Kids these days are becoming increasingly hooked to video games and PSPs plus the television simply adds on to the woes of the parents. There is a constant deviation from physical activities 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 involved in some sports activity.
Research has shown that playing a selected sport has a number of other benefits for the kids in addition besides the usual health benefits. Not only do sports keep kids active, it can help them concentrate better, improves their social skills and helps them learn and practice sportsmanship. However, to be able to develop a childs interest in a particular sport it truly is imperative that one first analyzes the kids age, size, ability, general interest and skills. Not all kids are natural athletes and it’s also crucial that we first be aware of the reason behind their dislike for sports.
Sports is usually a turn-off for children for a multitude of reasons. One of the biggest factors that keeps kids from taking up a specific sport is that they’re still in a phase when they are 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 grasp the sport better and need to rehearse to get a hang of the game. The hits and misses while understanding how to play can lead to frustration and an ensuing disinterest.
In addition, it has been noted that some kids are reluctant to play team sports because they are most often too competitive for them. Sports such as 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 kids are still undecided upon the game of their choice. They could be more at ease playing individual sports rather than team sports. It is best to let the child explore his / her interests and decide on their own. Self consciousness can certainly be another very significant deterrent. Physical attributes play a critical part in this as smaller kids tend to feel more intimidated. It is 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 realize that imposing a particular sporting activity upon a young child certainly won’t aid in developing the childs affinity for 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 should be on kids getting enough physical activity by means of any exercise, whether it is sports or free play. This initial patience when exercised can lead to long lasting benefits by helping your child develop his / her fascination with a sports activity that will last a lifetime.