Some kids are “naturals” and enjoy sports so much they don’t need encouragement. Others find physical activities more difficult. As a parent, recognizing your young little one’s affinity for sports and other extracurricular activities defines how much motivation they need to try and the inspiration methods you’ll use. Their enjoyment and physical activity are the most important factors, especially in their formative years.
With so many sports available, encourage your kid to try new sport if they don’t have fun playing the first one. Adopt a “no pressure” attitude using these suggestions.
Do Kids Have to Play Sports?
Do they have to play sports? No, but should they? Most definitely.
Constant physical activity is a primary health benefit for children. It helps strengthen bones, muscles and joints while reducing body fat. Sports help them develop cognitive skills, contributing to improved academic achievement, and regular activity can positively affect attitudes, off-field behaviors, attention spans and concentration levels.
Playing sports assists kids in developing important life skills like leadership, goal setting and self-esteem, and it reduces feelings of loneliness through increased social interaction. Many strong and lasting friendships develop on the field. Sports also create a competitive spirit, which can make kids more tenacious and willing to keep trying, no matter the odds.
Competing in sports helps children to accept that they can lose and still be gracious and sportsmanlike. Sporting rules encourage them to understand and accept boundaries. Consider how these qualities will help as your kid grows up.
When children interact more with adult coaches and supportive parents, it releases the oxytocin hormone associated with building trust and relationships that counteract anxiety and stress — primary contributors to mental health issues. Team sports contribute to camaraderie and teamwork, which are essential for later working environments.
So, no, your little one doesn’t have to play sports — some have more natural affinities to debating, drama, art classes or chess clubs, for example. However, encouraging them to try new sports in unpressurized ways can help their life development and skill set. How do you provide this encouragement, though?
Balance Activities
Treat sports as only one of your kid’s activities and place similar emphasis on them to others like music, debating or science classes. When you’re with them, discuss various topics — constantly discussing sports can subconsciously pressure your child to succeed and may cause self-esteem problems if they don’t.
Help them improve in all areas instead of focusing on perfecting their fastball or serve, explaining the need for beneficial physical activities alongside school learning and playtime to them. If your kid understands this combination, they will feel less pressure to excel at one facet of life than others.
Also, allow your kid leisure time and enough time for homework and additional academic tutoring where necessary. They must realize that sports are not essential but only a part of healthy growth.
Limit Screen Time While Encouraging Some Sports Viewing
Today, kids get an average of four to seven minutes outside a day. The more time yours spend in front of a screen, the less time they’re active outdoors to develop themselves socially, physically and cognitively.
Restrict their time on the phone, computer and television in favor of extracurricular activities that enhance their bodies, brains, and social interaction. Playing sports contributes to all three, so encourage their existing sporting attempts and change to others if they’re not enjoying them.
You can encourage some screen time by viewing a movie as a family, or sometimes let your kid watch TV sports to promote their interest. Watch an event together to build your bond and show them you share an interest and value your time together.
Be a Role Model and Lead by Example
If you’re physically active yourself, it could encourage your child’s participation. Competing in one or more of the same sports they play at school is even better. If you’re physically inactive, try exercising or sports to show your youngster that trying new things is good. Arranging a park run with your kid or having them tag along when you play a social game of racketball with a friend helps make you a role model.
Being a parent means embracing your inner child on occasion and doing things with your little one at their level. If they play tennis at school, grab your rackets and balls and hit some together at the local courts after work.
Ensure Sports Are Fun Instead of “Work”
Growing kids should never view sports as “work,” so if you notice yours competing without enjoyment, ask them whether they truly want to play. Yours may play a sport because you want them to, which is counter-productive in relieving pressure. If you determine their reasons aren’t fun, encourage them to switch to another sport they might enjoy more.
Over time, they will find what they love playing or gravitate to other extracurricular activities. As a parent, you can only guide and encourage their sports participation without applying pressure.
Suggest Other Physical Activities
Ultimately, sports participation may not suit your child. After encouraging their involvement in several traditional individual and team activities, it may be that their interests lie elsewhere. At this point, perhaps try another tactic.
Suggest dance or ballet classes, hiking, fishing or maybe martial arts. While these aren’t recognized school-level sports, they still offer varying levels of physicality and can keep youngsters active.
Be Supportive of Your Kid’s Eventual Choices
Everybody is different. Whichever path your little one takes, support their endeavors. With your backing, they will find extra motivation and perseverance to excel in their choices. Your parental responsibility lies in finding enjoyable physical activities for your kid during their formative growth stages and encouraging participation. If their interests and abilities lie away from the sports field, your “no pressure” approach to their development can help them find other activities that suit their enjoyment and capabilities sooner.
