The practice of sports in children generates a healthier life, increases academic performance and improves physical condition.
Performing exercise as a routine helps them develop beneficial skills throughout their lives and prevents diseases such as obesity or diabetes.
Sports produce greater growth of self-esteem and confidence in their abilities.
Performing team activities is also involved in the development of social skills and ways of interacting with other people.
Favorable performance of playing sports since childhood:
- Children know sportsmanship and camaraderie.
- They learn to accept defeat and understand that the important thing is to have had a good time while respecting the rules.
- The practice of this becomes a habit of exercises that maintains discipline and self-control. This helps you achieve goals and develop your full potential.
Health benefits in sports
- Learning of motor skills running or directing a ball.
- Decreased probability of acquiring diabetes due to lack of activity.
- Improved sleep and night rest.
- Decrease in the probability of acquiring obesity.
- Maintaining physical fitness and increasing cardiovascular capacity.
- Healthy growth of muscles, bones and ligaments.
- Habit of exercise in adult life.
- Skills in organization and time management.
- Increased coordination and balance.
Psychological and social benefits
- Skills for life.
- Reduces stress and depression.
- Leadership skills.
- Prevention of consumption of harmful substances such as tobacco or alcohol.
- Sense of belonging. Increase children’s self-esteem and confidence.
- Improvement of the academic rhythm.
Risks in the practice of sport
Not everything is fun in sports and therefore some factors must be taken into account and certain precautions must be taken.
Sometimes kids get hurt, and sometimes injuries can cripple an athlete for months or an entire season.
Consequently, the little ones can become afraid to participate in the future.
The effects of sports injuries can even persist into adulthood, so we should avoid them as much as possible.
The physical and physiological differences between each child must be taken into account.
Growing cartilage is more susceptible to stress and most lack the complex motor skills needed for certain sports.
The growth plates, where bone growth occurs, are the areas especially susceptible to injury. These can alter the natural growth of the child.
Types of injuries
- Acute injuries caused by sudden trauma such as a twist or a fall. They affect bones, ligaments, muscles and tendons.
- Excessive wear injuries, when an activity is repeated with a lot of frequency and recovery time.
The most common signs with pain, swelling and decreased interest in the game.
Injury prevention
- Be in adequate physical condition to practice a sport.
- Perform physical exams to detect possible problems.
- Know the rules of a sport.
- Wear appropriate protective equipment for each sport (shin guards, helmet, etc.).
- Use the sports equipment correctly (adjust the bindings correctly, for example).
- Warm up before playing and stretch your muscles at the end.
- Stay hydrated.
- Avoid playing when you are very tired or in pain.
Young athletes need adequate training for exercise.
They should be encouraged to train for the sport rather than expecting the sport itself to get them into shape.
Initiate the child in Sport
- The best teaching is your own example. If you exercise regularly, it will try to imitate your habits and learn this type of routine.
- Limit time for sedentary activities like playing computer games, watching TV, etc.
- Go out for bike rides
- Support him in his efforts, try to be present whenever you can in his training and congratulate him on his achievements.
- Try to do, whenever you can, some sport with him.
Now you know the reasons why it is beneficial for us to get used to playing sports from an early age and how you can begin to introduce the habit.
Beneficial sports
We tell you five beneficial sports for children:
Swimming
Swimming is a very complete and fun activity. It can also be done both indoors and outdoors.
You can start practicing from the first months of life. You learn to control your breathing and pay attention to small details.
Children concentrate on the movement of their body. It also prevents postural problems.
Resistance, coordination and discipline are worked on. Reduces risk factors for cardiovascular disease...
Play soccer
This team game will teach them different skills such as reaction time, resistance, balance and coordination.
They develop communication skills, improve motor coordination, strengthen muscles and prevent obesity.
It facilitates teamwork by having each player contribute to the team with their mission.
It helps them tolerate frustration and develop their logical capacity, since they must think about the move they are going to make and the inconveniences they may encounter in the process.
It is indicated in hyperactive children since they acquire discipline, concentration and organization.
Basketball
This sport is ideal for children to learn to control their body through defense.
Among the benefits of this activity are:
- Improving metabolic endurance as it stimulates your aerobic capacity and strengthens your lungs.
- Increases coordination.
- It stimulates the speed of response and creativity.
- Develop social skills with teamwork.
Gym
This discipline is very complete, it promotes balance and strength.
Strength, speed, discipline, balance, coordination and flexibility are developed.
It requires a lot of concentration and dedication. They learn rules of conduct and safety, and it helps them control and become aware of their body.
Improves body posture.
Tennis
Perfect speed and technique while developing arm strength and accuracy.
In addition to improving coordination, speed and agility, it also favors the promotion of motivation and the ability to overcome.
Introduction to the sport
As we have commented before, we must introduce these habits gradually and if possible, encourage them to do them from a young age.
For this reason, we comment on some sports activities for the little ones:
- Throw and catch the ball.
- To walk or run towards an object or goal.
- Object hiding.
- Punching-ball with a balloon.
- Ride a strike.
- Go up and down ramps, or go through cardboard tunnels.
Causes of obesity in children
Overweight children are at high risk of becoming overweight adolescents and adults.
This fact puts them at risk for the development of chronic diseases such as heart disease and diabetes. They will also be more likely to develop stress, sadness and low self-esteem.
Children acquire obesity for various reasons, the most common causes are:
- Genetic factors.
- Lack of physical activity.
- Unhealthy eating patterns.
- Hormonal problems, in some exceptional cases.
- Shared family behaviors, poor eating and activity habits.
A physical exam and blood work can rule out a medical condition as the cause of obesity.
A child’s diet and activity level play an important role in determining their weight.
Nowadays, many children spend a lot of time doing sedentary activities such as watching TV, playing video games, etc.
Types of diseases caused by obesity
Obese children are at risk for a number of conditions, including:
- high-cholesterol
- High blood pressure.
- Early heart disease.
- Diabetes.
- bone problems
- Skin conditions such as heat rash, fungal infections, and acne.
Prevent childhood obesity
There are many things a parent can do to prevent obesity in their child, including:
- Respect your child’s appetite. Kids don’t have to finish everything on their plate.
- Avoid pre-prepared foods with large amounts of sugar.
- Provide your child with a healthy and balanced diet. Food free of fats and rich in fruits and vegetables.
- Provides enough fiber.
- Limit the amount of high-calorie foods.
- Enjoy physical activities as a family (walking, playing outside, etc.)
- Limit TV viewing and console gaming.
- Don’t reward the completion of meals with sweet desserts.
- Replace whole milk with skimmed or semi-skimmed milk around 2 years of age.
- Encourage your child to participate in active games and play sports.
If your child is currently at risk of obesity and you want to change their habits to help them have better health. You will be interested in the article Physical Activity and Sport for the Prevention of Obesity.
The main reason a child starts a sport is because they find it fun. Therefore, it is important that he enjoys the activity that he does, regardless of what type it is.
A key factor for children and sports is to ensure that they participate at an appropriate pace.
Parents and coaches bear most of the responsibility for it. Realistic expectations must be maintained.
A bad attitude from a coach or parent can lead to a child astray, causing him to drop out of sports.
