News about developing kids fascination in sports
Kids nowadays are getting increasingly hooked to video games and PSPs plus the television simply adds on to the woes of the parents. There’s a constant deviation from physical activities amongst 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 possibilities 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 apart from the usual health and fitness benefits. Not only do sports keep kids active, it helps them concentrate better, improves their social skills and helps them learn and employ sportsmanship. However, in order to establish a childs interest in a particular 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 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 particular sport is that they’re still at 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 can understand the sport better and require to practice in order to get a hang of the sport. The hits and misses while understanding how to play can lead to frustration and an ensuing disinterest.
It also is noted that some children are unwilling to play team sports because they seem to be too competitive for the kids. Sports such as football, baseball are rigorous and focused on winning which can unnerve them. Maintaining an optimistic environment helps to ensure that the kids remain motivated and interested.
At times children are still undecided upon the sport of their choice. They might be more at ease playing individual sports instead of team sports. It is best to let the child explore his / 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 is very important so as to channelize the childs energies in the right direction and keep them from getting frustrated.
Some of the best sports to get kids involved in are basketball, baseball, football, ice hockey and soccer amongst team sports and gymnastics, horseback riding, skating and soccer amongst individual sports. Parents must understand that imposing a particular sporting activity upon a child certainly won’t aid in developing the childs affinity for the sport.
Once the child discovers his or her own interest, they will find their own league. Infact, the emphasis needs to 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 term benefits by helping your child develop his / her interest in a sport that could last a lifetime.