Kids are born to explore, evolve and grow. Running, jumping, climbing and moving around come naturally to them, and they tend to stick to an activity that is engaging and fun to do. These days, however, their avenues to explore the outdoors are limited given the lack of open spaces in cities. That and an increasingly indoor-centric and screen-bound lifestyle will slowly subdue their instinct to be physically active and enjoy the outdoors. Sports, however, can reopen that door for kids.
Sports for kids: Early exposure is key
Participation of parents in outdoor or indoor activities can significantly influence their children’s interest in sports.
To start with, exposing kids to various sports during early childhood will help them make a very important choice — their go-to sport. It could help them forge a lifelong healthy relationship with not only the game they choose, but also physical activities and fitness.
“The first focus should be enrolling children in an age-appropriate sport to help them develop body awareness and fundamental movement skills,” says Priyanka Chaturvedi, founder of Wonder Yearz, Mumbai, a fitness initiative for children.
Secondly, it is essential to expose your child to multiple sports without pushing them into a specialization too soon. Structured coaching or focusing on a single sport has not shown a positive impact on the child’s performance. On the contrary, it could lead to fatigue and injuries.
“Following these two steps [starting early and trying multiple sports] will make the child feel more confident and participative. Any sport demands complex skills, and high performers are always preferred at a competitive level,” adds Chaturvedi.
Sports should be fun
The onus falls on the coach and parents to make sports a fun activity for kids. While playing, children tend to get bogged down if there’s too much pressure to perform or win.
“For long-term growth and athletic development, it is crucial to ensure that kids in their developing years have fun and enjoy playing sports instead of fixating on winning,” says Chelston Pinto, an athlete and coach at Rapid Sports Fitness, Bangalore.
When should kids start playing sports?
“Children should be exposed to unstructured play from a very young age. Once they are able to take in the instructions to acquire the necessary skills, they can transition to organized sports as per their interest. The values learned through playing sports can, in turn, aid their growth and development,” explains Pinto.
Kids can be introduced to unstructured play from the age of three or four, while structured sports can be taken up from the age of six. Those under six years of age should be encouraged to engage in physical activities daily and have fun while doing so.
Academics and sport
Sport and academics must go hand in hand rather than one overbearing the other. Sport teaches life lessons just as much as academics, and both are equally important in the developing years. So, kids should have enough time in the day to have a healthy dose of both.
“Nowadays, a lot of kids are unfortunately glued to their gadgets. Reduction in screen time will help find a balance between academics and sports,” says Pinto.
Why do kids lose interest in sports?
Competition and burnout are the main reasons why kids lose interest in sports, and high performers are usually the ones who continue to play.
Children who are exposed to organized sports during early childhood are more likely to experience burnout and dissatisfaction. “For children, sports should serve as a platform for learning rather than competition, and winning should only be a byproduct of enjoying the process,” says Pinto.
Kids should not be pressurized to play
There are no guaranteed means to get kids hooked on sports, as it’s their personal choice. There is this drive among parents to get their children to play competitively. This is usually observed in two classes of parents: those who have played a sport professionally at some point and those who have not played any sport at all. This type of push can have a detrimental effect.
“Sports should be a platform where kids can express themselves and learn values like discipline and teamwork by bonding with others,” explains Pinto. “It should be about freedom and not about competing or winning, as all these aspects will naturally follow if they want to play the sport at a professional level.”
Takeaways
- Parents should introduce kids to multiple sports at an early age and let them decide which sport to take up later on.
- Sports and academics must go hand in hand, as both inculcate life lessons.
- Sports should be a platform where kids can express themselves and learn values like discipline and teamwork by bonding with others. It should be about freedom and enjoyment rather than winning.
