Less than 1 percent of kids grow up to be pro athletes. But the point of getting kids involved in sports isn’t to raise the next Serena or LeBron, says sport psychologist and parenting expert Jim Taylor, PhD. It’s to give them the mental tools to be healthy, happy and successful for the rest of their lives. On this episode, the former alpine ski racer breaks down the benefits of youth sports and shares advice on how parents can get — and keep — kids involved. The secret, he says, is creating positive athletic experiences and  not buying into the “youth sports industrial complex.” Drawing on his  experience as a father of two athlete daughters, he also digs deep into all the factors that can hold girls back in sports and identifies ways that each of us can help close that gender gap.

Mind-Body Links

• As promised, here’s Dr Taylor’s credentials and accomplishments — plus a ton of his articles.
• An active family culture starts with our Made to Play Coaching Girls Guide.
• Want to help the girls in your life get moving? Here’s how to get them hooked on sports.