Sport can be fun for very young children and kindergarteners, but it should not be focused on the competition, but on having more fun opportunities to be active. Here is the advice from one of the renowned pre primary schools in Kolkata

The benefits of sports for children

Practising a sport in an organized way can benefit the child in several ways. From football to tennis, sports offer children the chance to acquire and improve skills, work with other children and coaches and take part in competitions in a safe environment. Sport helps him in the growth process to develop his sporting spirit of competition and discipline and offers natural and fun opportunities to exercise regularly.

Currently, the situation is worrying. Children are doing fewer and fewer sports. According to one of the best English medium schools near Garia, a study conducted in Kolkata confirmed the alarming situation and revealed a discouraging statistic: most children do not practice any sport.

When should a child start playing a sport?

When considering enrolling your child in a sport, consider how emotionally and physically prepared the child is. Too early can be frustrating for both the child and you and can take the child out of the sport for good. Most children develop the right level of physical skills and attention needed to listen to the instructions and learn the rules of a game at the age of 6-7. The pre-schoolers can throw and run; it usually takes some time before they can coordinate the two skills. As per teachers from schools near GolfGarden, only in first grade do they understand the concept of playing in turns, which is crucial in many sports. Children mature at their own pace and develop their unique skills, each at a different time.

Choosing the right sport for your child

If the child shows a particular interest in a certain sport, allow him to practice it. You may be concerned about the risk of injury, especially in a contact sport such as football or karate, but as long as the coach asks athletes to use protective equipment, the child's doctor has no contraindications, and the child practices the sport with other children just as big and strong, go ahead. Even if the sport does not prove to be the most suitable in the end, the child will have a lot to learn from this experience.

Sport and temperament of the child

When choosing a sport, think about the child's temperament. Some children have a natural inclination towards team sports, while others may feel better in activities focused on individual effort. There is a sport suitable for everyone - from football, cricket, basketball, and volleyball for a child inclined to team sports, to tennis, karate, dancing, and swimming for a child who prefers to play alone. Don't be surprised if it takes a few tries - or a few sports seasons - until you find the right sport for your child. It takes children some time to figure out what their favourite activities are.

Some children may not be interested in team sports but may be physically active by participating in other activities that do not focus on competition. As per teachers from one of the best English medium schools near Garia, whatever they choose, children should exercise at least 60 minutes a day.

Family factors in choosing a sport for children

Before enrolling your child in a sport, think about how training and matches will affect the daily life of the child and the rest of the family. How will the child's time be affected by things like homework, other activities, and time with family and friends? Teachers from schools near GolfGarden emphasise that is important for the child to have time to rest, creative thinking, and free play when doing nothing else.

How will the chosen sport affect the plans of the other family members?

If you have several children who practice various sports, how will you coordinate their transport to training and matches? Your involvement - as a coach or in another role - can be a great way to spend time with your child and show them that you are interested in what they are doing.

The child wants to give up sports - what to do?

No matter how enthusiastic the child is when you enrol him in a sport, there may come a time when he wants to give up. If he comes and asks you to do this, try to find out why. It can be something insignificant and remediable, like a piece of equipment that doesn't suit him, or it can be a bigger problem, such as the fact that he doesn't get along well with the coach or the children in the team. It could also be that he just doesn't like sports.

Is it good to let the child give up sports?

If he is part of a team that is based on his or her participation, you should explain to him the importance of his retirement for that competitive season. If this is not the case, think about what you would like the child to learn from this experience and how giving up will affect him.

When the child has an overloaded schedule or is unhappy, giving up may be the best decision. But it is still important to have physical activity every day, even if you no longer practice a sport.

Advice from one of the renowned pre primary schools in Kolkata:  Although you should communicate your wishes to your child, it is never a good idea to force him to do an activity just because you once excelled in it. There is no point in forcing the child to do a sport he does not like.

Essential things that children learn through sports

It is already well known that sports help the little ones to be healthy and to develop their physical abilities such as strength, speed, and coordination. But beyond the health benefits, sport is a good teacher for other skills that will be useful to children in personal relationships, at school, and, even later, in professional development.

Discipline

In sports and games, children immediately see the results of their actions: they see on the spot if they hit the target, if they fit in time, even if they were caught or not at the "leap". And this motivates them to give more to see better and better results.

Socialization

Organized sports activities are correlated, through dozens of studies, with healthier social behaviour in children. They develop important skills: collaboration, problem-solving, responsibility, initiative, and positive relationships both with other children and with the adults around them (instructors, coaches).

Confidence

Little ones who play sports usually have more confidence in them. Sport teaches them to build on their skills and to accept both constructive criticism and appreciation from coaches and parents.

Tolerance and integration

Team sports, especially in an organized setting, build friends and teach children how to accept others. Through sports, they learn to understand and respect each other, no matter how different.