{"id":1723,"date":"2019-07-10T09:00:00","date_gmt":"2019-07-10T16:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.activityhero.com\/blog\/?p=1723"},"modified":"2022-01-28T22:07:57","modified_gmt":"2022-01-29T06:07:57","slug":"how-to-choose-sports-for-kids","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ahblog.activityhero.com\/how-to-choose-sports-for-kids\/","title":{"rendered":"Choosing Sports for Kids: 8 Ways Parents Can Help"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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\"How
image from Flickr user tbsphotography<\/figcaption><\/figure>

When kids start to express an interest in sports, it might be hard to know where to start. How do you know if your child is a Steph Curry or a Serena Williams?<\/p>

Here’s some ways you can help kids find the right sport for them.<\/p>

1. Child’s activity level<\/h2>

Is your child constantly running about and complaining of boredom?\u00a0Or do they prefer to spend their free time doing low impact activities like reading?<\/p>

If you have a high-energy child, consider a fast-paced sport such as soccer<\/a>, football<\/a>, or basketball<\/a>. If they are less interested in contact sports, your child may like individual sports such as golf<\/a>, tennis<\/a> or swimming<\/a>.<\/p>

2. Consider physical traits<\/h2>

Although many teams need a variety of different players, take into account your child\u2019s stature and what activity may best suit them. Children that are taller and broader might make better football players while those that are shorter and more slender would be great runners.<\/p>

But don\u2019t let your child\u2019s physical traits limit them from their passions\u2014the only limitations are the ones set in the mind.<\/p>

\"Choosing
image from Flickr user Snap-Happy-Mom<\/figcaption><\/figure>

3. Check out the coaches<\/h2>

A passion for a sport can fizzle out due to an ill-prepared or off-putting coach.<\/p>

Some things to look for in a good coach are encouragement, knowledge of the game, and approachability. A good coach is passionate about the sport and dedicated to helping kids do their absolute best. Check out the 10 qualities to look for in a good coach<\/a>.<\/p>

Observe the children on the team\u2014are they smiling? Do they seem to be enjoying themselves?<\/p>

Feel free to ask the coach as many questions as time allows, if they are truly committed to their job they\u2019ll gladly give you feedback.<\/p>

4. Individual vs. group<\/h2>

Does your child perform better in individual or group situations?<\/p>

Some kids work better on a team and find it to be less pressure than individual sports where they are competing one-on-one. Some might find the opposite to be true.<\/p>

If your child is more independent, consider sports like tennis<\/a> or martial arts<\/a> where kids compete one-on-one.<\/p>

5. Widen your options<\/h2>

Try to introduce as many sports to your child as possible so they can see what interests them and what comes naturally.<\/p>

Kids will have more trouble sticking with a sport if their minds wander to something they\u2019ve never experienced.<\/p>

Practicing different sports with your child will help open their eyes to their talents and skills. Pay attention to your child\u2019s attitude during each sport and ask them how they feel after playing.<\/p>

\"Sports
image from Flickr user Boston Wolverine<\/figcaption><\/figure>

6. What sports does your child like watching?<\/h2>

Some kids can sit through an entire baseball game, excited from beginning to end, while others would rather flip the channel. Chances are if your child can watch an entire sports game from beginning to end they may have an interest in playing it.<\/p>

Try to introduce your kids to as many sports games on TV as possible and take note of which ones grab their attention. Ask your child what they like about the game and if they can picture themselves playing the same game.<\/p>

7. Consider costs<\/h2>

Before your child decides to be a star quarterback or a gymnast, do a little research on the costs of the sport.<\/p>

Things like tennis rackets, soccer cleats, and leotards can be more expensive than you\u2019d think. If your child is eager to start an expensive sport, be sure you have a solid commitment before making expensive purchases.<\/p>

8. Importance of sportsmanship<\/h2>

Let’s face it: no one likes to lose, but studies show that kids who cope with losing end up more resilient in the face of future challenges. Temperament matters, too; some kids are more graceful losers than others. Read more about promoting self-reliance in kids and teens<\/a>.<\/p>

Some kids can find it especially tough to deal with loss in a team setting where there is a shared responsibility for success. Other kids might not struggle as much with this scenario. On the other hand, one-on-one sports like tennis or golf deal with facing personal loss. Know which types of challenges your child can handle.<\/p>

Either way, it\u2019s important to teach your child that winning isn\u2019t everything. Playing to the best of their ability,\u00a0not holding a trophy, should make them feel successful.<\/p>

\"How<\/p>

ActivityHero<\/a> lists hundreds of top-rated sports classes<\/a>\u00a0and camps<\/a>. Find the right match for your family today.<\/p>

Written by Sarah Antrim<\/em><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

When kids start to express an interest in sports, it might be hard to know where to start. How do you know if your child is a Steph Curry or a Serena Williams? Here’s some ways you can help kids find the right sport for them. 1. Child’s activity level Is your child constantly running […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2078,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_eb_attr":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[111,215],"tags":[857,858,34],"class_list":["post-1723","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sports","category-super-kids-activities","tag-group-sports","tag-individual-sports","tag-sports-2"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.activityhero.com/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1723","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.activityhero.com/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.activityhero.com/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.activityhero.com/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.activityhero.com/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1723"}],"version-history":[{"count":26,"href":"https:\/\/ahblog.activityhero.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1723\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11934,"href":"https:\/\/www.activityhero.com/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1723\/revisions\/11934"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.activityhero.com/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2078"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.activityhero.com/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1723"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.activityhero.com/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1723"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.activityhero.com/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1723"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}