Legendary cricketer Sachin Tendulkar has stepped off the pitch to share invaluable parenting wisdom, offering a fresh perspective on raising well-rounded children in today's complex world. In a recent interview with Eenadu ETV Bharat, the Master Blaster detailed how lifestyle habits, sports culture, and mindful parenting can fundamentally shape a child's future.
The Foundation: Health Equals Happiness
Sachin Tendulkar places health at the very core of a child's happiness. "Being healthy is the most important thing for a person to be happy," he stated emphatically. For the cricket icon, fitness transcends physical routine—it forms the bedrock of emotional stability and mental wellbeing. He urges parents to cultivate home environments where exercise and active play become natural, daily occurrences rather than scheduled chores.
Reviving Outdoor Play in a Digital Age
In an era dominated by screens, Sachin advocates strongly for returning to basics. "Children should be encouraged to spend most of their time on the playground," he advises. The transformation, he notes, must begin at home with parents consciously prioritizing physical activity over digital distractions. According to his philosophy, sports instill crucial life skills—resilience, discipline, and teamwork—that become fundamental building blocks for a child's personality and future success.
Simple Habits for Lifelong Fitness
Sachin demystifies fitness by emphasizing accessibility over complexity. He suggests practical changes like "walking should be preferred instead of going by bike or car for short distances." He describes walking as a habit worth "making an addiction," while simultaneously recommending families reduce their dependence on digital gadgets. The cricketer assures parents that dedicating just thirty minutes daily to exercise can significantly transform both physical and mental health outcomes for children.
Building Healthy Family Ecosystems
Sachin outlines straightforward lifestyle habits that yield substantial long-term benefits: nutritious eating, adequate sleep, regular sports participation, and daily exercise. He stresses consistency over perfection, noting that these practices benefit not just individuals but potentially the nation's future. Parents who model healthy choices naturally steer children toward sustained wellbeing, with small, regular steps eventually compounding into lifelong discipline.
National Importance of Early Development
Speaking on India's Independence Day, Sachin highlighted the critical national significance of early childhood care. "Investing in Early Child Development is one of the best investments a country can make," he declared. He believes that proper nutrition, play-based learning, and unconditional love can dramatically influence a child's trajectory, potentially helping India emerge as a global superpower by 2050.
Equal Parenting and Emotional Security
Sachin emphasized that child-rearing represents a shared responsibility between both parents. "Children need the love and affection of a father as much as that of a mother," he explained. Drawing a cricket analogy, he added that "rotating strike between partners is as important in rearing a child." Active father involvement, he notes, leads to healthier children while reducing the emotional burden on mothers, ultimately strengthening the entire family unit.
The Freedom to Follow Dreams
Sachin credits his father, writer Ramesh Tendulkar, for teaching him the profound value of freedom. His father never pressured him academically, instead allowing complete dedication to cricket. Sachin applies this same principle with his children—son Arjun pursuing cricket and daughter Sara exploring nutrition and modeling. He firmly believes in nurturing individual dreams rather than imposing parental expectations, demonstrating that support consistently proves more effective than pressure in helping children thrive.
