Every child instinctively loves sports because of how much action and movement they get. The kids get to jump around, run about, scream and kick or throw things around as much as they want. It’s a fantastic way for them to use their energy so they fall asleep later during the day, but did you know that sports are most likely the best activity that you can enjoy with the kids? It’s true!
While getting your kids to play sports is difficult due to all the accessible and colorful internet games and smartphone apps that you can play, it’s fairly straightforward and easy once you’re able to show them a few advantages and why they should.
Sports is a great way for your child to remain fit during their younger years.
Kids Can Learn To Love Sports
Because the kids can play with their friends, show off their skills and also work as a team, playing sports is a fantastic way for your children to learn how to interact with others and also make friends. In addition, they’ll learn to love the games they play thanks to the all the fun they’ll have. At first, it’ll feel like your child is defiant and doesn’t want to play sports or get into a club with their friends.
This is normal because your child prefers the comfort of something they know instead. Maybe they long to be back at home playing video games or perhaps just they want to sit on the sidelines instead of actually playing. However, kids will quickly warm up to playing sports with their friends because of the social aspect.
The Adults Can Join In
Whether you’re playing soccer, swimming together or even playing baseball, playing with your kids is a great way to bond and have a bit of fun together. There are plenty of parents that will teach their kids how to play certain sports, and they’ll even be willing to buy them matching baseballs, gloves, uniforms or even shoes to mark a special occasion.
Adults can also join in for moral support and not just to play. For example, as your child grows up, they might stumble across articles like “2018 Louisville Slugger Prime 918 BBCOR – Most Balanced Bat?” and they’ll start to question you about it. For example, they might ask why the bat is different for baseball and if it will make a difference to them, they’ll ask how much it costs and perhaps even ask to get one themselves. Whether it’s emotional or physical support, adults make the perfect coach and fan in a single package that your kids will really appreciate.
Improvements to Physical Health
Another fantastic advantage of playing sports with your kids is to help with their physical health. With obesity becoming an epidemic among children, it’s even more important now than ever to teach kids the value of their physical health and how it affects their bodies in the long-term. By regularly playing sports, they’ll grow up to become much more physically capable than if they stayed at home playing video games. Of course, it’s always a good idea to strike an even balance between the two, but there’s no doubt that playing sports on a regular basis as a child will do wonders for your physical health in the future.
Fun activities don’t have to be competitive to be good for you.
It’s a Great Way to Learn Good Sportsmanship
In the world of sports (or anything competitive for that matter) it’s normal to lose. People will cheer or shun your child’s team if they're playing in one, but it’s important to remember that with all failures and losses should come humility. Instead of throwing a tantrum, accusing the other team of cheating or even outright attacking other players, your child will learn how to accept their friendship and become great pals with other sports players that have good sportsmanship. Learning how to accept failures so early in life is a brilliant thing to teach your children because it will prepare them for the world.
Boosting Self Confidence
Another fantastic reason to get involved in sports is to help boost self-esteem. Kids can learn to be confident from an early age but it takes many trial and error attempts before they realize what it means to be confident. You can always teach them what the word confidence means, but you need to inspire it in your child before they can fully understand how it feels.
Working on sports is a great way to positively impact children because it has a profoundly positive effect on their mind to boost their own self-confidence. When your children reach milestones set by their coach or even by their families, then they’ll feel an overwhelming sense of accomplishment that can greatly boost their self-esteem.
Playing Sports is a Way to Develop Teamwork
Children can easily learn how to cooperate with others when playing team-based sports such as baseball or football. It’s a great way for kids and their friends to work together and they’ll quickly learn what it means to be part of a team.
Everyone has their own role to follow when playing sports in a team which is why it’s important for children to learn their place when working with others. These skills can quickly translate into more grown-up situations such as working in an office. In some cases, your child might display leadership skills which could completely transform their personality and role in the team.
In short, getting your children to play sports together with you can help them develop many different skills that will be useful later on in life. It’s a fantastic hobby to have that also helps with their fitness, and can even be used as a way to help them make friends and learn good sportsmanship qualities that will prepare them for failure and loss in the future. It’s also a great way to boost their personal self-confidence which can never be overlooked as being an essential life skill.
My favorite part is where you mentioned that playing sports with our kids can be a great way to bond together as a family. My son had been complaining that we’re too busy to play with him or even watch his soccer matches. Maybe we can make it up to him by buying sports motivation apparel that we can all wear for his next soccer match at school.
Love this idea, Zoe!