Participating in sports at a young age has many benefits to a child's quality of life and future development. The second the child gets signed up, he/she immediately becomes a part of a group with other kids their age, something that some people struggle to do in their lives. This allows for kids to interact with others who have similar interests, so they do not have to worry about going throughout their early years without close friends. The friendships kids make through sports can last for many more years, as both parties will have a hobby they can enjoy together and will be able to develop their skills by working with each other. Sports are one of the easiest ways a child will be able to make long lasting friendships and feel accepted by their peers, both of which are extremely important in life. Being in a close and organized group at an early age will boost a kids self-esteem and social skills greatly, as they are able to interac with friends and peers every day. There are also almost immediate physical benefits for the child. With practices throughout the weeks, and occasional games, kids are able to get consistent physical activity, which helps fight against a current epidemic in the United States, childhood obesity. Childhood obesity is rising rapidly, with cases of obesity tripling over the last 30 years. Currently it is reported that one in every three children are being affected (Merkel). It is only going to get worse in the United States. “The obesity
Children who participate in sports are less likely to be overweight or obese, have higher self-esteem on average, and are generally more invested in their academics. Sports are oftentimes seen as a gateway to academic opportunity, particularly for kids with fewer resources. While this logic is inherently problematic, it is true that high schoolers who were involved with organized sport were more likely to be enrolled in college later on. Youth sports also give children a place to develop socially by teaching them about teamwork, leadership, and compromise. Team sports in particular can provide children with a sense of belonging to a group, and therefore increase their self-esteem and improve their social competence. There are dozens of reasons why youth sport is important and beneficial to a child’s development, and with millions of participants each year in the United States alone, it doesn’t look like youth sports will be going anywhere anytime
The benefits of sports participation have been studied during the last few years. Sports participation has also long been thought to provide a social environment that fosters basic values such as fair play, competiveness, and achievement (Pate, Trost, Levin & Dowda, 2000). Furthermore, Pate et al. (2000) conclude that in the most populous demographic subgroups of United States high school students, sports participation is associated with multiple positive health behaviors. This trend was most striking for white females and white males, among whom sports participation was significantly associated with numerous positive healthy behaviors and almost no negative health behaviors. African American and Hispanic students had fewer associations with positive health behaviors, and even some association with negative behaviors were observed. Sports has been a important key to high schools students get involved on a social environment that can cause very positive healthy behaviors among the youth. Pate et al. (2000) continue to observe that school and community sports programs have the potential to help youth establish lifelong healthy physical activity patterns.
Benefits of Youth Sports“Sports do not build character. They reveal it,” said John Wooden, legendary UCLA basketball coach. Playing sports not only provides physical activity, but also other positive benefits. This is especially true for children. A well-structured and organized youth program will provide benefits and positive experiences for young athletes. While children are having fun participating in sports they are also building character, learning to work as a team, and playing fairly. Most people think the only benefits of sports are physical. Sports are more than just developing hand-eye coordination and burning calories, youth sports provide many developmental benefits, physical benefits, and psychological benefits.
Sports can be viewed as a learning environment that helps individuals learn life lessons, foster strong work habits and develop core values all the while learning a sport skill. Youth sports that truly benefit young athletes should be structured to emphasize participation more than just competition. Children enjoy a sport more when they are able to have fun (Humpries). Despite many excesses some sport programs still manage to promote important virtues like self- confidence, teamwork, personal responsibility, coping skills, and persistence. Through sports kids can learn to stay organized and learn how to prioritize (Ferguson). Sports enables development of physical skills and increasing proficiency makes kids feel good about themselves. It teaches kids that failure is something to overcome and and not to fear (Meyerhoff 8-9). Youth sports has many aspects that are truly benefiting for children, but these benefits are slowly being clouded by the negatives that are prominent in today's youth sports.
Playing sports or even having the knowledge of them can result into happier and more social students. In the video Notebook: Kids and Sports, Katie Couric states, “Playing sports cannot only give kids more confidence, it can also give them more rewarding friendships” (Notebook). This implies that our school can be more successful if we have greater variety of sports kids can join. Although being happier and more social isn't the only benefit of being in sports.
