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After being postponed for a year due to the coronavirus pandemic, opening ceremonies for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics will take place on Friday, July 23rd at 7:30 p.m. EST. Spectators and Olympic athletes' families have been banned from The Games and the Japanese Olympic Committee also banned in-person spectators once Covid-19 cases began to rise in Japan. In fact, many Japanese doctors and residents would prefer to see The Olympics canceled.
Opposition aside, The Games will go on and for many across the world, it presents an opportunity to share this historical event with your family. Here are some ideas on how to watch The Olympics with your kids and get the most out of The Summer Games.
How to watch The Olympics: 2021 Summer Games Schedule
Due to the time difference between Tokyo and the United States, families may find themselves having to get up early to watch live broadcasts of their favorite sports. However, if your family is like mine and enjoys sleeping in, don't worry, you'll be able to catch highlights online on the NBC Olympics website.
Your local NBC station will also broadcast recorded coverage in the evenings or you can watch on the NBC Sports Network, CNBC, the NBC Olympics channel, USA, or Telemundo. The Summer Games can also be streamed online on NBCSports.com or Peacock.com.
If you're watching The Olympics with younger kids who may not have the attention span for entire competitions, you can catch recorded highlights on NBCOlympics.com. You can also bookmark your family's favorite sports so you know when to set the alarm clock by checking out The Official Summer Games schedule.
Watching The Olympics with kids
When my youngest son began taking gymnastics in 2019, we spent hours watching male gymnasts on YouTube. One of our stand-out favorites soon became three-time Olympian Sam Mikulak who will be competing in his final Summer Games in Tokyo. For my 10-year-old, learning about Olympic athletes and their backstories made The Olympics something more interesting and tangible.
Here are other ways to enrich your child's Olympics viewing experience:
- Reading books about The Games and famous Olympic athletes is a great way to help your child connect with athletes. At the heart of The Olympic Games there are people with goals and dreams who face everyday challenges like everyone else.
- Kids Call is a fun video series of pint-sized sportscasters commentating on famous Olympic moments. Younger children love watching other kids, so it will surely reel your child in and capture their interest.
- If you're worried about screentime, balance your Olympics-watching with some outdoor summer fun. Hoosier Homemade offers some ideas to help you bring The Games to your backyard and get the kids out in the fresh air with their own Olympics for kids activities.
If you're the parent of an aspiring track and field star you may be struggling with how to broach the topic of Sha'Carri Richardson's suspension from The Games due to testing positive for THC. This may be an opportunity to discuss with your older child expectations, goals, and healthy ways of dealing with stress and challenges. Richardson admitted that she had a weak moment after learning that her biological mother died and regrets her decision.
Anitra Allen, the mother of a teen track and field star and mental health advocate, puts the situation in perspective for parents. "Until you've seen a young athlete break down from believing they've disappointed their parents/coach or that they'll miss an opportunity after losing a race/game, you can't begin to understand the kind of pressure these athletes are facing," Durand told Mom.com.
What sports are in The Summer Olympics 2021?
We all have our favorite Olympic sports and it's likely your kids will be no different. For kids who play softball and baseball, this may be their first experience seeing them played at The Olympic Games. Both sports were removed from the lineup 13 years ago.
Other kids will be thrilled to watch some of the best skateboarders in the world vie for Olympic medals for the first time at The Games, like 13-year-old Sky Brown, pictured above, who is Britain's youngest Summer Olympian.
In addition to skateboarding, events including sports climbing, surfing and karate will make their Olympic debut this year. If you want to know how to watch The Olympics with your kids and fit it into your schedule, the following breakdown can help you schedule around work, summer camp, or any family vacations you may have on the calendar.
When and how to watch The Olympics 2021: sports kids may enjoy
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Softball: July 23 – July 27
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Surfing: July 24 – July 31
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Skateboarding: July 24 – Aug. 4
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Baseball: July. 27 – Aug. 7
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Sport Climbing: Aug. 3 – Aug. 6
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Karate: Aug. 4 – Aug. 7
As you sit down to watch The Olympics with your kids, your child may express an interest in The Olympics, and of course only you know the realities of whether or not that can happen for them. However, even if our kids are not Olympics-bound, we can foster an Olympic attitude in them.
"Most kids don't win hard-to-reach awards, go pro, or end up on national TV. Even knowing that we involve them in activities, pay for lessons and equipment, and schlep them to instructors and practices," Today contributor, Dr. Deborah Gilboa said. "They will need to dedicate themselves, to persevere, even to sacrifice. Teaching those skills to our children is far more important than shepherding them to the Olympics."