how much push is too much. Parents learn how to be involved, how to encourage the dream, and how to find a balance with their involvement.