6 Benefits of Having Kids In Sports

Have you been tossing around the idea of putting your kids into sports?  Are you trying to determine if the time and money involved are actually worth it?  Team and individual sports are a commitment, but one that can be hugely beneficial for your child or children. Keep reading to see the benefits of having kids in sports.

Here are just 6 benefits of having kids in sports:

Sports keep kids more active, therefore healthier!

It is no secret that kids benefit from physical activity, and lets face it, there are a lot of ways for kids to not get the physical activity they need these days.  It is way too easy to pop Netflix on or turn on one of the countless devices the kids have to entertain them.  

Keeping kids physically active helps to keep them in shape which means less health problems down the road.  

Sports teach kids how to win and how to lose!

As much as we would like to sugarcoat life for our children, the fact remains that things don’t always go our way. Sometimes we don’t get what we want, and that’s okay.  Having kids in sports teaches them that they simply won’t always win, which can be disappointing, but it does help them to understand better how to react when things don’t go as they wanted.  In addition, for many kids, losing is a strong reason to work harder and strive to be better.

Kids are also taught how to win the right way.  To work hard and win and still maintain good sportsmanship is essential in life if you want to be a good person.  Sports (and good coaching) teach this.

Sports Build Confidence

Kids need confidence and unfortunately, that is not an easy to thing to come by in childhood.  I find this to be especially true during the middle school years.  Children struggle to build their self-esteem, but when they are involved in sports, their confidence can grow!  When they learn skills that they can succeed with, it gives them a sense of accomplishment and joy.

Sports Build Relationships and Teach Kids How to Get Along with Others

Team sports are a fantastic way for kids to develop friendships that will often last many years.  Teamwork requires that you work together and that is a skill that everyone needs in order to be successful in life.  

In addition, sports help kids learn how to get along with others, even when they don’t necessarily like each other.  The truth is, not all kids like each other, and that’s okay, but you still need to be able to get along.  Kids who learn this skill by playing sports are better off than those who spend many more years trying to learn it.

Sports Helps to Build Future Success

Kids who take part in sports are more likely to work harder to maintain a good balance between their sports and their schoolwork.  They are often more disciplined than those who do not play sports, and this discipline in adolescence helps them become more disciplined adults with a great work ethic.  We as adults know how far that will go toward future, lifelong success.

Sports Build Intelligence!

I know that there are some parents out there who are more concerned with academics than they are athletics, and that is fine.  The truth is, we should all be worried about our children’s academics, but one thing that many may not know is that endurance sports have been proven to raise IQ, and that, my friends, is a huge benefit if you ask me!

We have noticed a HUGE impact on Miss Sarah and hope that you at least look into it. If money is an issue, try asking for the “gift of activity” for birthdays and Christmas from the grandparents instead of that latest toy. It is a GREAT investment!