How to Involve Kids in the Summer Olympics

In just a few short days, London will take center stage when the Olympic cauldron is lit and IOC chairman Jacques Rogge proclaims, “Let the games begin!” The Olympics are special because countries set aside their differences for two weeks to cheer on their athletes in the world’s most prestigious sporting competition. The Olympics can also provide children with valuable lessons about hard work, perseverance and dedication.

To get your family into the spirit of the 2012 Summer Games, here are some lessons to share with children, the 411 on this year’s Olympic mascots, fun facts about the Olympics, plus free coloring pages, activities and games for kids.

Lessons to share with kids about the Olympics

Watching the 2012 Summer Olympics with your children is the perfect time to talk to them about the athletes and how young people can apply the same principles to their own daily lives.

• Dedication: Like the athletes, it’s important for children to dedicate themselves to becoming excellent students and role models.
• Perseverance: In order to succeed, kids must learn to persevere through life’s challenges and hardships.
• Hard work: The Olympic athletes know that hard work is required to excel in their sports. Tell children that there are no short cuts when it comes to hard work and diligence.
• Persistence: In order to rise to the top, athletes cannot back down or throw in the towel. Kids who persist at excellence in school and their community will also succeed.
• Drive: Olympic athletes are driven by their desire to succeed. Kids who are driven to succeed will maintain good grades and be leaders in their schools and communities.

Fun facts about the Olympics

Below are some fun facts from London2012.com to share with children to spark their interest in the 2012 Summer Olympics.

• Final Torchbearer: The torch relay began on May 19 and ends on July 27. There will be a total of 8,000 torchbearers by the time it ends. The last person to light the Olympic cauldron is always a huge secret and cause for speculation. At the Summer Games in Atlanta in 1996, boxing legend Muhammad Ali was the final torchbearer.
• The five interlocking Olympic rings represent the five original continents (Africa, America, Asia, Australia and Europe). The colors of the rings are blue, yellow, black, green and red. These colors were chosen because at least one of them can be found on the flag of every nation.
• The theme for the Olympic Opening Ceremony in London is “Isles of Wonder.” More than 15,000 performers will take part in the Opening and Closing Ceremonies.
• The motto of the Olympics is, “Swifter, Higher, Stronger.”
• The motto for the 2012 Summer Olympics in London is, “Inspire a generation.”
• During the parade of athletes, the Greek team always marches in first and the host country last.
• All of the used sports equipment will be donated to charities after the Summer Olympics.
• Olympics construction began in 2008 and 5,250 people have been working on it ever since.
• The next host cities of the Olympics are Sochi, Russia (2014 Winter Games), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (2016 Summer Games), and Pyeongchang, South Korea (2018 Winter Games).

Mascots for 2012 Summer Olympics

Organizers create Olympic mascots to engage and entertain children during the two weeks of competition. In 1996, Izzy was the official mascot of the Summer Games. In London, one-eyed Wenlock and Mandeville will represent the 2012 Summer Olympics. They are not gender specific and were named after two small English towns. There is a special website where kids can get to know the 2012 mascots, plus make their own versions. To date, kids have already created more than 100,000 mascots.

2012 Summer Olympics coloring pages, games and activities for kids:

To get your children into the spirit of the 2012 Summer Olympic Games in London, here are a few great online resources:

• Time For Kids: This popular online resource has special Olympics articles, including ones titled “Road to London,” “Passing the Torch,” “Paralympic Games,” “Athlete Q&A’s," "London 2012 Venues,” “By the Numbers,” and “All About England.”
• Kaboose: Olympic-themed activities for kids include crafts, activities, games and a trivia quiz.
• Activity Village: Includes free Olympic coloring pages and printables, crafts, puzzles, worksheets, and even recipes to celebrate the 2012 Summer Games in London.
• Enchanted Learning: This educational website includes kid-friendly printouts, worksheets, activities and much more, including Olympic fun facts for the younger set.
• Scholastic: The publisher offers suggestions on books about the Olympics, including titles like “Hour of the Olympics,” “Ancient Greece and the Olympics,” “The Encyclopedia of the Summer Olympics” and “Going for Gold.”
• Primary Games: There are lots of things for kids to do, including Olympic coloring pages and games, fun facts and trivia, Olympic stationery and more.

The Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Summer Olympics airs at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, July 27, in Atlanta on WXIA/NBC.