Influence of Sports on Kids
Usually, we only think of sports as games that provide our kids with fun time to exercise and be with friends. But they actually influence kids in remarkable ways that last throughout their lifetime.
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Teamwork
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According to fitness writer Myatt Murphy, sports can help kids learn to take turns, set goals as a team and cooperate with other kids. This can easily carry over to help kids work well with siblings, classmates, relatives and, in the future, colleagues.
Respect
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Murphy writes that sports can also help kids learn that different talents help build a stronger team. For example, your son might not be able to hit a home run, but he is great at catching pop-ups. Recognizing others' various talents can help kids gain tolerance and respect for those who are different from them.
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How to Lose
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Although it hurts at the time, losing can help kids understand that no one's perfect, that it's OK to lose sometimes and that failure helps build future success. This lesson is invaluable in academics and the workplace later on, as well as in social relationships throughout life.
Perseverance
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Through sports, kids can see how practicing a skill can help them perfect it. Children develop a more positive self-image through positive achievement of goals. Those countless hours of soccer drills will pay off when your daughter scores her first goal in a game, and she'll learn to apply that same perseverance to schoolwork, music or any area of her life.
Physical Fitness
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The Center for Disease Control recommends that kids get at least an hour of physical activity per day, and sports are a great way to get kids moving. Kids who participate in sports are less likely to become obese or contract type 2 diabetes.
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References
- Photo Credit basketball image by sonya etchison from Fotolia.com
