Introducing a child to sports provides several valuable skills. Besides the obvious skill of the appropriate sport technique, sports provide valuable life skills to children. Sports enable healthy emotional development, help combat obesity and provide children with the opportunity to learn critical social skills, such as taking turns and playing by the rules.
Baseball Or Softball
Baseball or softball activities teach girls and boys to take turns, promote running skills and also help hand eye coordination. In addition, it teaches children to play by the rules, count properly and the basics of good sportsmanship. Baseball requires little equipment--a bat, some gloves, a ball and open space. Leagues typically start at young age, at kindergarten or preschool and continue into the adult years. Kids can learn the basics of the game in a league environment, coached by their parents or friends. Most young children's baseball leagues have specific rules about ball size, number of innings and outs to ensure the game is played fairly and optimizes fun so that children develop a passion for the sport.
Tennis
If your child isn't interested in being part of a team, an individual sport can be an ideal way to get your son or daughter interested in a sport. Tennis is a game that you can play individually with a partner or as a part of a larger team, though play is individual or partnered. Tennis clinics are frequently offered through private organizations or by recreational programs. All a child needs is proper shoes that don't mark the surface of the court. Many programs provide racquets, balls, nets, coaches and team shirts or hats.
Basketball
Basketball requires little equipment--a basket and a ball is all that's necessary to get a game going. Childen can play by themselves, as part of a small team or as part of an organized league with coaches, referees and a full contingent of players. Basketball helps develop a sense of fair play, as fouls are self-policed without a referee. It also helps children learn to take turns and follow the rules.
Most basketball leagues start in the middle elementary years, typically around second grade, though younger teams are available in some areas of the country. These leagues typically arrange gym space, and set up practice times and a game schedule for players.
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