Good Sports for Kids

Good Sports for Kids
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Sports are very important to the development of a child. In addition to helping kids stay healthy and fit, sports can establish valuable lifelong habits and teach valuable social and teamwork skills that can benefit children for the rest of their lives. There are a wide range of sports available for young kids, ranging from team to individual sports. The best sport for your child depends on his talents and/or interests, but sports involvement of any kind can enrich your child's development and help him steer clear of trouble.

Soccer

Soccer is one of the most popular youth sports in the United States; according to the website Parents, more than 3 million children currently play the sport. It's a very easy sport for children to learn because the rules and fundamentals are simple. Soccer helps teach children about teamwork, since passing is key to scoring in the game. Soccer also requires kids to run extensively up and down the field, providing them with a cardio workout while they play. The limited equipment requirements for soccer make it an accessible sport for many kids, unlike football and hockey, which can require expensive equipment and/or fees even for beginners.

Baseball

Baseball is commonly referred to as "America's pastime," because its popularity originated in the United States. Young children usually start with tee ball, in which they hit the ball off a stationary tee, and slow-pitch, in which an adult pitches the ball underhand to the batter. Once kids have mastered the fundamentals, they progress to overhand-pitch baseball.

Bicycling

Most children learn how to ride a bike at an early age. This individual activity provides a source of independence to children and offers a form of exercise that children can continue to enjoy throughout their lives. As kids grow, they can move into different types of bicycling, such as road biking or mountain biking, and they even might consider competing in youth races as they enter their teenage years. It's important to make sure that your child wears a helmet and practices bike safety.

References

Article reviewed by Alison Gaynor Last updated on: Jun 9, 2010

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