Information about developing kids fascination in sports

Kids these days are getting increasingly hooked to video games and PSPs plus the television simply adds to the woes of the parents. There is a constant deviation from physical exercises amongst the kids leaving parents worried. As news about obesity amongst kids rises as among the biggest plagues to haunt children, parents watch out for ways and possibilities to get their children involved in some sports activity.

Research has shown that playing a selected sport has a number of other benefits for kids in addition besides the usual health and fitness benefits. Not only do sports keep kids active, it helps them concentrate better, improves their social skills and helps them learn and employ sportsmanship. However, in order to develop a childs interest in a particular sport it truly is imperative that you first analyzes the kids age, size, ability, general interest and skills. Not all kids are natural athletes and it’s also essential that we first be aware of the cause of their dislike for sports.

Sports can be a turn-off for kids for a large number of reasons. One of the biggest factors that keeps kids from trying out a specific sport is that they’re still at a phase when they’re developing their basic skills.

Children below six to seven years of age have shorter attention spans and do not have the capacity to grasp the intricacies of the rules which are required to play organized sports. When children reach this age they can grasp the sport better and need to rehearse in order to get a hang of the game. The hits and misses while learning how to play can lead to frustration and an ensuing disinterest.

It also has been noted that some children are reluctant to play team sports because they are most often too competitive for the kids. Sports such as football, baseball are rigorous and focused on winning which could unnerve them. Maintaining an optimistic environment helps to ensure that the kids remain motivated and interested.

Occasionally kids are still undecided upon the game of their choice. They might be more comfortable playing individual sports instead of team sports. It is advisable to let the child explore his / her interests and choose his own. Self consciousness can also be another very significant deterrent. Physical attributes play a critical part in this as smaller kids tend to feel more intimidated. It’s very important so as to channelize the childs energies in the right direction and keep them from getting frustrated.

Some of the best sports for getting kids involved with are basketball, baseball, football, ice hockey and soccer amongst team sports and gymnastics, horse riding, skating and soccer amongst individual sports. Parents must realize that imposing a specific sporting activity upon a young child certainly won’t aid in developing the childs interest in the sport.

As soon as the child discovers his or her own interest, they are going to find their very own league. Infact, the emphasis needs to be on kids getting enough physical activity in the form of any exercise, be it sports or free play. This initial patience when exercised can result in long term benefits by helping your child develop his / her interest in a sport that could last a lifetime.