raising a star raising an athlete We asked Walter and Nerida, parents of Jacko Gill, the 16-year-old world champion shot putter, what it was like raising an athlete. what was Jacko good at in school? He become the best there has ever been. His Olympic dream could be good at school, often excelling in maths and he began about then. Jacko never made himself boundaries in was quite an accomplished writer. However, in December sport, he would look at the next record and remark: “I can 2010, Jacko came to us with a three page letter he had get that.” written, explaining his desire to leave school and chase his what other sport would Jacko do if he dream of competing at the Olympics. Jacko left school that Jacko was a talented month, having just turned 16-years-old, with no wasn’t a shotputter? cricketer where his big hitting is remembered and he was qualifications and a big dream to succeed. also a very fast bowler. He diplayed talent at soccer, boxing was Jacko a fussy eater? Eating for Jacko was and basketball. However he chose a sport where he could at times not easy. As a child, he faded in and out of periods control his own destiny - get the qualifying distance and you where he seemed not to want to eat at all. He has never can’t be left out of a team. eaten fruit, and vegetables were only consumed with does Jacko have time for other sports lashings of cheese sauce. As a teenager and athlete, he is As a 16-year-old, Jacko’s hobby is careful not to eat unhealthy foods. or hobbies? keeping in touch with the many friends he has made when did Jacko start doing athletics? competing worldwide. Among them are many World Record Jacko began athletics at 9-years-old, having played soccer, holders and Olympic champions. He receives hundreds of cricket, basketball and seido karate. He was accomplished emails asking for training tips and offers to compete etc. at whatever he put his hand to, though more by desire than There is no longer any time for other sports. raw talent. He enjoyed the most because his rather than groups of his peers. However, he was always Jacko has two progress could be measured with a tape and he was always who are Jacko’s role models? popular at school and kids accepted that nothing interfered trying to throw it a little further. main role models, , and world senior shot put with his training. He has always been very single-minded record holder, Randy Barnes. Usain because he knew no and never gives up. If the result he wants is not being how much training did Jacko do once boundaries when chasing the World 100m record; and achieved, then he will think of a different way to get it. he started competing? By age 10, Jacko held Randy because he trained on his own and did not need his first record throwing the shot put. He had encouragement from others to succeed. However, at crucial as Jacko’s parents, how have you already taken to training six days a week, eighty throws a times, there has been influence from local role models supported him? We always looked to foster the will day, rain or shine. We even had to rig up lights and many Graham May, Courtenay Ireland, Nigel Avery, Roy Williams to succeed in Jacko and we would have supported him times he would throw at 11pm at night if we had been out. and Sir . whether he chose music, table tennis or chess. We gave him praise when he did well, just as we would tell him if he had has Jacko always been competitive? what aspects of Jacko’s personality done wrong. We gave him our time, and only a little money. Jacko never wanted to just take part, he always tried to have helped him be so successful? We travelled to every practice and every game, he always excel. He had a belief even at 10-years-old that he could Jacko was something of a loner and preferred family life knew he had our support.

helping kids understand moneyBy Yvonne Eve Walus Money is a complex matter, so we need to be very clear when teaching our children to be money-savvy and help them set up good habits for life.

the power of money money-money-money, questions to ask yourself it’s not funny We can’t help teaching our kids that money rules the Before you embark on the money journey with your world. How many times do we inadvertently give them that A friend of mine learnt the hard way why giving children child, it’s worth considering your and your partner’s message? responsibility over money may be tricky. Sarah (not her attitude to the following issues and working out your real name) thought she was a wise parent when she • We can’t buy that toy, it costs too much money. family’s philosophy when it comes to such matters: introduced a weekly $2 sum of pocket money for her • I can’t stay at home to play with you. I have to go to work 7-year-old with the rule that he could spend it immediately • Would you be happy for your child to receive to get money. on sweets or save it for a few weeks and then buy a more money as a birthday present from her • You can’t have a ride on the supermarket rocket. expensive item. Sarah was proud of her son for choosing school friends? the savings option. She didn’t keep records of how much It’s a waste of money. • Would you let your child give money money her son should have saved up at any given point, • Oh no, not another letter from the school. I bet they as a present? want more money. but she was a little surprised to see how often he could afford to buy things. The penny dropped, so to speak, • Are you prepared to pay your children for • Be careful with my handbag. Don’t touch it. All my when she noticed him taking coins from her purse. He household chores such as washing your car, money’s inside. admitted to doing it on a regular basis, as he didn’t know picking up toys or weeding the garden? Or are there was anything wrong with it. household chores responsibilities that shouldn’t money too early get rewarded financially? “We taught him the importance of saving, but we forgot • Is it okay to withhold pocket money as It’s never too early to open a savings account in your to teach him the right and the wrong way of obtaining a consequence for poor behaviour? child’s name. But when is it the right time to give them money,” Sarah confessed, still shocked by the irony. “He pocket money or let them handle real coins when buying knows not to take toys that belong to other children - toys • Is pocket money a reward for good behaviour? things at the local dairy? If your child cannot calculate are individual and special, but it’s a bit different with • Is pocket money to be saved up or spent? how much a $1.50 bar of chocolate and a $2 ice-cream impersonal $2 coins.” will cost, or how much change they should receive from a • Is your child allowed to spend their money $10 bill, it might be too early to make them responsible for In the absence of a clear rule, it’s an easy error of on anything they like, for example, sweets, chewing real-money situations. Similarly, before they get pocket judgement for a child to make. So, when teaching your gum, or plastic guns even though you may be money, they should probably get a feel for the difference child about money, remember it’s a complicated matter, opposed to such toys? in the price of a packet of biscuits as opposed to a plane something that even adults struggle to get right. ticket to visit Nana. TOTS TO TEENS DECEMBER/JANUARY 2012 Auckland23