For many children, organized sports and recreation are a big part of childhood. While participating in sports is beneficial for kids, it can be tough to decide which activities will be best for your child. Research indicates children who participate in sports and extracurricular activities, promotes academic and personal success. Deciding which sport is best for your child depends on a number of factors, and forcing the wrong activity on a child can have detrimental repercussions.
Skill Competence
Athletics does not need to be geared toward traditional sports for beginners, shy, sedentary, or overweight children to reap the benefits. Individual sports such as martial arts, equestrian, ice skating, golf, tennis, swimming, and dance teach valuable skills and boost physical activity. Team sports with loud aggressive coaches may overwhelm reluctant or non-competitive children. Jogging, cycling, and martial arts are proactive choices, non-intimidating yet foster motivation. Younger children have short attention spans and need to learn motor skills, safety, and balance. Activities that are playful, require little instruction, and encourage exploration such as soccer, tumbling, and hiking are simple and teach hand to eye coordination.
Challenging Changes
Before puberty, children are similar in size and ability, but boys and girls mature at different ages. This should be considered when deciding how early to start your child in sports. The changes can affect their level of performance, confidence, body type, and sport suitability in particular for sports that require contact. After puberty, adjustments may be necessary. However, the tomboy should not be forced into stereotypical feminine sports or dance classes, but allowed to stick it out in coed football or softball if she desires.
Build Confidence
Outgoing children excel at competitive team sports where the coaching is rigorous and the energy level is demanding. Shy children or those who have low-key temperaments would benefit from sports that provide individual attention such as swimming, tennis, skating, skiing, bowling, and martial arts. A young child still needs to refine their basic skills, but they can be learned at the same time as the sport itself. Programs for younger children allow everyone time to play, have smaller equipment, courts, shorter game times and even lax rules and score keeping.
Recognize Limitations
Forcing an overweight or sedentary child into large or loud public groups can be embarrassing or humiliating, whereas solo activities such as bike riding, trampolines, hiking, and walking will help them transition to more challenging activities and build enthusiasm. Stubborn or overactive children benefit from the endurance requirements of track and field or the discipline from activities such as fencing and water polo.
Interests are unique to each child, so allow them to sample different sports until they decide where they are the most skillful and comfortable. There are many resources to help parents decide what sport is best for their child to try, and staying connected is crucial. Schools, community centers, university campuses, and gyms are great sources for parents to get feedback from others who are experiencing identical situations. The information for this article was provided by Ohio University, who offers a masters in coaching and athletic administration.
