Why Sports ?

1.Team Spirit- Team sports actually do build teamwork skills. Playing sports is fun and allows your child to learn social skills in a low pressure atmosphere. It also gives your child something to do and a group to belong to. It is important for early child development that children have a group of friends that has the same goals and interests.

2.Character and Self-Esteem-Research has found that kids that play sports, especially girls, are more likely to have a positive body image and higher self esteem. Sports are also known to help kids develop discipline. They learn to set goals and then work to achieve those goals. They learn that by working hard they can accomplish the things that they want to in their lives.

3. A Healthy Future-The immediate benefits of daily exercise can extend far past childhood. In the teen years kids involved in sports are less likely to take drugs or smoke because of the impact on their performance. Girls who play sports are also less likely to become teen moms.

According to the President's Council on Physical Fitness:

“Childhood activity improves child health which, in turn, is beneficial to adult health. An active lifestyle during childhood has a direct benefit to health in later years. An active child becomes an active adult who, in turn, has a lower risk for disease than an inactive adult.”

4. Dumb Jock is An Oxymoron- Motor skills, strategic thinking, and even math skills are learned by playing sports. Children develop strategic thinking as they figure out plays and the best way to get around a player or score a goal. Math skills are used as they calculate scores and stats. Statistics also show that kids who are involved in sports while in high school are more likely to experience academic success and graduate from high school.

5. Family Bonding- Unlike some other activities, it is very easy for parents to be involved in their child’s sports team. From coaching to volunteering as a booster, a sport can act as a common bond between a child and a parent, especially later in life.