Information about developing kids fascination in sports

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

Studies show that playing a particular sport has several other benefits for the 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 develop a childs interest in a particular sport it is imperative that you first analyzes the youngsters age, size, ability, general interest and skills. Not all children are natural athletes and it’s also crucial that we first be aware of the cause of their dislike for sports.

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

Children below six to seven years of age have shorter attention spans and don’t have the ability to understand the intricacies of the rules that are needed to play organized sports. When children reach this age they are able to understand the sport better and need to rehearse to get a hang of the game. The hits and misses while learning how to play can result in frustration and an ensuing disinterest.

It also is noted that some kids are unwilling to play team sports as they are most often too competitive for the kids. Sports including 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.

Occasionally kids 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 or her interests and choose his own. Self consciousness can also 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 for getting 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 understand that imposing a specific sporting activity upon a child certainly won’t help in developing the childs affinity for the sport.

As soon as the child discovers his or her own interest, they will find their very 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 child develop his / her interest in a sports activity that could last a lifetime.