CHILDREN BENEFIT FROM PARTICIPATING IN SPORTS

PROMOTE A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE OF SELF-IMPROVEMENT

By Jamie Lober, Staff Writer

Participating in sports is one of the best decisions you can make with your child. It’s a good way to build a hobby they can continue as an adult, whether it’s an individual sport such as swimming or jogging or a team sport such as soccer or basketball. Sometimes it’s about the competition and other times it’s just about selfimprovement and feeling good.

Just last year, the Kentucky High School Athletic Association (KHSAA) showed record participation in sports. There was a decrease in participants choosing to play football, which came as a surprise to many. The KHSAA also reported declines in basketball, cross country, softball and golf. The bright side is these losses were offset by increases in children choosing to get involved in swimming, diving, bowling, archery, bass fishing, dance and competitive cheer. The most popular sport in the state is track and field.

The Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion insists the benefits of playing sports are not just physical. Playing a sport decreases the risk of obesity by helping your child maintain a healthy weight. It also lowers their risk for diabetes and high blood pressure and improves both cardiovascular and pulmonary function. Studies have found children who play sports are less likely to use drugs or smoke cigarettes. Playing a team sport promotes socialization and can help your child form lifelong friendships with others who share their interests.

Participating in a sport has mental benefits as well. It can help your child perform better academically and possibly lead him or her to a good college or career down the road. Recent data shows athletes have higher standardized test scores and grade point averages and better attendance rates. Skills such as being a leader and acting as part of a team can translate into being a productive and successful person in the workforce. Plus, your child will feel good when she receives compliments and praise from you, coaches and peers for her athletic performance whether she is scoring a goal or a touchdown.

Sports can help your child learn discipline because every game has its own set of rules. Children learn life skills such as time management – how to balance time between family and friends, homework and sports. Setting aside enough hours to do everything becomes easier when a child is involved in a sport because it helps him manage stress, concentrate better and stay focused on his passions. While it may seem playing sports takes away energy, it actually increases energy levels. Lung performance and capacity are boosted and you can do more.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found regular physical activity improves cardiorespiratory fitness, builds strong bones and muscles, reduces symptoms of anxiety and depression and reduces the risk of developing health conditions such as heart disease, cancer, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and osteoporosis in both children and adults. The CDC even found adverse effects for those who are not involved in sports.

Find out what sport or sports your child enjoys. Remember every child does not want to be an athlete, but you can give various sports a try to see if one or two are a good match for your child. A sports team can make for a great support system or simply create a childhood experience that he’ll remember even if he doesn’t stick with it.

Studies have found children who play sports are less likely to use drugs or smoke cigarettes.