ENCOURAGE YOUR CHILDREN TO PLAY SPORT
Nov 22, 2016
We all know that sport is very good for our health in all ages, but what parents don’t fully realise is the importance of sport in a very young age, and its positive affect on their lives.
Sport is good for health, but what are the other benefits? Here, the Jordan Olympic Committee takes a look.
Sport encourages a healthy life
This is the no-brainer. Playing sport at a young age and continuing to play throughout their development will make it a part of a child’s life. Activity along with a healthy diet will lead to a healthy life.
Increase self confidence
Children who play sport become more confident and develop a sense of achievement. This is particularly crucial as they enter their teenage years.
Set goals
Sport provides a fun way to learn how to ‘set goals’. Children are able to measure success according to these goals thanks to the values that sport can teach them from an early age.
Team Work
Sport teaches a young person the importance of working within a team. This is without doubt crucial when it comes to career development through the early years of adult life.
Time Management
As soon as a child starts playing sport, they develop the ability of how to manage their time between school, homework and sport, an invaluable tool in later life.
Problems Solving
We all have problems, but the important thing is how to deal with them. Children can learn this through playing sport and how to overcome obstacles that may be along the way.
Sportsmanship
Importantly, sport teaches us all that we should be humble when we win and respect the opposition when we lose. A parent’s role in this is vital to ensure the right message is delivered when taking part.
Fun
Sport should be fun and enjoyable. It helps young people forge relationship that last a lifetime. It gives a positive release from the binds of school and home and lets them express themselves in a safe environment. Parents should encourage their kids to play a range of sports and then let them decide on which one they enjoy most and want to continue in.
Warning for parents!
Some positive Jordan Olympic Committee advice for all parents:
Always…
· Let your children choose what sport they want to play. When you push your kids to play a sport they will get bored and stop
· Support their choice
· Let them make mistakes, which will teach them what the right way is.
· Enjoy their simple achievements, and encourage them to set goals and achieve them
· Always remind them the importance of sport, its health benefits and skills they will obtain
· Encourage them to challenge themselves, and to use the competitions to improve and to learn from their mistakes
Never…
· Push them to do more than their abilities
· Implement your own ambitions. Sport is about finding yourself and doing what makes you happy, and not achieving your parent’s dreams
· Give excuses for a defeat. It is a part of life and they have to learn how to deal with it
· Focus on winning… what is important is to play sport and enjoy, winning is not obligatory
· Criticize them during their competitions. It is better to make mistakes and learn from them
