How to teach sports to children?

For many years, sports have been considered an activity that only provides physical benefits. However, its mental benefits are countless. Therefore, it is important not to forget the habit of playing sports while teaching children positive habits.

Doing sports is also a socially beneficial activity for children. Experts explain the most important elements that children can gain from playing sports as 'gaining discipline', 'socializing' and 'having self-confidence'. Of course, this important activity should not be ignored in terms of children's healthy communication with their peers.

We will explain in detail how sports education is given to children, what to pay attention to, and even how to choose the appropriate sports branch for children. But first, let's review the benefits of sports for children together.

Benefits of Sport for Children

• For children, sports can be a lot of fun. Because children have fun while doing sports and many sports activities can be as enjoyable for them as playing games.
• All kinds of physical activity have the ability to reduce stress. Studies have shown that children who play sports have much less or no anger and stress.
• Sport also involves discipline. Therefore, children gain discipline while doing sports.
• Setting a goal and working towards it helps children to organize their lives in a much healthier way in the future.
• Playing sports is also important for physical development. Children can have a much healthier body when they spend time with age-appropriate sports activities.
• Doing sports supports self-confidence.
• Children who learn the concept of healthy living at an early age are less likely to develop bad habits in the future.
• Experts say that if children are introduced to sports at an early age, they accept winning and losing more easily. Therefore, they are better prepared for life and become more successful individuals in dealing with problems.
• Sport also improves reflexes and children gain strategic thinking skills. Dozens of different studies have so far shown that playing sports improves analytical intelligence.
• For people who have never played sports before, it is more difficult for them to start sports at a certain age and maintain this habit. However, it is much easier for individuals who have been introduced to sports as children to start playing sports and turn it into a lifestyle.
• Children socialize more easily when they spend time in gyms. At the same time, they do not have difficulty adapting to social life and can have a much healthier communication with people.
• Spending time in a group for sports activities also makes it easier for children to be more tolerant of differences.

The Importance of Sports Education for Children

First of all, two important elements need to be underlined.

• Education starts at home
• Children look up to their parents

These two important details should never be forgotten when teaching sports to children. In order for children to love sports, families must first of all love sports and even set an example for their children by practicing sports. You don't necessarily have to be professionally involved in a sport, just exercising and observing your child doing it will make their approach to sports more positive.

However, you also need to determine which sports children are interested in. For example, it would not be right to force a child who is interested in volleyball into athletics. This behavior may even cause the child to move away from sports completely. What needs to be done at this point is to let children get to know different sports branches. In this way, they can more easily discover which sports they are more inclined to.

Children's sports can be categorized according to various age groups. These sports branches are determined by taking into account the physical and mental development of children. The sports that are suitable for all children are swimming and gymnastics. These two activities form the basis of all sports branches and when children choose a sports branch after a while, their infrastructure can be ready. Therefore, you can direct children to swimming or gymnastics at least until they discover their own interests.

Families and children can attend gyms or courses for children together. This way, children can both get to know sports and adapt to sports training more easily. According to experts, children aged 6 can participate in sports activities alone. Families can accompany children in the first days to facilitate adaptation, but afterwards, children can go to the gym or course alone.

Choosing a Suitable Sports Branch for Children

Of course, the most suitable sports branch for children may be different for each child. Determining the appropriate branch is not a process that can be completed in a few days or a few weeks. It is absolutely necessary to observe children for a while. The child's physiological, social, emotional development and interests should be at the top of the list of issues to be considered. While observing, it should also be considered whether children express themselves better in a group or individually. This information can also be taken into consideration when choosing between team sports and individual sports.

When observing children when they start sports, the answers to questions such as whether they are fast, strong, flexible and have good reflexes should also be determined. Answers to questions such as leg length or torso length will make it easier to determine the most ideal sports branches for them. In this way, children can be directed to the right sports branches. Experts can also be consulted during this observation phase.

Starting sports and starting a sports branch are very different. We have already mentioned that sports can be started in childhood and that there are serious benefits of starting sports at an early age. However, it is necessary to wait for the right time to start a sports branch. Children between 4 and 8 years of age are not recommended to be directed to a sports branch. They should play sports, but they should only start developing themselves in a specific branch after the age of 8. In this process, activities such as gaining fitness and developing sportive skills provide children with the appropriate infrastructure for a sports branch in physical terms.

The most popular sports activities such as gymnastics, swimming, basketball, volleyball, basketball, volleyball, tennis and soccer can also be offered as options in sports halls for children. Children can experience these sports as they wish and when they reach the appropriate age, they can start training in the sports they feel good about or enjoy the most. The important thing is to ensure that they adopt sports as a way of life. At this point, families also have a big role to play. Just like playing games or watching television, sports hours can be set and the whole family can spend time together doing sports activities. This alone can encourage children to play sports.