Brandi Chastain is a legendary name in the soccer world, she won three Olympics medal (two gold and one silver) and two Women’s World Cup championships. From her childhood she learned about staying active, her parents were busy not only because their work but also to spend time and go outside and play.
Based from her life experience, Chastain wants to help other kids to achieve the same confidence as her which is being active and healthy. She joins two non profits organizations to helping children become active and stay healthy regardless of their socioeconomic circumstances.
Today she is a mother of two son, and soccer is one of her best, it runs to her son, Jaden Chastain Smith, 6 from her marriage with Jerry Smith and Cameron and her stepson, today in law school.
“He joined his first soccer team; he’s had two official matches under his belt,” says Chastain. “We’re also into throwing the football around.”
She also recently partnered with Libby’s to host a youth soccer clinic in leagues in three Northeast markets on behalf of the brand’s Snack Duty Takeover campaign featuring Libby’s Singles Fruit Cups.
“We’re sharing the message about healthy lifestyles and how healthy snacks can help kids perform better,” Chastain says. “As a parent, I want my child to eat well and play hard, and if you have a healthy snack ready for your kids, it improves alertness and they can focus better. To help your child be his or her own best advocate, pack a snack in their backpack. My son enjoys the pear cup most.”
“Being an active and hands-on role model is the best way,” says Chastain. “I try to do my best. When I pick up my son, we play on the playground together, and we have a group of parents who meet at the park one night a week to play games.”
And providing a good food is the only one of the ways parents can help their children become more active.
“It’s encouraging kids to understand that they have to take responsibility for their own lives – that being healthy is within their charge,” says Chastain. “Those might be overwhelming words for a kid, but not if you put it in a fun context – letting them make up games and organize activities.”
“I’ve seen the changes in [my own son],” she explains. “He doesn’t have that much skill yet, but already I’ve seen how much his demeanor has changed, his confidence has improved.
“My mom always used to say, ‘Just wait till you’re a mom, Brandi – you’ll understand that desire for your kids to do well.’ ”
There are plenty lesson you can teach to your children from sports besides fun and maintain fitness, children learn about strategy, team work, loyalty and learning from their mistake. It could improve their confidence.
