Children need around 1-3 hours of physical activity every day, depending on their age.
Usually, children get their dose of physical movements in school sports activities or free play
with friends in the evenings. However, very few children pursue dedicated and intense
sports activities such as tennis, swimming, football, cricket, etc. The reasons for not doing
so are obvious.
Children are already burdened with academics, commute hours, tuition classes and other
daily activities. Given their time constraints, it is an arduous task to take up a sports activity
that requires commitment and practice. Despite these challenges, children need to play
sports at least 2-3 times during the week. Here is why.
Health Benefits
Young kids, especially the hyperactive ones need to vent out their energy, and nothing can
help them better than sports. In fact, a sports activity also makes good sense for pre-teens
and teens whose interest in physical activities begins to subside with age. They also go
through several physical and hormonal changes for which they can stay fit and active with
sports.
Team Spirit
Most forms of sports require your children to play with a team. It helps them shed their
social inhibitions, make new friends, develop team spirit, lead and follow, learn by
observation, respect each other, and healthily resolve conflicts. So, if your child is an
introvert or facing any behavioural issues, it would be a good idea to encourage them to
take up a sports activity.
Time Management
Sports teaches your children the art of time management in two ways.
First, they learn to manage their daily or weekly schedule effectively because they know
that they have to spare time for sports. They plan their day, study in advance and avoid any
kind of procrastination.
Second, the sport itself requires a sense of great timing. Every second is important and can
define the success or defeat of the game. So, children learn to value time in general.
Sportsmanship
Sports, when played at a competition level, is all about wins and losses. When it is a victory,
children learn to share the credit with their teammates. When there is conquest, they learn
to avoid making up excuses or blame someone else. They accept their mistakes, learn
lessons from them and move on to the next game. This is sportsmanship in the true sense
that only sports can teach.
Impressive Resume
Children who play sports regularly or participate professionally in competitions, often get
brownie points on their resume. Even if they lack a strong academic profile, their inclination
towards sports can help them take admission to a good college. It is a reflection of their
personality and life values. Sports background can also benefit in the long term for seeking
jobs. Some organizations believe that candidates who play sports possess strong teamwork
and leadership skills.
There is no doubt that sports can push your children to become a better version of
themselves. However, it is also crucial that the children enjoy playing it instead of perceiving
it as just another addition of activity to their daily grind.
Check out sports coaching academies in Pune here if you wish to enrol your children.
My son goes for tennis coaching 3 times a week. The intention is to just give him some sort of physical exercise.
During my school days, I often saw students who played sports get grace marks or admission into new school or college in sports quota. So what you said about impressive resume is true.