Babies, toddlers and school-aged children derive a positive effect from age-appropriate sports. Sports benefit kids in numerous constructive ways, according to the New York University Child Study Center, and kids can begin a competitive sport as young as 3 years old. Perhaps the most obvious and important effect remains physical, since childhood obesity rates have exploded in the U.S. in the last three decades. While sports positively affect children's physical health and help them maintain a healthy weight and activity level, it also has a positive impact on their psychological and emotional development.
Physical Benefits
The physical effects of sports on babies, toddlers and school-aged children include improved reflexes, focus and attention, says the New York University Child Study Center, while also supporting bone, muscle and joint development, and reducing the probability of obesity. According to a press release from the office of first lady Michelle Obama published on WhiteHouse.gov, nearly one in three American children are overweight or obese, and a third of all American children born in 2000 or later will suffer from diabetes later in life. Sports introduced early can create a positive impression of physical activity, which in turn can have a lifelong beneficial effect that help kids stay active and stay in shape.
Psychological Impact
Sports reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression in young children, and babies, toddlers and school-aged children demonstrate higher self-esteem, according to the New York University Child Study Center. Children who engage in sports when they are young also show less psychological distress when they are older. They seem less likely to harbor suicidal thoughts and appear less predisposed to risky behavior, such as drugs. Sports lay the groundwork for a positive self-image in young children, which serves them well as adults.
Social Effects
Young children derive tremendous social benefit from sports also, in that team sports enhance young children's awareness of social rules and roles, and give them the opportunity to bond with peers. Sports also introduce young children to children from other cultures and backgrounds, says the New York University Child Study Center.
Age-Appropriate Sports
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics Council on Sports Medicine and Fitness, infant exercise programs do not necessarily benefit child development, nor do they promote future athletic performance. As a result, the council does not endorse such programs. Instead, pediatricians recommend unstructured, explorative activities in a supervised, safe environment for infants and very young children. Sports skills require a complex interplay involving sight, movement, thought and motor skills. Kids need two or three years to develop them.
Considerations
Starting kids early in sports does not guarantee success, according to the New York University Child Study Center, and it is vital that kids start sports when they're developmentally ready and, most importantly, when they show a personal interest. Any child subjected to training and competition before attaining psychological development may encounter a negative experience, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics, and be turned off sports for life.
