Sports for Kids

Inspired by Helicopter parenting I’m writing about sports for kids. How to find the right one for your child.

For we choose one sport for our child, we have to consider: age, personality and child needs.

It’s advisable to allow the child to practice various sports, giving him a base of different abilities so that he can then choose what he likes best. Ideally, you should do an individual sport and a group sport.

My children’s pediatrician says that there are three main things: healthy eating, sport, and good rest.

Benefits of basic sports

Initially, the idea is to opt for basic sports, such as swimming, dance, and gymnastics, so-called “complete” sports that have advantages in the child’s psychomotor development. They work on flexibility, endurance, and motor coordination, contributing to an adequate body posture. They can thus serve as a basis for more specific sports in the future.

Upon entering the school, it is advisable to allow the child to practice various sports, giving them a base of different abilities so that they can then choose what they like best.

Ideally, you should do an individual sport and a group sport.

Team sports are the most suitable, as they promote the relationship between colleagues. In a team, everyone participates, listens, and is heard, so their opinion and performance will be valued, making them more confident and motivated.
Children challenged by authority need to acquire discipline and a sense of limits. Martial arts such as judo, which are based on the principle of non-violence and the balance between body and mind, help these children to develop the capacity for self-control, with reduced aggression.

For perfectionists, individual activities are recommended where individual perfection of movements is important, such as gymnastics, tennis, or martial arts.

Team sports, such as football and basketball, are also highly recommended, as they help to develop the rules, learn to respect opponents, and work as a team. They are also important for the timidest, as they develop sociability.

At 3 years of age, dance, and gymnastics with their runs, jumps, and balance exercises are also very suitable, as long as it is always and always in a playful way and adapted to the characteristics of the age.

After the age of 5 and up to 11, the child should practice various sports, possibly an individual and a group.

Among the various options available, you should choose the one that the child likes the most and that can take place closer to home, to allow him/her still time to study or play.

For the very restless, individual sports such as athletics or swimming can be a good choice (however, although athletics is a very complete sport, it is generally recommended to start after 7 years of age).

“Sports should not be a job for kids, but engaging in no physical activity should not be tolerated either. Kids who are having fun and learning all the many life lessons from sports — without sports consuming the life of the players or the family — is just the right balance.”