September 4, 2018

Getting your child involved in sports is an excellent way to encourage exercise and prevent childhood obesity. This is a proud feeling for every parent, and the expectation is that the child will have fun, gain confidence and interact with other children in the process.

To determine what your child will enjoy participating in, help him / her decide by accompanying the child to different games and a variety of sports. The more sports and environments the child is made aware of, the higher the probability that the child will be able to pick a sport and enjoy it. It is important to make sure that the child’s sporting activity is age appropriate.

In general, toddlers (aged 2-5) are too young to comprehend most organized activities and the importance of ‘rules’. They need unstructured play that allows them to develop movement skills, attention span and social maturity. From the age of 8 and above, children can participate in team sports and group exercise. If your child does not like athletic activities, take the opportunity to spend more time with your child and encourage physical activity with regular walks, swimming, tossing a ball around, or simply kicking a ball back and forth. Be creative and mix it up so your child does not get bored.