Why It’s Never Too Early To Get Your Child Involved In Sports
As far as extracurricular activities go, sports have some of the highest participation rates among school-age children. Whether it’s football, cross-country, or gymnastics, there are infinite options for activities that your child could take part in. You may worry that placing your child in a sport will cause undue stress and pressure. Getting your child involved in a sport can actually have a lot of positive effects on their growth and development.
Healthy Development
The first and most obvious way that the physical activity associated with participating in a sport can have on your child is the way that it will aid in their development. Children who exercise are able to develop strong muscles and bones as well as maintain good health in their hearts and lungs.
Sleep
Kids who exercise regularly are able to maintain a healthy sleep schedule. When your child participates in a sport, this allows them to burn their energy during the day so that by the time bedtime rolls around, they will be tired enough to get a good night’s sleep.
Self-Confidence
Your child’s involvement in sports is likely to build up their confidence. Sports are about more than just the physical aspect. As kids learn to catch difficult pitches in their softball gloves or stick the landings on their dismounts from the uneven bars, they will gain confidence in their own abilities and skills.
Mental Sharpness
From an outsider’s perspective, sports can look like a purely physical endeavor. The reality is that most sports involve a lot of quick thinking, problem-solving skills, and calculations. These skills can often help kids perform better in school in addition to giving them the tools they need to navigate real-life scenarios.
Endorphins
Exercise can help the body produce a hormone called “endorphins.” These hormones help to boost the mood and also work to fight pain. Kids who exercise are generally happier and less likely to have issues with pain. Because of this, exercise can help with depression or chronic pain. Even if your child does not deal with these issues, it can help prevent them from happening in the future.
Relationships
Being involved in a sport gives your child the opportunity to improve their social skills. They will work on a team with others towards a common goal, learn how to communicate, and have positive interactions with opposing teammates. Social anxiety is often lessened among children who participate in team sports. These kind of group activities can help children feel lke they have somewhere to belong. If the sport is school-based, kids will often be able to form social groups at school even if they were previously a “loner.”
Prevention
Exercise has been linked to the prevention of several serious disorders. Type 2 diabetes, cancer, heart disease, high blood pressure, and osteoporosis are among some of the disorders that can be helped by frequent exercise. It is crucial at this age that kids develop these healthy habits so that they can prevent or delay these problems from cropping up in the future. While exercise is by no means a cure-all, it is certainly an important step to take for many people.
Behavior
Involvement in sport and physical activity has been shown to correlate with better emotional regulation. Kids who play sports and exercise regularly are shown to have better discipline and are less likely to have behavioral issues. Sports allow children to have an outlet for all of their excess energy, so this can cut down on children who may feel antsy during class.
While sports are not for everyone, it is important that kids be able to get up and move around once in a while. This can help them stay healthy and navigate their way through emotions, relationships, and behavior. Sports are a rewarding activity to participate in, and by investing the time and money in them, you will be able to watch your child grow into a well-rounded person.
