While only a small percentage of children garner scholarships or get a spot on a professional sports roster, many kids participate in a wide variety of sports. The benefits of sports for kids are myriad, though it's important to keep your child's developmental needs in mind when evaluating sports programs.
Benefits
Sports provide a healthy physical outlet for kids, teaching them how to share and take turns as well as helping them understand sportsmanship and appropriate behavior. In addition, sports help improve kids' self-esteem. Kids who participate in sports also experience lower levels of anxiety and depression as well as learn important social skills, such as cooperation and making friends. Sports also provide kids with the opportunity to learn critical thinking and self-discipline as well as goal-setting and practicing leadership skills. These skills all help build character and help kids throughout their lives.
Girls in particular benefit from sports. Girls engaged in sports have sex later in their adolescence and have more opportunity to practice leadership separate from their male peers.
Warning
The downside of sports is the increasing focus on success and winning. Professional and college sports center more and more on winning games to provide more money, via sponsorships or alumnae giving. This culture, if carried down to children's level, can cause kids to burn out on sports and lead to overspecialization at too early an age and a high rate of injury if kids have too much game time.
Considerations
Parent involvement is crucial for kids sports. However, that involvement must be tailored to the child's needs. The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, or AACAP, notes that parental involvement for kids in sports isn't about the sport. Instead, parents need to focus on their child's emotional needs, giving positive support. Parents don't need to attend every meet or event, but should go to some games and discuss the sporting event afterward to reinforce positive sportsmanship and pride in their child's abilities. Parents need to have a clear idea of their child's skill level and know enough about the sport to give positive feedback. Parents also need to help kids work through losses or disappointments, as this skill is critical throughout life. The AACAP also suggests that parents should show appropriate behavior throughout the sporting event and afterward, ensuring that children know to respect coaches, teammates, the opposing team and referees or umpires.
Types
Team sports abound, from football and basketball to soccer and volleyball. Not all kids want to be part of team, though. Individual sports also provide significant benefits. Sports such as tennis, swimming, golf and martial arts are all individual sports. Kids in individual sports are often part of a larger team that provides structure and training. The combination often works well for kids who aren't interested in being part of a team sport.
Prevention/Solution
With the growing twin trends of childhood obesity and physical education program cuts, sports may provide a child the only opportunity to learn a sport, move around and be part of a team. Sports help keep kids off the couch and away from their computers and cellphones. Sports get kids moving and engaged with one another in a healthy environment. Look for programs that focus on development, not success, to ensure your child's willingness to continue and gain a lifelong habit of physical activity.
