The Benefits of Encouraging Kids to Play Competitive Sports

Encouraging your child to take up a competitive sport could bring a wide range of benefits to their life in both the short and long-term, so it should certainly be considered. Many kids take to competitive sports and will not need encouragement, but for those that do not, you may want to try to encourage them to do so (but not force) because they can bring so many benefits in addition to the obvious health advantages. So, read on to discover why you should be encouraging a young child to take up any kind of competitive sport and how it could help them.

It Can Be a Fun Way to Spend Free Time

One of the main benefits is that competitive sports can be great fun, and it is important for kids to have activities that they can enjoy in their spare time – it is also a bonus if this is an active and social hobby and not one that involves being sat in front of a screen for hours on end.

It is Good for Their Physical and Mental Health

Following this, exercise is good for both physical and mental health, so it is an excellent activity for a young person. This is particularly true when you consider the prevalence of childhood obesity and mental health issues in today’s youth, so a healthy activity could greatly improve their overall wellbeing now and in the future.

It is Social

These days, kids often spend a lot of their time at home in front of a screen. While sometimes this will involve socializing, it is not the same as leaving the house and socializing with people face-to-face. Competitive sports are great for developing social skills, finding friends with similar interests, and getting out of the home.

It Can Develop Life Skills

An often overlooked aspect of competitive sports is that it develops many important life skills. In addition to a healthy bit of competition, which can be beneficial, competitive sports can develop a wide range of skills such as self-esteem, working as part of a team, communication, concentration, focus, following direction, respect, and staying calm in stressful moments. Those that have played competitive sports from a young age often develop these skills and mature quickly, which can help them later in life.

It Could Lead to a Bright Future

Encouraging your child to play sport from a young age will give them plenty of time to develop, which could lead to a bright future. They may develop a talent that would allow them to secure a scholarship from somewhere like ASM sports scholarships, enabling them to have an incredible experience at a respected school and earn a qualification that will help them to succeed in life.

These are just a few of the main benefits of encouraging a child to play competitive sports from a young age, but there are many more. Overall, competitive sports can improve their life both in the short and long-term and gives them a fun, social, and healthy activity to enjoy in their spare time.