Chances are you played a couple sports growing up. Even if you weren’t on a school team, or little league, you probably played sports with your friends. Before the days of endless television, kids like us got outdoors and didn’t come home until we had to. But there’s so much more to sports. Let’s take a closer look at some life lessons kids can learn from sports.
Sports and Life Lessons
Teamwork Is Important
Let’s face it. Even if you’re not a teamwork person, you know that teamwork is part of your professional life. Many of us work with others in some capacity. The sooner your kids learn to work well with others, the better. Sports are a great way to teach your kids that working with others can help you achieve a common goal. It’s also important to learn that your team relies on you and that you shouldn’t let them down—something our son learned when he wanted to quit basketball.
Practice Makes Perfect (Or at Least Better)
Parents have gotten hooked on praising their children whether they really try or not. We’re now living in a society where everyone is the best. As Syndrome said in The Incredibles, “When everyone is super, no one will be.” You need to teach your kid that if they want to truly be better, they need to practice. It’s not enough to just get out there and wing it.
Hard Work and Resilience Pays Off
Sports are a measurable activity that show children that hard work and resilience pays off. With each swing or throw they make, they’re working towards improvement. This is something that will stick with them throughout their lives. No matter what they’re trying to accomplish, they will know hard work and never giving up is the key to success.
Put Yourself Out There
Kids who are shy and reserved can come out of their shell by playing sports. Many of these kids are afraid of failure. When they play sports, they become more comfortable with being in front of people. The earlier in life they do that, the more they’ll accomplish in life.
Competition
Kids, especially little boys, can be competitive. Sports give them an outlet for that competitive nature. However, this is also a great time to teach them that they are also competing with themselves. They can compete to get better grades, have a better pitch speed, etc.
Be a Good Sport and Not a Little Jerk
Last, but not least, sports can teach your children sportsmanship. If your child is a bit of a jerk when he wins or loses, sports can help break him of that bad habit. The more times your children experience losing, the better. They’ll soon learn that not every game will go as planned, but it’s okay. That’s one of life’s best lessons. Life may not goes as planned, but it will go the way it’s supposed to.
Sports may not be on your child’s radar, but you should consider helping them find a sport that works for them. Even if it’s badminton, it’s something. There are too many life lessons that kids can learn from sports not to get your kids involved.
