• Published by Aurel Saragih  

Sport is very important to support the development and growth of children. Sports support children's physical growth and gross and fine motor skills. Not only that, development in the form of cognitive development such as strategy, problem-solving, speed in making decisions, and socio-emotional development. Children will be trained to be able to interact with their peers, play in groups, and be resilient when facing challenges that exist during play. But the question is, what sports can be given to children, right? Are there special sports that children can do?

All sports are basically very good

Group sports such as basketball, ball, or baseball train children to be able to participate in groups and individual sports such as chess, and ice-skating can also train children to be consistent and persistent. All sports are basically good and train children according to their respective competencies. Parents need to consider the child's physical ability first so that the child does not easily feel tired or feel uncomfortable when exercising.

Make sure your child's schedule is regular

Exercise can not only be done once a month but 2-3 times a week to be able to hone children's physical and motor skills. Parents need to consider the daily schedule of children in the form of school schedules, tutoring, and others that might make children more easily fatigued if there are too many activities. Consistency of the exercise schedule is also important for children. This will train the discipline of the child in choosing the sport he wants to live. A regular schedule also trains children to set priorities and energy to carry out activities in 1 day.

Opportunity to take part in the competition

Every sport can be an opportunity for children to develop their interests and talents. Having the opportunity to take part in competitions, for example at the sub-district level, can be something that parents consider. Participating in competitions can train children's confidence in their abilities in the sport that is being undertaken. This opportunity can also be a motivation for children to keep coming in every training session. Children have the space to show their talents outside the home environment and make them feel appreciated for the efforts that have been made. But it's important to remember that winning competitions isn't everything, parents! Always appreciate the small changes such as the consistency of the child, the courage to want to take part in the competition, or the small changes that parents feel after the child joins a certain sports group.

Pay attention to the risk of injury that may be experienced by the child

All sports certainly have the possibility of injury. Parents need to find out the possibility of injury that could happen to their child. This is important to prepare the child for the unexpected things that he may face while practicing. For example, when practicing basketball, there will be a possibility of a child's legs cramping if they do not warm up properly. It is important to explain and remind the child before he starts the exercise. With this, the child also learns to prepare the equipment or things he needs before exercising. Do this consistently with the child so that the child can train himself independently every time he will exercise.

References :

Neely, K. C., & Holt, N. L. (2014). Parents' perspectives on the benefits of sport participation for young children. The Sport Psychologist, 28(3), 255-268.

Gregory, S. (2018, October 12). How parents can pick the best sport for their kids. Time. Retrieved November 14, 2022, from https://time.com/5422342/best-sport-kids/

Written by Sarah Aurelia Saragih, S.Psi of the BehaviorPals Centre.

Sport, sport for children, kids doing sport

Children 4 Years - 6 Years / 4 Tahun - 6 Tahun / General Health / Kesehatan Umum / Health / Kesehatan / 4 Considerations for Choosing the Best Sports For Children

Comments