Parents have an obligation to encourage positive activities with their children. This means ditching the TV and video games for playgrounds and ball fields. Instead of chips and cookies, they’ll reach for soccer balls, rollerblades, and bicycles.
Many parents may be wondering just how much time should be spent participating in extracurricular activities. Some studies have shown that too much structured activity is not good for young children, but it is also proven that the right amount of these activities is very beneficial. So how much physical activity is recommended? Click here to read more.
Research also indicates that participation in sports can promote healthy development (both physical and emotional) in young children. Being active in youth sports can help build a foundation for cooperative play, teamwork, and good sportsmanship.
According to an article published by the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP), “sports help children develop physical skills, get exercise, make friends, have fun, learn to play as a member of a team, learn to play fair, and improve self-esteem.”
Studies have also examined how sports contribute to the development of social competence—the ability to get along with and be accepted by peers, family members, teachers, and coaches; and, self-esteem—the extent to which an individual believes him/herself to be capable, significant, successful, and worthy (Ewing, 1997).