Children and Sports.

Children and Sports.

Sports, whether team-based or individual, are a great activity for children that provide a variety of benefits other than physical activity. Participation in sports can help build self-esteem and confidence, can motivate children to excel academically and can help build social skills. Participation also can teach children the benefits of goal-setting and practice.

Physical Benefits

Physical activity is the most obvious benefit of sports participation. Children often spend too much time watching television or playing video games. But sports practices and games provide an opportunity for exercise that can help keep kids in shape and healthy. Sports give children the opportunity to be physically active and develop a healthy lifestyle that supports their sporting endeavors. Physical activity as children can help lessen their risk of developing diseases at a later stage in life.

Social Benefits.

Sports participation can help children develop social skills that will benefit them throughout their entire lives. They can also learn about responsibility to a team and how everyone needs to do their part for the team to be successful.  They learn to interact not only with other children of their age, but also with older individuals like their trainers and sports officials. Kids learn leadership skills, team-building skills and communication skills that will help them in school, their future career and personal relationships. Also, through sports, children have the opportunity to make friends with other kids with similar physical interests.

Self-Confidence.

Participation in sports can have a huge positive impact on a child's self-esteem and confidence. Children who participate in sports get praise and encouragement from outsiders and parents, which help to build self-confidence. They also learn to trust their own abilities and push themselves. Constructive criticism is also a major part of sports participation, and young sportsmen learn to accept such criticism and use it to their benefit. Parents must be actively involved to ensure that children get the most out of sports participation.

Emotional Benefits

Children who participate in sports can also reap emotional benefits when they are given positive sporting role models and experiences. From sports children "learn the value of practice and the challenge of competition," and these are lessons that children can learn to apply to other non-sporting parts of their lives. Given the right examples, children can also use sports to create a healthy self-image and a positive view of their body.

Academic Success

It is no surprise that children who participate in sports excel in studies as well. They can apply the same principles of dedication and hard work learned through sports participation to their studies.

Good Health

Sports participation promotes health and wellness not only through childhood but throughout a child's lifetime. Children who participate in sports might also be more aware of healthy food choices. Although sports participation is an excellent avenue to promote health and wellness, parents and coaches must encourage healthy living and be positive role models as well.

Conclusion.

Participation in sports can have many benefits for children. Sports provide an opportunity for children to increase their physical activity and develop physical and social skills. It is recommended, regular physical activity should be encouraged for all children, whether or not they participate in sports. Parents should watch that their children are continuing to have fun and make sure that they, as parents, are not pushing their child beyond his limitations and ensure a balance must be found that matches the child's maturity, interests and skills with their sports participation.