Sports are great for fitness, social skills, psychological development, and important life skills. In fact, there are a whole host of reasons why playing sports is great for your child, and it was pretty tough to whittle the list down to just six.
Some parents worry about the risks involved in sports. While it’s true that your child is likely to suffer a few bumps and bruises, very serious injuries are a little rarer. There are numerous benefits to playing sports, especially for children who are growing, developing, and learning on so many levels. Here are six important reasons why you should be encouraging your child to play sports:
1. It’s important for fitness
Children should do at least an hour of moderate exercise every day. This could be running around after a football, taking a dip at the local pool, or cycling home from school. It’s easy for most kids to manage an hour of physical activity when the weather is nice, but you may have a harder time convincing them to leave the sofa when it’s cold outside. Team sports offer a number of incentives - including the social circle and friendships that might just be enough to lure your child out for a run in the winter months.
2. It’s fun
Aside from all the health benefits, the main reason most people play sports is that it’s fun. Playing sports is a great way to spend your free time. Whether you love running, climbing, team sports, or something else, sports are a great way to pass the time.
3. They’ll meet friends
One of the great things about sports clubs is that there are a whole new group of kids to play with. Your child will meet new people, develop friendships and relationships, and develop his social skills. These will be friends your child sees every week, who he learns to trust on the field, as well as after practice. A lot of people make very close friends through playing sports, and many of these friendships last a lifetime.
4. It’s good for self-esteem
Self-esteem plays an important role in happiness, and all parents want to ensure their children develop a strong self-esteem that will see them through life. Research has identified that playing sports can help children develop self-esteem. Team sports aren't the only sports that boost confidence and esteem, individual sports have actually proven to build an even higher level of self-esteem.
5. It’s important for body image
Research has found that playing sports regularly (at least once a week), can help young people develop a positive body image. Playing sports forces people to put their bodies to the test. Once you have seen how fast your strong legs can run, or how accurately your arms can throw, you are more likely to feel a sense of admiration for your body.
6. It reduces the risk of illicit risky behaviors
A number of studies have found that young people who regularly engage in sport or physical activity are less likely to engage in risky behavior outside of the sports hall. For teenagers, this means drinking, smoking, and drugs. Some experts believe this is because people who play sports are able to take risks on the field, allowing them to enjoy that adrenalin rush in a safe environment. For young people who don’t play sports, these illicit behaviors may simply be a way of taking risks.
References
Jones-Palm, D (2005) Physical Activity and Its Impact On Health Behavior Among Youth published by the World Health Organization https://www.icsspe.org/sites/default/files/PhysicalActivity.pdf
Omarsson, B (2013) Effects of sport participation on adolescent self-esteem and body-image: differences in gender and types of sport explored http://skemman.is/stream/get/1946/16684/37828/1/BS-Ritger%C3%B0-Birgir_P%C3%A1ll.pdf
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