News about developing kids interest in sports

Kids these days are becoming increasingly hooked to computer games and PSPs plus the television simply adds on to the woes of the parents. There’s a constant deviation from physical exercises among the kids leaving parents worried. As news about obesity amongst kids rises as among the biggest plagues to haunt children, parents watch out for ways and possibilities to get their children involved in some sports activity.

Studies show that playing a selected sport has a number of other benefits for kids as well apart from the usual health benefits. Not only do sports keep kids active, it can help them concentrate better, improves their social skills and helps them learn and employ sportsmanship. However, to be able to establish a childs interest in a particular sport it truly is imperative that one first analyzes the kids age, size, ability, general interest and skills. Not all children are natural athletes and it is crucial that we first be aware of the cause of their dislike for sports.

Sports is usually a turn-off for children for a large number of reasons. One of the biggest factors that keeps kids from taking up a specific sport is that they are still at a phase when they’re developing their basic skills.

Children below six to seven years old have shorter attention spans and do not have the ability to understand the intricacies of the rules that are required to play organized sports. When children reach this age they can grasp the sport better and need to practice in order to get a hang of the sport. The hits and misses while understanding how to play can lead to frustration along with an ensuing disinterest.

It also has been noted that some children are unwilling to play team sports because they seem to be too competitive for them. Sports such as football, baseball are rigorous and focused on winning which can unnerve them. Maintaining an optimistic environment helps to ensure that the children remain motivated and interested.

At times children are still undecided upon the sport of their choice. They could be more at ease playing individual sports rather than team sports. It is advisable to let the child explore his / her interests and decide on his own. Self consciousness can certainly be another very significant deterrent. Physical attributes play a critical part in this as smaller kids tend to feel more intimidated. It is very important to be able to channelize the childs energies in the right direction and keep them from getting frustrated.

Some of the best sports to get kids involved in are basketball, baseball, football, ice hockey and soccer amongst team sports and gymnastics, horse riding, skating and soccer amongst individual sports. Parents must realize that imposing a particular sporting activity upon a child is not going to aid in developing the childs affinity for the sport.

Once the child discovers his or her own interest, they will find their own league. Infact, the emphasis needs to be on kids getting enough physical activity by means of any exercise, be it sports or free play. This initial patience when exercised can lead to long term benefits by helping your son or daughter develop his / her interest in a sports activity that will last a lifetime.