Nicholas SoaresBenefits of sports activities in the early ageComposition and Rhetoric
John M. Scholte

Playing sports as a children has many positive aspects, it ensures the adequate development

of bones and muscles, it regulates the metabolism, promotes socialization and, if practiced

properly, is a very pleasant and enjoyable way for children to have fun while staying healthy.

“Sport can affect a child’s development of self-esteem and self-worth. It is also within sport

that peer status and peer acceptance is established and developed.” Dr. Robert (Children and

Sport: An Introduction ) .

From an early age, our children lead a sedentary life, they spend many hours in bed, then

they go to kindergarten or school most of the time getting a ride from mom's car or using public

transportation, where they remain for seven to eight hours a day, if not more. Then back home, so

they can do their homework and after that if not earlier they watch television, have dinner and go

to bed. The result is a real small amount of body activities during the day. This such sedentary lifestyle can lead to the overweight problem and even worst if is been

associated with an improper diet as we know how easy is to overindulge in snacks and meals

while sitting in front of the television, and that can cause the risk if not stopped in time that there

can be an increase on the cholesterol values and an elevation in blood pressure, that can lead to

cardiovascular problems in adulthood. There are many motor skills that can be acquired from an early age by playing sports that

will be valuable for a lifetime. A child who has done sports, in fact, growing up will be much

advantage over those who have never practiced physical activities, because he has a muscle better

structured and has 'experienced' and formed his own body in a stage of the age where they

develop the so-called coordination skills, such as balance and orientation, and the conditional

capacities, named strength, endurance and speed.

The result is that if the child decide to stop playing sports for a few years at the moment

when he will restart his muscle memory will get in the game and it will be easier for him to restart

a sport or learn a new one because of the muscle memory developed at an early stage of his

growth.

At the beginning it is better to opt for an activity as generic as possible, such as swimming or

gymnastics in order to encourage the harmonious development of the entire body. Too specific

activities are not recommended in the early stage because the child has not yet acquired physical

dexterity. It is also true that at this age there is not much difference between the various sports,

because the approach would be playful and most of the time do not enter into the specifics of the

sport .

The child will be able to gradually develop various skills through the adolescence stage

and certain potential can be improved with training. After the sixth year of age there has been a

gradual development of both the physical capacity and movements coordination , allowing the

approach to new sports, such as athletics, basketball, football, soccer and many other sports.

However, the activity must allow the harmonious development of the entire body. A kid

should do activities approximately two to three times a week. If the school activities include any

kind of serious sport the after school activities can be lowered to twice a week.

The parents have the responsibility to check that the school's activity safe and well executed

by the school administration as the parents should testimony and check that the activities are

carried out properly. The kids should not just be dropped by parents and parents should make sure

the activities is helping their kids the right and safe way. The activities should not be boring and

the kids should have fun while learning so that he will be willing to learn more and start the

process which will make him understanding the sport as a whole.

The sport has never contraindicated and anyone can benefit from the sport, although

suffering from particular diseases. The important thing is to always ask some doctors or directly a

specialist, who will indicate the activities best suited to each case. Kids with heart disease, for

example, can take much advantage from rehabilitative motor activities, and also for asthmatics,

physical activity can be of great benefit.

Never ban the sport, but be sure your kids are in good hands. The instructor is an important

figure at any age you play sports and it will be an important reference point for the child. Up to

six years the small athlete has no need of a regular teacher, who teaches him technical knowledge,

but needs more a sort of baby-sitter technician who can empathize with him, knows how to listen

and be able to be heard when needed.

Even after six years, the instructor continues to play a decisive role like the task of

motivating the kid, support him during training, but also stop, if necessary, the lesson to talk to

him and understand what difficulties can be hidden behind any new challenge. This way, it will

establish a relationship that goes beyond the the technical coach and that will lead the best result

because the kid will feel more likely to deal with it with more pleasure and will enjoy his time the

best he can. If you establish a relationship of trust it will become easier for the kid to deal with

the sacrifices while training and learning.

And that is why I think kids should do sports activities, because it is healthy and help the

developing their body the right way, stimulates the production of endorphins, the so-called

“molecules well being” and also helps to strengthen the self-esteem and inner balance.

And conducting a sport activity will keep the kid away from the modern era vices such as

television, computer and video games, which in excess can increase the risk of visual

disturbances, obesity and isolation. A child's body, as well as that of adults, is made to move.

Sources: http://www.rcga.org/_uploads/documents/L2P/EN/pg_016-017_Why%20is%20sport%20important%20for%20children_.pdf http://www.livestrong.com/article/160825-why-should-children-play-sports/

http://www.amazingathletes.com/corporate-categories/feature-news/top-5-reasons-why-children-should-play-sports

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