Kids nowadays are getting increasingly hooked to video games and PSPs plus the television simply adds to the woes of the parents. There’s a constant deviation from physical exercises among the kids leaving parents worried. As news about obesity amongst kids rises as among the biggest plagues to haunt children, parents watch out for ways and opportunities to get their children interested in some sports activity.
Research has shown that playing a selected sport has several other benefits for the kids as well apart from the usual health and fitness benefits. Not only do sports keep kids active, it can help them concentrate better, improves their social skills and helps them learn and employ sportsmanship. However, in order to establish a childs interest in a specific sport it truly is imperative that one first analyzes the kids age, size, ability, general interest and skills. Don’t assume all kids are natural athletes and it’s also crucial that we first understand the cause of their dislike for sports.
Sports is usually a turn-off for children for a large number of reasons. One of the primary factors that keeps kids from trying out a particular sport is that they are still in a phase when they’re developing their basic skills.
Children below six to seven years old have shorter attention spans and don’t have the capacity to grasp the intricacies of the rules which are required to play organized sports. When children reach this age they are able to understand the sport better and require to rehearse in order to get a hang of the sport. The hits and misses while learning how to play can result in frustration and an ensuing disinterest.
In addition, it is noted that some children are unwilling to play team sports as they seem to be too competitive for the kids. Sports including football, baseball are rigorous and focused on winning which could unnerve them. Maintaining an optimistic environment helps to ensure that the kids remain motivated and interested.
Occasionally children are still undecided upon the game of their choice. They might be more comfortable playing individual sports instead of team sports. It is advisable to let the child explore his or her interests and choose his own. Self consciousness can certainly be another very significant deterrent. Physical attributes play a very important part in this as smaller kids are likely to feel more intimidated. It’s very important to be able to channelize the childs energies in the right direction and keep them from getting frustrated.
Some of the best sports for getting kids involved in are basketball, baseball, football, ice hockey and soccer amongst team sports and gymnastics, horse riding, skating and soccer amongst individual sports. Parents must understand that imposing a particular sporting activity upon a child certainly won’t help in developing the childs interest in the game.
As soon as the child discovers his or her own interest, they are going to find their very own league. Infact, the emphasis needs to be on kids getting enough physical exercise in the form of any exercise, be it sports or free play. This initial patience when exercised can lead to long term benefits by helping your child develop his or her fascination with a sport that could last a lifetime.