Physical activity is one of the most important parts of a child’s health, well-being and learning. Helping them incorporate it into their life is a huge priority in modern parenting — yet many parents are dismayed to find their son or daughter is not interested in sports. In this article, we’ll help by explaining how to get your kid to play sports and have fun doing it.
Thomas Jefferson famously stated that a person of any age should devote at least two hours per day to exercise, as “a strong body makes the mind strong.” This is even truer when it comes to children — not only do children’s sports keep young bodies strong, but they also help growing minds.
A child’s main form of interaction with the world is through physical touch and play. Children pick things up and examine them with their hands. They learn the exhilarating sensation of running and becoming winded. Principles like teamwork, friendship and fun naturally arise from these activities, and they form neural connections that contribute heavily to a child’s emotional and intellectual growth.
As children turn into teenagers, sports can assume a much more serious role with the introduction of school teams. While some kids will gravitate toward them naturally, others may not show much interest. Some others may be turned off of sports entirely, which can be worrisome for parents who want them to have a means of staying fit.
Let’s examine how to introduce sports in a way that frames them as a continuous part of life — one that extends far beyond school teams and junior leagues.
How to Get Your Kids Hooked on Sports
Making sure your child naturally incorporates exercise into their life is a mixture of several things: leading by example, doing sports together, keeping it fun and encouraging instead of forcing sports. Let’s look at each one individually.
Leading by Example
Remember that kids are sponges who absorb their understanding of life by watching their parents. This can be both a blessing and a curse — who hasn’t heard the “do as I say, not as I do” line before? If you drive like a maniac or leave the kitchen messy, chances are high that you’ll find your child emulating the behavior later on.
There are so many ways to demonstrate this relationship with sports, and most of them will benefit you as much as your child. Join an after-work kickball team. Go for runs. Join the local gym. Maybe even pull out the old tennis racket or ice skates. There are sports like soccer, ultimate frisbee, basketball, baseball, softball and many more that offer pick-up games for those who want some casual sports involvement.
Do Sports Together
Nothing is so quintessentially American as throwing a baseball with your kid, but the benefits of doing so go well beyond quality time spent together.
A child’s tendency to associate sports with fun starts with you, the parent. Because a child forms their idea of normalcy by observing your behaviors, impart the importance of sports on them by doing fun athletic activities together.
It is normal to introduce your kids to the sports you enjoy most yourself. However, as time goes on, pay close attention to your child and observe whether they seem to be having fun. It is entirely possible that your favorite sport won’t interest them at all, and that is completely fine — just be ready to accept it and move onto another option. Try introducing them to many different sports and see if they are naturally inclined toward one.
Keep It Fun
No one likes a chore. Just as kids learn that sports are important by watching their parents participate in them, they also learn that sports are fun by watching people enjoy themselves while playing them.
When you do teach your child basketball, baseball or any other sport, resist the urge to apply too much pressure. Instead, keep it light and have a sense of humor about everything. A child will not have interest in learning proper shooting technique if they don’t first enjoy the game — so make sure you are having fun before all else.
Encourage, Don’t Force
This ties in with trying to keep sports fun instead of chore-like. Your role in getting your child involved in sports is to frame them as fun rather than yet another obligation.
People don’t like being bad at things, and children are no exception. If your child seems to enjoy a sport, encourage them by telling them what they are doing well. Even by saying, “I love the way you cheer the team on,” you are making it more likely that they will feel positive about their own contribution.
How Sports Form Friendships
Sports echo real life: There is competition, teamwork, victory, loss, conflict and resolution. Being part of a sports team teaches the value of looking out for others, developing trust and confidence and showing respect for authority and for other teammates.
Being part of a team can build confidence, and confident children tend to have an easier time with school and social situations. But even simply being part of the group, regardless of natural athletic ability, allows for the opportunity to bond with others.
Sports are a great equalizer in that they introduce kids of different upbringings, ethnicities and schools. They create an exciting opportunity to bond with students who may not be in a child’s own peer group academically, giving them a better chance of finding someone they click with.
Get Involved at Spooky Nook Sports
Summer programs and youth camps are great ways to keep your child entertained in an environment that helps them build and develop life skills, make new friends and keep their minds sharp. Summer camps are also a safe space that encourages staying active and having screen-free fun.
Day camps ages can range from 4 years old up to collegiate level. We offer sports-based, skill-building, and recreational camps. Learn more here.
.png)
Spooky Nook Sports is the largest sports complex in North America, but it’s so much more than just sports. The Nook also features extensive recreational facilities, including a climbing center, fitness center, food court and arcade, as well as event and meeting spaces. It’s a place where athletes, fans, families, and businesses can get together in groups large and small to enjoy unique, world-class facilities.
