If you have children, or if you’re a parent of a child, you’ve likely thought about encouraging them to play sports. In 2020, at least 54.1% of children between 6–17 years participated in sports.
Everyone is familiar with the benefits of playing sports as an adult. It can promote good health and help prevent heart disease and other illnesses. But what about kids?
Do sports benefit them in the same ways or have any unique advantages?
This article will discuss why children need to play sports, as well as some tips on getting your family involved in this great activity.
The Importance of Physical Activity for Children
Physical activity is vital for children, and parents should ensure their kids get enough of it. Exercise can help children develop healthy habits, motor and social skills, confidence, and self-esteem.
Furthermore, physical activity teaches kids how to control their bodies in a safe environment, a skill they’ll need later in life when playing sports or engaging in activities that require coordination.
Integrating physical therapy for children can also be highly beneficial when considering motor skill development at an earlier age.
How to Encourage Children to Play Sports
If you want your child to be active, you must start early. The best way for kids to learn about sports and develop an interest in them is through exposure at a young age.
Remember that many activities exist when choosing which sports your child should play. They must choose one activity and find something they enjoy regularly to avoid getting bored or discouraged from playing sports.
If they cannot decide, you can try some free training options. For instance, book a free soccer training session if your child wants to try football but is unsure. The free session will help him or her decide if he or she enjoys the sport. If your child loves football, you can proceed with further training.
You must also decide what kind of training you want to give your child. The final destination will always be on the field, but you can help your child prepare for being there.
For instance, there are many technology-based training routines available that can help children master ball handling.
As TOCA Soccer states, tech-based soccer training can result in rapid improvements and build well-rounded players. Technology can also offer real-time data for the ongoing development of soccer skills.
Once your children know what games they want to play, encourage them by showing support for their decisions.
If possible, attend some games or practices so that your presence will help them feel more comfortable and confident while learning new skills.
How Sports Help Develop Healthy Habits
Sports can help children develop the following healthy habits:
- Goal setting. Sports teach children how to set and work toward goals, an essential skill for future success. If your child wants to play a sport this year, help her create a plan for practicing and improving her skills. For example, if she wants to improve at basketball, you might suggest that she set aside time each day for practice drills or games with friends.
- Teamwork skills. In addition to learning how quickly they need to put in effort toward achieving their goals as individuals, athletes also learn what it means when working together as part of a team. This can show kids how much more power they have when they work together rather than alone.
Sports Can Promote Physical Activity
Sports can be a great way to get children active and help them develop healthy habits.
- Soccer is among the most popular sports worldwide, with an estimated 265 million players worldwide. It’s also one of the most accessible sports for kids because they can play it almost anywhere.
- Basketball is another fun game that your child can opt for. This sport is so popular among kids that professional leagues exist for them. An article from Sports Business Journal shows that at least 27.1 million people above six years played basketball at least once in 2021.
Sports Can Help Children Socialize With Each Other
Sports can help children learn to work with others. They learn to cooperate and share, set goals and achieve them, be responsible for their actions, and be good teammates and sportsmen.
Results of a study published in the PLOS ONE Journal show that participation in team sports showed 17% lower social problem scores.
This will help them when they start school because children need different friends. Sports teach kids how to make friends with people different from themselves. If your child doesn’t want to play organized sports right now, that’s okay.
He can still spend time outdoors daily playing games alone or with friends.
Sports Can Improve Sleep Habits
Sports can also help your child get a better night’s sleep. Sleep is essential to physical and mental health, so your child must get enough rest.
In fact, research shows that kids who participate in sports have higher rates of getting adequate sleep than those who don’t participate in sports or other physical activities.
In addition to this finding being good news for parents who want their kids’ bodies and minds to be at their best, it also means that sports provide an easy way for children to get their recommended amount of shut-eye each night.
If you’d like your child’s athletic routine to coincide more closely with yours, try scheduling practices or games when both parents will be home from work.
This could mean playing after school instead of before or on weekends.
Sports Can Have Mental Health Benefits
Sports can help your child develop a healthy attitude towards sports and physical activity. Sports may also provide an outlet for stress, benefiting your child’s mental health.
- Sports can help children deal with stress
- Sports build confidence
- Sports build self-esteem
In addition to helping develop healthy attitudes toward physical activity, sports can also help children learn how to be team players, work hard, and accept failure as part of improving their skills.
In a May 2020 survey, at least 56% of respondents said that sports participation reduced mental and emotional issues for their kids.
Building Confidence and Self-Esteem Through Sports
Sports can help build your self-esteem in the following ways:
- Sports can help children build confidence. When kids participate in sports, they learn they can do things they didn’t think were possible. They also learn how to overcome obstacles and work toward goals. These experiences help them develop a sense of self-worth, crucial for growing into healthy adults with positive mental health habits.
- Sports can help children build self-esteem. Children who play sports learn about teamwork, cooperation, and respect for others’ skills, which are essential for maintaining good relationships throughout life. Kids who participate in organized sports may experience more success than those who don’t because coaches often teach these valuable traits through practice sessions or team meetings before games begin.
Conclusion
There are many benefits to encouraging your children to play sports, and it’s never too early to start.
The most important thing is just making sure they have fun. You know it works when you see them enjoying themselves and enjoying the fun.