Introducing Sports to Your Child

With childhood obesity on the rise at an unprecedented rate, and children that are more interested in sitting on the couch and playing video games than going outdoors, parents and the health care industry continue to be concerned about the overall physical fitness of America’s children. Involving your child in a sport he enjoys can encourage lifelong physical activity and develop healthy habits from an early age, even in children who may not have the ultimate dream of becoming a professional athlete.

Sports can also introduce your child to the benefits of teamwork, help them set goals, help them to learn how to fail gracefully and show maturity, and challenge them to learn the art of sportsmanship. A few practical steps with a young child can help get the process started.

Step 1
Become active yourself. Children are more likely to become and stay active when they observe their parents enjoying physical activity and leading a healthy lifestyle. If you already enjoy a specific sport, you might generate some early interest by taking your child along to a game, participating in a local league, or trying out a backyard version with them to acclimate the child to the sport.

Step 2
Start a conversation about sports, and find out what your child’s interests are. School-age children might already know they hate baseball and love soccer from their experience in PE classes. If not, explore options by watching a televised game together, attending a neighbor’s little league game or go to a local high school’s
Friday night football game.

Discuss the benefits of physical fitness and developing social skills from an age- appropriate viewpoint. For instance, your 6-year-old probably is more interested in joining a team because their friends play than because the physical activity might keep arteries healthy and muscles strong.

Remember – your child doesn’t need to be a professional athlete. Encouraging sport is great, but pushing them to be the best may not always be the wisest decision, depending on the child. Some children are less competitive than others, and that’s just fine, as long as parents remember what sports are really about at that age (teamwork, friendships, health, coordination development, and FUN!).

Step 3
Help your child choose a program that fits their respective age and fitness level. One of the benefits of participating in sports is meeting the challenge of making it to the next level. However, impossible goals can discourage a child from trying. For instance, if your child is 14, and has been sedentary for much of their life, sign them up with fellow beginners rather than allowing the child to try out for a team that won last year’s state championship. Start slowly!

Step 4
Permit your child to try various activities, especially if this is the first foray into the sports world. Rather than committing the child to a year of basketball, suggest joining a rotating program in your city that has a few weeks of basketball, followed by a few weeks of football, and more.

This allows the child to find their “sweet spot” in the realm of sports, and perhaps discover one specific sport they’d like to concentrate on in the future. These programs are often less expensive and generally provide much of the equipment, which can keep your budget healthy while your child explores physical fitness.

Step 5
Participate by attending parent meetings, practice sessions and games. This helps remind your child that you consider the sport (and the act of being active) important. Remember that sports are fun; be positive and encouraging, praising a child’s effort and improvement rather than emphasizing winning or perfection.

Practice throwing a baseball with your child at home or ask for a demonstration of
the newest gymnastics move to show that you value their efforts and are interested
in their journey through athletics.

Step 6
Celebrate the game. Make it a family affair when possible by inviting siblings, grandparents, aunts and uncles to a game. Establish a tradition like sharing some sort of healthy treat or snack after games. Use the time to talk about your pride in your child’s efforts on the field, regardless of whether their team won or lost. Mark the end of the season with trip to a favorite restaurant, amusement park or other special activity that promotes both fun and improved health!

About the Author: Bobby DeMuro, NSCA-CPT, CSCS, is the Founder of FusionSouth, a personal training and sports conditioning firm in Charlotte, NC. He is also the Founder and Executive Director of NoFizz Charlotte, a non-profit dedicated to awareness on the importance of proper health and nutrition. He resides in Cornelius, NC, with his dog, Dakota.