If you have a child or teen, the chances are you will come across the task of helping them to select a sport to participate in. Sports are a great way for your son or daughter to interact and socialize with other children their age, outside of the classroom. Team sports provide a great deal of benefits during a child’s progression into adulthood, but they also provide some things that all families should consider before selecting a sport.
Some of the most successful, and healthy individuals through adulthood partook in some type of activity, such as a sport or extracurricular activity that allowed them to engage in various activities outside of typical school work. Sports can be an excellent aid for the mental, and physical well being of children and teens of all age, regardless of their abilities. There are a few careful considerations that families should take note of, before signing a child up for a team sport.
Below are the common types of sports that children will engage in, and some of the pros/cons of the activities, considering the health aspects of a child or teen.
Football- Football is one of the most common sports that children tend to seek out. There are excellent health benefits- some football players are some of the most physically fit children. Additionally, football can provide a sense of team unity, and team bonding- an integral part of a child’s well being. On the contrary, children participating in football should be careful because of the amount of physical contact with other players. Without the proper equipment, children can experience injuries- ranging from small wounds to traumatic brain injuries.
Baseball– Baseball is another common American sport many children like to take to. As portrayed in most American movies, baseball allows for a sense of family because many minor league baseball associations allow parents to coach the team. In addition, baseball is an excellent way to improve the running skills of your children, as well as reaction times. Oppositely, baseball can sometimes be dangerous because of the fast pace that baseballs are thrown into the air, and the risk of injury associated with this activity.
Swimming- Swimming is an excellent choice for children and families seeking sports with no physical contact with others. Swimming is seen as one of the most beneficial sports because the sport requires the use of all muscle groups in the body. It’s a great way to condition and strengthen joints and muscles. Additionally, swimming is a great way to teach children self-discipline, since the actions within the water solely depend on one individual’s performance. Swimming does have drawbacks. Swimmers can easily experience injury from overuse of joints and shoulders. This can easily tear tissue and add stress to essential parts of the body from overuse- like the shoulders, back, and knees.
As a family, it’s important to stop and consider the potential outcomes associated with the sports offered to children. Most sports offer a great deal of benefits to the health and well-being of children, and come in different forms including physical and mental benefits. There are also drawbacks to team sports, such as injury and stress to joints and ligaments that should be carefully considered. What are some of the advantages and disadvantages associated with the various team sports you are familiar with?
