Sports are beneficial for a child’s both mental and physical well-being. While every kid might play a sport just because they like it, it actually has numerous benefits on their overall health. As per the Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior Guidelines, children of 5–12 years should indulge in moderate to vigorous-intensity physical activity for at least 60 minutes every day.
As long as your child is not overexerting and is satisfied with their gameplay, let them play as much as they like. Here are some reasons why playing a sport can positively affect a child’s health.
It Fosters Cardiovascular Function
Did you know playing a sport for the long term can drastically improve an individual’s cardiovascular function? When a child consistently plays a sport or indulges in any form of exercise, it enhances the muscles’ ability to pull oxygen out of the blood, further reducing the need to pump more blood to the muscles. It also reduces the secretion of stress hormones that can put extra pressure on the heart and affect its smooth functioning.
It Reduces the Risk of Obesity
As sports is a great way to reduce the risk of obesity and get in good shape, most parents have registered over 100,000 kids in various sports clubs in cities like New York and Washington. If your kid is overweight and is also passionate about sports, the best you can do is to put them in a soccer camp in NYC as the game majorly involves running. Not only will your child get back to his healthy body weight, but he will also learn social skills.
It Improves Motor and Cognitive Skills
Considering the sedentary lifestyle today’s kids are leading, has hampered their mental and social skills, such as lack of confidence, low self-esteem, and poor concentration. Giving at least an hour a day to any sport can have a positive impact on cognitive functions, including memory, attention, visual-spatial, thinking, and language functions. Even science suggests that physically active people perform well in their academic careers.
It Improves Personal and Social Skills
Parents who have shy or introverted young children should definitely enrol them in a sports club as it can improve their personal and social skills to a significant level. For instance, soccer, baseball, basketball, and cricket are team-effort sports that improve communication skills and boost one’s self-esteem. Your kid will also get the chance to make friends out of their school circle and will have higher self-confidence.
It Teaches Children Self-Discipline
If your child is truly passionate about a sport, he will do everything to be successful, be it taking care of his own diet and exercising or being responsible for improving his game. Sports can teach a kid the importance of self-discipline, which they will take along in their later life. This is how sports can even positively reform an individual’s personality.
However, there will be times when your kid will get disappointed and discouraged. In such times, it’s the responsibility of the parents to support their kids and motivate them to keep going.
*Don’t forget to download my #FREE Lifestyle APP Live a Well-Designed Life
