Academics and sports are just two sides of the same coin in helping children achieve their full potential. While the former focuses on increasing students’ knowledge about the world gradually, the latter teaches kids about important values, like teamwork, resilience, and humility.
Proof of this is the 2002 study from Brookings Institution. According to the report, American schools considered sports “powerhouses” don’t sacrifice education over athletic achievement, citing that students skilled in basketball can also excel in mathematics.
When choosing an athletic program for your child, you must consider several things. In this article, you’ll find a summary of several crucial points that can help you make an informed decision.
The Importance of Sports in Children’s Education
The most obvious advantage of sports for kids is the exercise they can get from the activity.
Besides that, athletic endeavours can also help them build stronger relationships with their peers and learn important skills like collaboration, leadership, communication, and critical thinking.
Kids can learn a lot of valuable lessons from playing sports, such as fair play, sportsmanship, cooperation, and passion. When paired with a rigorous curriculum, these can help students develop self-discipline and respect.
How to Know When Your Child is Ready for Sports
Knowing whether your child is ready to engage in sports usually involves one thing: their age.
Kids are more likely to succeed in and enjoy sports when they have the physical, mental, and social capacity to do well in the activity. To determine this, parents must consider their child’s age.
Usually, kids under six have not developed the basic motor skills needed for organised sports. At this age, their balance and attention span are still limited, as well as their vision and ability to track moving objects.
On the other hand, many six- to nine-year-olds can join simple, organised sports. However, their current motor skill level may still lack the hand-eye coordination needed for some sports. Plus, they may not be mentally mature enough yet to remember and understand concepts like strategies and teamwork.
If your child falls within this range, the sport you choose must focus on helping them learn new skills – winning comes second. It should also have age-appropriate rules and equipment (e.g., smaller balls and fields, shorter game times and practices, and less focus on score keeping.)
At 10 to 12 years, your child can try more complex sports that require strategies and teamwork. However, you must note the growth difference among children – especially boys – undergoing puberty at this age.
Your child’s height and strength at this point may give your child a physical advantage, but that doesn’t mean they’ll be more talented in the sport.
What to Consider When Choosing a Sport for Your Child
Deciding on an athletic program for your child can be challenging. After all, there are so many options, including this excellent golf academy school in Dubai.
Still, the decision has to be made. To make things easier, below are some things you need to consider:
Solo vs Team Sports
Sports has two main categories: individual and team.
At the youth level, some sports are more popular than others. Based on the result of a 2020 survey, this includes the following (arranged according to popularity):
- Basketball
- Baseball
- Soccer
- Tackle football
- Gymnastics
The same survey also featured the individual sports that gained more participants in middle school. This includes swimming, tennis, and track and field.
When deciding between team and solo sports, you must consider your child’s socialisation preference and the physical action involved in the sport. This is because some kids thrive in a team environment better, while others excel in individualised activities.
Contact vs Non-Contact
Another crucial detail you must think about when choosing an athletic program for your child is whether they’re fine with coming into bodily contact with other players.
If your child says yes, you can choose schools with programs that focus on basketball, football, hockey, and soccer.
If not, consider looking for institutions that have sports clubs focused on running, swimming, golf, and tennis.
Take note, you may not get answers immediately, especially if your child is still developing their preferences and may grow to love something they’ve already started playing. What’s important is that you give them a chance to choose.
Athletic Program Values
Although it doesn’t seem important initially, the athletic program’s values can affect how well your child can develop under it.
You can determine this by reading the mission statement of the sports club. See if it aligns with your child’s interests.
You can also talk to other families with kids already in the program and ask their opinions about the program.
Researching this thoroughly before enrolling your child on the program makes your evaluation more fruitful. It also helps to know whether they match your own values and goals for your child. You can figure this out by asking the following questions:
- Do I want my child to be the best at the sport?
- Do I wish for my child to develop and learn specific skills from it?
- Do I want my child to play in every game?
If you answer these questions, you’ll be able to create excellent criteria for choosing a program.
Coaching Staff
Don’t forget to talk to the coaching staff about the sport you’re eyeing for your child. Since they will be mentoring your child in the program, you should meet with them and witness first-hand whether they can support your little one in this endeavour.
Here are a few guide questions that can help:
- Can they provide a positive influence on your child?
- What are their coaching styles and strategies when guiding young athletes?
- How often do they organise practice sessions and games?
Don’t be afraid to reach out. Remember, coaching styles can vary, so you must get a good sense of who’s the coach before signing your child up for the sport.
Your Child’s Preference and Interests
Finally, you need to take into account your child’s interests. If they’re old enough to pick their own custom kids clothes or have preferences in food, they’re old enough to offer their opinion on sports.
The most straightforward way is to ask your child the question. Although their choice may not pan out in the long term, initiating this type of conversation can get them thinking about what they would like to do in the future.
Choose a Sport Wisely
Picking out an athletic program for your child is a big decision.
Think it through well and consider how it will affect your little one’s physical, emotional, mental, and social well-being.
Joseph
Latest posts by Joseph (see all)
- Financial Planning in 2023: A Simple Guide - December 7, 2022
- Finding the Most Suitable Mobile Phone Plans for You - November 16, 2022
- The Various SEO Service Types for Law Firms - November 9, 2022
