Sports are such a large part of society today, and many children grow up watching and participating in sports. So it's no wonder that as they get older, they start to develop the desire to play organized sports. To kids, the desire to play usually comes from their simple wish to have fun. But there are many other benefits they get from organized sports--ones that kids don't even realize, but that parents should help nurture.
Confidence
One 2006 study in the Education Resources Information Center found that participation in sports had a positive effect on the emotional and behavioral well-being--and particularly on the self-concept--in children. Plus, a child normally basks in the praise they receive from their coaches and parents. According to We Play, kids feel the biggest boosts in confidence when they experience success in a sport, feel supported by their friends and family members and are mentally prepared, among others. This early confidence building is something that kids can carry with them for a lifetime.
Physical Fitness
With the recent rise in childhood diabetes and obesity, sports can provide a great outlet for kids to enhance their physical fitness. School-age children are supposed to get at least 60 minutes per day of vigorous physical activity, according to Kids Health, and most sports would provide that.
Teamwork
The idea of good teamwork is another concept that kids can carry into adulthood. And when kids play organized sports, they learn to play with other kids as a team, and work with others toward a common goal. When children participate in a sport they also learn the concept of fair play, and how to win and lose with grace.
Personal Goals
Sports offers a range of opportunity for kids to set personal goals. For instance, many youth football leagues have a weight limit. So a child who is overweight may be motivated to get to a healthy weight in order to play the sport he loves. Another child may long to be the starting point guard on the basketball team. Having goals can teach children how to set priorities and work hard toward something they want-and the point is driven home especially well when they achieve those goals.
Also, most athletes must keep up a certain grade point average in order to play any sport that is school affiliated. So the desire to play sports could help them also perform better in school.
Social Skills
According to researcher Laura Egendorf, physical play with other kids is a big key to the development of social and emotional competence. Children are thought to learn much about life through playing with other children. Kids also learn how to communicate with other people in society through playing sports---it gives them a chance to learn social norms.
Negatives
Sometimes the expectations of sports--both time and effort--can be more than a child is able to handle, either for reasons of maturity or readiness. Some kids can experience over-competitiveness or hold performance expectations that may be too high, which can set them up for failure. This is where parents come in. According to Scholastic, parents should help their kids set realistic and reachable goals and get involved whenever possible.
References
- We Play: What Hurts Kids' Confidence in Sports
- Education Resources Information Center: The Effects of Sports Participation on Young Adolescents' Emotional Well-Being
- American Academy of Pediatrics: Organized Sports for Children and Preadolescents
- Scholastic: Get In the Game
- Kids Health: How Much Exercise Is Enough?
