We all know the importance of sport and exercise for our kids. This is most important with the rate at which obesity is growing among kids nowadays; this is one reason why parents should lay more emphasis on their kid’s health and fitness. With this, parents will raise kids who are more are more likely to become active adults. However, apart from being physically fit, there are some other benefits of sports on the psychological and social well-being of the child in addition to other valuable life skills. Below are some of the benefits:
Respecting the Coach
For kids in need of an occasional extra dose of discipline, parents should sign them up for a sport. With the way sports are designed – taking directions, following a set of rules, and accepting decisions – kids will grow the habit of respecting the rules. With regular interaction with referees, coaches, and other players, kids must listen to their peers and respect their elders. Players are often penalised for bad behaviour.
Controlling Feelings
Kids are expected to learn how to control their emotions as they grow up. These emotions are usually negative ones. However, sports raise the emotions of players with right channeling to get the best result. Since coaches understand the effects of negative emotional stress, they find a way out to teach kids. What kids learn from this will help them in controlling their life emotions.
Friendship
Kids, when in one sport or the other, have the sense of belonging and this gives them to make new friends. They may even have life partners from these friends. Kids can create another social circle outside of school. Kids need to join a sports team to have better social support.
Learning to Lose (Learning to do it graciously)
It is a bad thing to have bad sportsmanship, and no one likes a sore loser. Kids will be thought, during sports, how to express frustration in a non-aggressive manner. There is wins and losses in sports as it is in life. However, it is better to lose more honourably than throwing tantrums to express frustration.
Less Selfish
Sport is a great platform where kids can learn to be less selfish. This is especially if the sport is closely tied to teamwork. When kids are in a sport, they will never think about themselves but the team. They will think about what is better for the team. This often occurs in soccer where players have to pass to a teammate, shoot for goal, and then miss. Kids understand that egos are bad for team morale or performance.
Working in Groups
A team is a combination of two or more players. There is no I in a team. Collaboration makes the dream work. A team cannot succeed without the cooperation of its members and no matter how good the individual players are. This will help kids when they grow up and in their future careers.
