Kids and Sport – The Pros and Cons

It seems quite obvious to most of us that kids should be on the sports field from an early age. They should be out there running around, letting off steam and getting some exercise. As a parent, the list is endless. Sport is fantastic for your child. You want to enrol them for every activity imaginable. They will eventually turn pro in at least one?  It goes without saying that sport for your kids has a million PROS. Let’s list a few:

• Keeps kids fit and healthy
• Reduces risk of obesity
• Teaches them how to be a responsible member of a team
• Promotes unselfish thinking
• Helps them fit in and feel part of something
• Enables them to enjoy healthy competition
• Develops their social skills
• Develops the art of sportsmanship
• Aids in stress relief
• Promotes the feeling of pride in themselves and others

However, all too often parents get too caught up in the hype of their child’s activity. They forget some of the CONS associated with partaking in sport. These may include:

• An overwhelming feeling of pressure to perform
• Feelings of exhaustion and the inability to cope with all the activity
• School grades drop and simply not enough time for family and homework
• The less talented kids may be bullied or teased
• An intense focus on winning which will eventually lead to loss of interest if they cannot be the best
• Some kids may “overwork” themselves- often becoming dehydrated in hot weather
• Risk of injury is high

Considering all these points, it is never easy to decide in which direction your child should go on the sports front.

Parents also need to carefully consider their child’s personality type. An extroverted child may prefer a more aggressive team sport such as hockey or football. On the other hand, an introvert could prefer a “silent” sport such as athletics or swimming.

But… watch this space- another topic for another day….