Introducing your child to the world of sports is an exciting time for parents. There are so many opportunities available now for our young people, with so much talent just waiting to be found too! But, how do you choose the best sports for your kids development? It is not really difficult, basically coming down to their interests, abilities and the practicalities. Here are a few things to consider.
Benefits of sports for kids development
To start off, let’s recap the incredible benefits of physical activity for children. In a high-tech world where many kids are spending countless hours staring at a screen (for both leisure and learning), sport is the ideal way to get them moving and keep them happy and healthy. Kids thrive on many levels when playing sport; social, emotional, cognitive and physical. At the brain level, kids learn teamwork, cooperation, winning and losing gracefully, problem-solving and honouring commitments. Sport also provides feel-good endorphins that are so important to mental wellbeing and stress reduction. On a physical level, sport helps build muscles, encourages flexibility, aids balance and coordination, boosts cardiovascular endurance, and allows them to expend energy in a positive way.
Gauge their enthusiasm
To see where your child’s sporting interests may lie, watch sports on TV, go to a local game, or watch siblings or other family or friends play their sport of choice. Your child may love the look and feel of the sport and want to try it themselves. Talking about different sports or having a throw in the backyard are other easy ways to engage your child in different activities and see what they enjoy and where their skills lie.
Natural ability
Once your child has expressed interest in a few sports, it is a good idea to keep in mind their natural body type and skills before booking them in. Some kids are fast and tend to be good at sports such as netball and basketball, whereas others may be better equipped for the endurance required for field games such as soccer or football. Is your child adept at hitting a small ball with a bat or racquet, or is a larger ball better for them? Some kids also prefer individual sports over working in a team, and that is ok too. Introduce them to something they will feel comfortable doing to ensure they have fun as well as learn something new.
What is local?
Another deciding factor for many parents in choosing the best sport for their kids development purely comes down to what is available in the local area, as well as what their friends are doing. While you may feel this limits your options, a major positive of playing sport is the community involvement and solid friendships that can emerge, so supporting your local cricket, soccer or football club is a great introduction to the social and emotional benefits sports can offer people of all ages.
Try them all!
Even if you choose basketball, for example, as your child’s first sport, there is nothing to say they can’t also play football or cricket as well. Most sports are seasonal, so it is common to choose one or two summer sports and another one or two winter sports. In addition, there are many sports you can carry on throughout the year, such as tennis or athletics. For very young children, you may like to try a program that incorporates a range of sports into one session, such as Leap Frogs Action Sports And Games’ Multi-sport Program for 2-5-year olds. These types of programs give little legs the opportunity to try a variety of games, which may well show a natural preference or talent in one or two. Whatever sport you choose, always give your child the opportunity to offer you feedback on how they are going and whether they actually want to continue with it. Never pressure your son or daughter, as this takes the fun out of it and creates negativity around an activity that should be a wonderful, positive experience for you all. So, go out there and have some fun!
