Information about developing kids interest in sports
Kids nowadays 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 exercises among the kids leaving parents worried. As news about obesity amongst kids rises as among the biggest plagues to haunt children, parents look out for ways and possibilities to get their children interested in some sports activity.
Studies show 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 develop a childs involvement in a particular sport it is imperative that one first analyzes the youngsters age, size, ability, general interest and skills. Don’t assume all children are natural athletes and it is crucial that we first understand the reason behind their dislike for sports.
Sports is usually a turn-off for kids for a large number of reasons. One of the primary factors that keeps kids from trying out a specific 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 do not have the capacity to grasp the intricacies of the rules that are needed to play organized sports. When children reach this age they are able to understand the sport better and require to rehearse to get a hang of the sport. The hits and misses while understanding how to play can result in frustration and an ensuing disinterest.
It also is noted that some children are reluctant 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 could unnerve them. Maintaining an optimistic environment ensures that the kids remain motivated and interested.
Occasionally kids are still undecided upon the sport of their choice. They could be more at ease playing individual sports instead of team sports. It is advisable to let the child explore his or her interests and decide on their own. Self consciousness can certainly be another very significant deterrent. Physical attributes play a very important 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.
Among the best sports for getting 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 interest in the sport.
Once the child discovers his or her own interest, they will find their very own league. Infact, the emphasis should be on kids getting enough physical activity by means of any exercise, be it sports or free play. This initial patience when exercised can result in long term benefits by helping your son or daughter develop his / her interest in a sport that could last a lifetime.