Many parents struggle to determine when their child is
mentally and physically prepared to participate in organized sports.
With summer coming to a close, it's time to start thinking about
football, soccer and other popular Fall sports.
Parents should
watch for indicators that can help them determine whether their
child is ready for sports. Some questions to consider include:
- Does my child express an interest in a particular
sport?
- Does my child frequently seem bored?
- Does my
child seem to be at an appropriate level of development to try
organized sports?
- Is there sufficient time available to commit
to the activity?
The best sports for young children
are the ones that interest them. Parents should avoid insisting
their child play a particular sport because they themselves used to
play it or they think their child would be good at it due to
their physical stature.
"The challenges in determining
whether a child is too young are mainly emotional and psychological,"
said Dr. Philip Wilson, an orthopedic specialist on the medical
staff at Children's. "Parents need to guide their children with
appropriate expectations and goals during youth sports. Any age is fine
as long as expectations from parents, teachers and coaches are at
the appropriate level for your child."
Benefits
The
true benefit of early age sports participation can be measured in
the positive life-long effects they have your child. Below is a
list of just a few of the valuable skills gained and lessons learned
from youth sports:
- Increased
coordination
- Physical fitness
- Improved
self-esteem
- Teamwork
- Self-discipline
- Responsibility
- Confidence
Safety
Most childhood sports
injuries occur because of a lack of education and awareness about
safety precautions and potential injury, inappropriate or lack of
equipment or unprepared and improperly conditioned
children.
If your child decides to participate in organized sports, it
is important for them to practice good safety habits. Parents can
help prevent serious sports-related injuries by supervising their
child at play, learning proper coaching techniques, providing a
safe playing environment and making sure their child always wears
proper safety equipment.
Another important safety concern is
dehydration. If your child is thirsty, it means they already are
partially dehydrated. Liquids should be used to prevent thirst,
not to quench it. Water is the best source for replacing fluids, so
parents should avoid sodas and other drinks with
caffeine.
Equipment
Parents should be actively involved in making
sure their child has access to the correct equipment for each
particular sport. Common protective equipment to help prevent
injuries includes but is not limited
to:
- Helmet
- Mouth Guard
- Eye protection (visors, goggles and
masks)
- Pads (wrist, knee, shoulder, thigh and
elbow)
- Gloves
- Shin guards
- Protective
cup
- Shoes (vary by sport)
The right fit also is essential
when selecting safety equipment. Parents should avoid purchasing
oversized equipment on the theory that a child will "grow" into it.
Bottom line, every piece of equipment should fit your child
properly.
For more information about sports injury prevention,
click here.
