It’s the last day of the Olympics today! We’ve had a great time watching all of the amazing athletes compete, from Michael Phelps to Katie Ledecky, Simone Biles, and a British trampoliner that my eldest nicknamed “Beard Boy.” Even though I have an all-boy household, we spent plenty of time watching women’s sports. I have an article about this topic on Parent.Co talking about the importance of showing boys women athletes.
The benefits to young women playing sports are numerous – it reduces the risk of osteoporosis, breast cancer, and depression. But I believe there are benefits to my sons as well, in seeing our family and, this summer, our entire country, cheer on strong women. I hope this will teach them that it is okay to root for and support people who might be different from them, and that doing so will cost them nothing.
Jackie Semmens 