The Importance of Sports in your Child’sDevelopment

Community ProjectBy: Bridget Barden

Benefits of Playing Sports

• Physical • Social• Emotional• Educational

Physical Benefits

• Creating a healthy lifestyle that can carry on through adulthood – Consciousness about nutritious foods– Exercise– Develop motor skills

Social Benefits

• Sense of belonging to a group– Build friendships – Develop leadership and teamwork

skills– Learn sportsmanship

Emotional Benefits

• Positive body image• Self-esteem• Relieves stress• Reduces depression

Educational Benefits

• Develop discipline to set goals and work to achieve those goals – Strategic thinking– Math skills– Communication

Parents Active Involvement

• Emotional support• Positive feedback• Help with handling disappointment

and losing

Parental Support

• Apply the right amount of support– Going to games– Encouraging talk

about the game, coach, teammates, etc.

– Realistic Expectations

•Too much Support–Could cause unnecessary pressure

•Not enough Support

–No motivation to continue participation

•How do you know what’s right?

–Ask your child!

Resources

• American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry– http://www.aacap.org/cs/root/facts_for_families/children_and_sports

• American Academy of Pediatrics– http://aappolicy.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/

pediatrics;107/6/1459

• Kid’s Sports Psychology– http://kidssportspsychology.com/– http://www.kidssportspsychology.com/public/department21.cfm

• The Educated Sports Parent– http://www.educatedsportsparent.com/importance-parental-

involvement-youth-sports