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Sports and Children

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KEY POINTS

  • Sports give kids a way to use up some energy, keep a healthy weight, develop coordination, and build strength. Sports can help your child build confidence and help reduce anxiety, depression, and stress. Sports also help teach life skills such as teamwork, leadership, patience, and how to set and achieve goals.
  • Encourage your child to try more than one sport. Be sure your child has the proper equipment and follows the rules of the sport.
  • Practice with your child. Go to practices and games. Praise your child's efforts, and don't pressure your child to win or play through pain. Your child should not participate in sports when your child is sick, in pain, or tired.

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Sports are physical activities that give kids a way to use up some energy, keep a healthy weight, develop coordination, and build strength. Sports can help your child build confidence and help reduce anxiety, depression, and stress. Sports also help teach life skills such as teamwork, leadership, patience, and how to set and achieve goals.

Before allowing your child to take part in a sport, make sure he or she is ready. Being ready means that your child is physically, mentally, and socially prepared to meet the demands of the sport.

Why are sports important?

Many children in the US are overweight or have obesity. These children are more likely to be overweight as adults, which can increase their risk for diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, liver problems, and other health problems. Playing sports is a great way to stay physically active and help your child learn healthy habits.

Playing sports can help build your child's self-esteem. Giving and getting encouragement and respect from peers can help your child feel good and gain confidence. Drug and alcohol use are less common with teens who play sports.

Sports can also help teach your child how to manage emotions such as frustration, disappointment, or anger at losing. Sports also helps your child learn how to solve problems such as how to work as a team. Finding time for school and sports can teach children how to better manage their time. Being on a team can teach your child about commitment and the benefits of hard work.

How do I help my child choose the right sport?

Most children can start to play organized team sports when they are 5 or 6 years old. Basketball and soccer are good sports for even young children to learn. Think about what kind of time, money, and commitment will be involved for you as well as your child. Your child could try school sports, dance classes, or gymnastics. If your school doesn't offer anything, try the YMCA or your local parks and recreation district. Look for a program that matches your child’s abilities and encourages each child to participate. The program should stress helping your child learn skills and having fun rather than focusing only on winning.

Encourage your child to try more than one sport. Focusing on just one sport can lead to burn out. Talk with your child regularly and make sure your child is having fun.

Not all children enjoy team sports. Some children do better at individual sports such as karate or tennis. Find out what your child is interested in and thinks is fun.

How can I help my child enjoy sports?

Learn about the sport and be involved if you can. Talk with the coaches and other parents to make sure you are comfortable with them.

Practice with your child. Go to practices and games. Don't yell or get upset at the coach, other players, other parents, the referee, or your child. Your child learns by watching you. Keep your cool.

Have realistic expectations for your child. Don't focus on future college scholarships or professional careers. This can put too much pressure on your child. Very few children will grow up to be professional athletes.

Praise effort, not just outcome. If your child does not make the team, tell your child how proud you are for trying. Even though your child may not be "first" or "best" or "perfect" in an event or activity, praise your child for getting better. Help your child talk through disappointments and losing. Ask your child about team members and the coach. Play down the idea of competition. Emphasize having fun. If the sport stops being fun for your child, help your child find a new interest.

How do I keep my child safe?

  • Make sure your child has a physical exam before starting to play any sport. If your child has a medical problem, such as asthma or diabetes, make sure the coach knows what to do to help your child.
  • Make sure the team’s coaches know basic first-aid and are willing to let a child sit out when injured, even at the risk of losing a game.
  • Make sure the equipment used is appropriate to your child’s age and size. Young children should use smaller balls and play on smaller fields. Their practice and game times should be shorter and there should be fewer children playing at the same time. There should also be less focus on keeping score.
  • Make sure your child drinks plenty of liquids, especially when it's hot outside. Kids are at a higher risk for heat illnesses.
  • Encourage your child to eat a variety of healthy foods. Eating healthy foods can help give your child energy to do better in sports.
  • Be sure your child has the proper equipment and follows the rules of the sport. Buy the right kind of safety gear and make sure your child uses it for practice and not just for competition.
  • Encourage your child to warm up before playing sports to help prevent injury. Your child should have rest days in between practice.
  • To prevent overuse injuries, it is better if your child does not play the same sport all through the year. Young children’s bones are still growing. Too much pitching or throwing, for example, can injure your child's elbow.
  • It is important that your child not act tough when injured. Find out what happens if your child gets sick or injured. If your child is hurt, your child's healthcare provider should check the injury to make sure that it is not more serious than it looks. Your child should not participate in sports when sick, in pain, or tired. If your child has even a minor head injury during a sporting event, your child should not return to play until your child’s healthcare provider says it is OK.
Developed by Change Healthcare.
Pediatric Advisor 2022.2 published by Change Healthcare.
Last modified: 2020-01-30
Last reviewed: 2018-05-21
This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to change as new health information becomes available. The information is intended to inform and educate and is not a replacement for medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional.
© 2022 Change Healthcare LLC and/or one of its subsidiaries
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