There are many reasons to consider enrolling your child into a sport at a young age. The health benefits alone are worthwhile. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that children get at least an hour of physical activity each day. Participating in a sport can also prevent childhood obesity and set your child up for a healthy lifestyle. Beyond the physical benefits, the early exposure to teamwork and competition can help to develop positive character traits and teach them about sportsmanship.
There are a ton of opportunities for children to take advantage of when it comes to sports. Many sports can be played starting in elementary school and continue through high school and college. Here are a few popular sports children might be interested in, as well as some of the positive benefits from each one.
Best Sports for Children to Participate In
There are dozens of fun and competitive sports that children have the opportunity to participate in; here are a few of the most popular sports for children enjoy. We will briefly discuss the positive and negative aspects of each of these sports so that you can have a better understanding of the characteristics within each of the sports.
- Soccer
Soccer is one of the most common sports that children take part in at a young age. This is a sport that requires teamwork, communication, and strength. It is also relatively safe and affordable in terms of purchasing equipment. Children can begin playing soccer at four or five years old. - Biking
Biking can be taught by a parent at home and it requires minimal costs beyond the initial purchase of equipment. This is a sport that can be done alone or with others which makes it optimal for families to participate in together. It isn’t a highly structured sport and doesn’t require a large time commitment. - Football
Football is another common sport, although it is considered to be more physical and potentially dangerous for some children. It requires teamwork and strength. Competitive football is commonly played in the high school years and is typically more popular among teenagers. - Golf
Golf is extraordinary in a lot of different ways. It is a peaceful game that requires focus, patience, and strength. Golf is typically a sport that is best to start at a young age, given the significant learning curve that is required to become a great player. - Baseball
Baseball can be played on co-ed teams or on single sex teams. Children can start as young as 4 or 5 years old with T-balland progress from there. Baseball is a great team sport with minimal costs to get started.
Conclusion
These are three of the most popular sports that children typically enjoy taking part in. There are also other sports like baseball and tennis, that might catch the attention of your child. If you’re still struggling to determine the best option for your child, you can check out this new tool called Healthy Sports Index. It can give you recommendations based on physical activity, psychosocial benefits, and safety. Regardless of what you choose, your child is sure to learn valuable skills from playing a sport, including teamwork, communication, and trust.
Article originally posted on JasonCory.us