First, youth sports help develop character and confidence in children. In the article “Are High School Sports Good For Kids?” it states “... develop good citizens through interscholastic activities which provide equitable opportunities, positive recognition and learning experiences.” Another reason is that it creates more rewarding friendships. As it states in the News article “Kids and Sports” by CBS News “... Having athletic confidence helps a child greaty and it doesn't have to be a team sport or a high pressure one either.” This tells us that if your children are in sports it will benefit them as they get older and when they are adults they will be prepared more than people who didn’t participate in sports.
It’s been debated that having kids participate in sports can be either a positive or negative factor in a child’s development. Is participating in sports a positive outcome in a youth’s development? Through my own personal experience and through the research that I have conducted I believe that participating in sports is a true benefit to a child’s development. Participating in sports can contribute to a healthy individual, developing problem-solving skills, social interaction, promotes following direction and rules, goal setting and creating plans, promotes self-esteem, reduces stress, helps academic success, and a higher quality of life.
They may also help improve the self esteem of a child. Friendships are important because for a child, socializing and forming relationships are very important in growth and development and for the real world. In an article by Sunny Griffis, titled “The Advantages of Playing Football”, it states “Competitive sports help teach teamwork, which translates into selflessness, cooperation and better communication skills.” By allowing your child to play this sport, you promise them to learn the skill of communication. This allows them to make friends and talk to people much easier.
There are many different reasons why including sports in a child’s life can help build them for their future. A few of the more obvious reasons include healthy weight, social skills, and self-discipline. According to Greg Wells of aboutkidshealth.ca, “Starting a child in an organized sport gives them a healthy habit of physical activity to see them right through to adulthood and help them ward off many age- and weight-related ailments” (Wells). In addition to the short-term benefits, as children develop in life with the inclusion of sports, they learn to become attentive and gain stronger strategy skills (Wells). More specifically, football has the potential to develop strong
Children who partake in organized sports receive many social, mental and psychological benefits that exceed those that come from general physical activity. Starting a child in an organized sport gives them a healthy habit of physical activity at an early
Parents can even coach their childs team, which to me is a great way to bond with your child. Kids do not miss out on anything while being a part of organized activities because with sports you still have to be creative and use your brain. Becoming better at sports gives them experience, confidence, and helps them mature. Even if a child is not that great at a sport
Childhood obesity has been a common issue in our current times. Many children and adults suffer from obesity and have serious health issues that come along with the disorder. Childhood obesity has been such an issue for so long that even the first lady Michelle Obama has changed the school lunch programs to try and feed our kids healthier foods. This has been an ongoing issue for decades it seems. There are many things that contribute to childhood obesity and there are many issues that can arise from it and cause even more problems. From the current technology to the fast food restaurants, it all seems to be a problem with this issue.
Sports may not be all that good for children. Some people might say that sports can cause injury, children won’t get a chance to play if they are not very good, or children may be made fun of for lacking skill in that particular sport. I believe that participating in sports has a much more positive impact on children. Sports can help children’s health approve, help them develop new friends, and can help improve the children’s self confidence.
In order to impede the epidemic of childhood obesity, the actual causes of the problem need to be evaluated and dissected. Obesity in children is becoming a huge problem in American society. In the past three decades, the rate of overweight children has increased by 300%. This is an alarming rate that is only climbing higher. Every member in society should take steps to becoming healthier. This would help the present generations as well as future generations to come. The lifestyle of Americans keeps us too busy to be a healthy society.
One thing that is a positive outcome in sports is the overflowing happiness people get when they participate in competitive sports. One example is that “children who were involved in sports were more assertive, had greater confidence in their skills and physical appearance, and reported more positive feelings than those who didn’t participate. (Merkal, Donna, Youth sport: positive and negative impact on young athletes, 201, May 31).” If children hold an extreme love for the sport they play, most children use that sport as an escape. Playing sports blows off steam and helps people relax. “Physical activity stimulates various brain chemicals that may leave you feeling happier and more relaxed. (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research ,Exercise: 7 benefits of regular physical activity, 1998).” Playing sports can help bring families or other kids together to build strong bonds. “It appears that US children are healthy and happy as they engage in this traditional pastime, and families report higher levels of satisfaction if their children participate. (Macdonald, Brian, Kids in Sports, Part 5: Can sports help shy kids to make friends?, 2009).” A pat on the back from a parental figure is enough to keep kids going and doing their best. Because sports make children happier, they are more prone to keep playing which all in all makes children happier and it teaches kids to do what makes them happy. With suicide being the second biggest fatality for adolescents doing what makes them happy can be a life or death situation.