SPORTS & FITNESS ACTIVITIES FOR CHILDREN

Why It is Important?

As the world has been moving more towards the digital era, sports and fitness activities for kids are gradually declining over the time. In today’s world of smartphones, video games and YouTube, getting kids away from their screens can always be a challenge. While this was already a problem, the issue has escalated a lot over the last 2 years during the corona virus pandemic, when the children have spent most of this time at home, with very limited movement and physical activities. But unfortunately, this inactivity can lead to a sedentary lifestyle, and even obesity, as adults.

Indoor Vs Outdoor?

Outdoor sports like football, Cricket, Basketball offer various benefits, including physical and social. The physical benefits of outdoor kids’ sport include: building muscle, gaining acute flexibility, improving balance and coordination, losing weight, and general endurance.

The social benefits of outdoor sports are extremely obvious and, well, beneficial. Playing sports outdoors with a bunch of kids together can improve general social development, in that kids will learn to interact with each-other naturally but with sports as the main social anchor of the activity. Additionally, social interaction will improve other facets such as leadership, self-esteem, and general teamwork through the construct of the sports games themselves.

In a time like this when outdoor sports can be a difficult option, having your kids engaged in some physical activities at home is very important. Though it might seem like a normal fun activity, (and your kid having fun is important too), there are very important developmental aspects to your kid playing in-house games or engagement activities. There are plenty of fun sports activities for kids that can be played indoor. Example – balloon football, hula hoop or foam sports. Some simple yet impactful activities are jumping jacks, dancing, obstacle course etc. These are safe and also super fun activities which can impact your kids physical as well as mental health, as much as the outdoor sports.

Tips For Parents

Here are some ways to keep your kids moving at home:

• Make physical activity part of the daily routine. From household chores to an after-dinner walk, keep your family active every day.
• Allow enough time for free play. Kids can burn more calories and have more fun when left to their own devices. Playing tag, riding bikes around the neighbourhoods can be fun and healthy.
• Keep a variety of games and sports equipment on hand. It doesn't have to be expensive — an assortment of balls, hula-hoops, and jump ropes can keep kids busy for hours.
• Be active together. It'll get you moving, and kids love to play with their parents.
• Limit time spent in sedentary activities, such as watching TV, using electronic devices, being online, and playing video games.

Summary

Kids who play a sport have high levels of confidence owing to their involvement with people and following instructions. There is a sense of achievement involved when playing a sport which serves as a confidence booster and kids feel confident to take on any challenge that is posed to them. Your child need not excel in sports, but by playing or being involved in a sport, he could grow up to be a fine individual with an affable personality. There is enough evidence to prove that simply getting kids together for any activity that involves physical effort is beneficial for their development. By encouraging sporting activities and events in their lifestyle, you will be raising a healthy child with an equally active mind.

Swami Vivekananda - “You will be nearer to heaven playing football than studying the Bhagavad-Gita”.