Sports and their effect on childhood development

1. Sports and Children: How Early is Too Early?

It’s important to understand that while interest in sports can arise at any age, children typically aren’t ready to play organized sports until ages 6-7. For one, they lack the cognitive processing skills necessary to understand the rules of the game. But, more importantly, they need time to develop the basic balance and coordination skills that we adults take for granted. Studies have found that most children between 2 and 5 are still learning how to throw and catch a ball effectively. However, if your child develops an early interest in sports, use this as motivation to develop those movement skills! Simple physical activities such as games of tag, catch, and running sprint races together will help build on the foundation of motor skills your little athlete needs to succeed!

2. Sports and Social/Emotional Growth

A study of German elementary-school-aged students found significant positive effects of extra-curricular sports participation on academic achievement, health, and behavior.

The study concluded: “Participating in a sports club challenges children to take initiative and to plan, carry through, and achieve a valued goal. Sports club participation exposes children to cooperation with other children in a team, which may make them better team players in other situations in life and, thus, may explain the reduction in peer problems. Doing sports in a club comes often along with participation in competitions. Victory in competition may raise children’s self-esteem while defeat, despite eventual negative effects on children’s self-esteem, may teach them how to deal with such a situation.”

The benefits of participation in extra-curricular club sports are not only social, as one would expect, but personal as well. Sports can assist children in learning to set and accomplish goals, such as improving their personal time in a race or perfecting their free throws. Winning and losing in competitions can teach children to modulate their self-esteem to a healthy level despite outside circumstances—Ideally with a lot of help and emotional support from caregivers. Teaching your child to strive for their personal best is essential to traveling this leg of your parenting journey.

3. Sports and Future Academic Achievement

Don’t get into the habit of thinking you’re raising a jock when your child takes an interest in sports! That is to say: don’t assume that success in sports and academics can’t go hand in hand. This study of elementary-aged students in Tennessee found a positive correlation between participation in after-school athletics and higher math scores. Likewise, this study of the effects of extra-curricular sports on eighth graders found higher standardized test scores in math, science, and reading in students among student-athletes. This suggests that the correlation between participation in sports and enhanced academic achievement will follow your child as they grow!

A Few Cautions…

Be sure that your child is absorbing the right lessons from the sports activities they witness and take part in. If they display “sore loser” behavior, or are crushed by defeat, try to redirect their energy toward achieving their personal best. Give them copious support as they learn to process the frustration that can sometimes come with emotional growth.