Encourage kids to play Sports

Kids of today’s generation are bombarded with different technological advancements since their early childhood days.  They are introduced to smartphones, tablets, TVs, computers, laptops, and other gadgets when they are about a year old. While an electronic device isn’t bad for itself, it may encourage children to stay indoors and forget about playing outside the house.

Involving young kids in sports not only improves their physical well-being but also contributes to their psychological and social development. It increases their self-esteem and mental alertness. Games and sports are an integral part of a child’s life. Children should study hard to be successful in life, but, they should also play games and sports to enjoy the health and vigor of life.

We have all heard the old saying “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy”.  The benefits of playing sports are multiple, and it leads to balanced mental and physical growth.

Here are a few reasons why sports are important in the development of kids:

• Sports teach children life skills like teamwork, leadership, patience. It inculcates discipline and playing within the rules. Builds sportsmanship, which is to play within the spirits of the game and to deal with both winning and losing with grace. All of these experiences and habits are also useful in adult life.

• Playing and excelling in sports also teaches kids the importance of hard work, perseverance, learning from failure, and the importance of grasping opportunities.

• Sport is a powerful social tool, bringing together people from different ethnic, cultural, religious, linguistic and socio-economic backgrounds.

• There is evidence that sport and play enhance child development and learning and encourage better academic performance.

• Sport encourages and improves physical fitness and reduction of childhood obesity: Childhood obesity is one of the most serious public health challenges of the 21st century.

Engaging in outdoor activities builds the right foundation for children so that they become more productive and well-rounded adults in the future. These activities help children improve their physical, emotional, social, and mental health. Thus, it is essential to give children the opportunity to explore the outdoors, play with other kids, and expose them to real-life situations.