Now that the new school year has started, it’s likely that time again to select after school activities for your little ones, and sometimes the range of options can be quite overwhelming, making you unsure of what to choose for the best.  You’ll want them to have as broad and varied an experience as possible, so that they may discover new interests and passions. One thing is for certain, it’s important that some form of regular physical exercise is part of the mix, even if your child is not especially sporty or competitive. 

You may feel that your child meets the daily physical activity recommendations through incidental playground activity, so why bother?  Well, taking part in organised sport provides children with unparalleled opportunities for personal growth, with a multitude of physical, emotional and social benefits, which also creates healthy habits that will last into adulthood.

These benefits include, but are not limited to:

•  Reduced risk of obesity
•  Increased cardiovascular fitness
•  Healthy growth of bones, muscles, ligaments and tendons, which aids in the development of motor skills, including coordination and balance
•  Promotes physical relaxation, thus avoiding complications arising from tension, such as headaches
•  Improved sleep, which boosts brain development leading to increased academic learning
•  Emotional health benefits, such as greater confidence and self-esteem
•  Improved social skills, including cooperation, teamwork and leadership, also enabling them to make friends and have fun.  
•  Reduced amount of screen-time and sedentary activities

Starting at around the age of six, most children have the basic motor skills required for simple sports such as such as running, swimming and kicking a ball.  As their hand-eye coordination improves and their ability to understand and remember rules and the concept of teamwork, then they are ready to level up and play more organised sports, including soccer, basketball, tennis, netball and cricket. Why not let them try a different sport each term, until they find the one that is most suited to them, and where they are having the most fun?  As long as they enjoy it, they will reap the benefits. 

A word of caution, for those over-enthusiastic parents out there, who are convinced that they are raising the next Ronaldo or Kohli!  Try not to encourage early sports specialisation, for it can create issues such as higher rates of injury and increased psychological stress, which may put them off altogether.  Variety is the spice of life, and at this young age, the only goal should be enormous amounts of healthy fun!

Another encouraging development is in how inclusive sport is nowadays, no matter the ability of the child.  Inspired by global events such as the Paralympic Games, a range of sports have been adapted for people with disabilities, with an increasing number of opportunities to become more active.