It is important for children to play sport for a number of reasons. Not only will it keep them healthy, but also it will help them to develop confidence, self-esteem, and key social skills. It can also help them to make new friends, learn valuable life lessons, and invigorate friendly competition. Plus, it can even breed academic success. So, what do you do when your child simply does not want to play sport?
Present your child with all of the options that are available – It is important to find a sport that your son or daughter is interested in, rather than forcing them to do something. You should create a list of all of the different sports clubs that are available, so that your child can see all of the possibilities. Explain what each club would entail. You may find that your child simply may not be a team sports type, and so they may prefer something like swimming or karate.
Tell them more about the club itself – Don’t only explain the sport, but also explain the club. There are plenty of great soccer schools, such as fcbcanada.com/en/, as well as schools dedicated to other sports. How many people will be involved in the lesson? What is the place like? Are the teachers nice? Often, children are more scared about this new environment than the sporting aspect.
Suggest non-sports related clubs first – If the list fails, and your child still isn’t interested in getting involved in clubs, encourage them to check out other clubs that are available. From robotics and maths to photography, there are so many different options to choose from. Once your child joins one of these clubs and has a good time, he or she may be more encouraged to join a sports club. It will be more appealing to them.
Turn off the TV – Does your child spend most of their time watching television or playing on computer games? Limit computer use and TV watching, and your little one will be more encouraged to try other things to entertain themselves. This means that there is more free time for physical activities.
Get involved – Parents have had a huge influence on youth sport, as you can find out about here: believeperform.com. Why not find something that you and your child can do together to start off? Perhaps you could go to a local swimming bath on the weekends, rather than your child starting off with lessons straight away? Or, you could book a tennis court for an hour or two? There are many ways that you and your child can get involved in sport together.
Be a role model – Are you physically active? If not, now would be a good time to get involved with sports yourself. If your children see that you are participating in sports, they will be more inclined to do so themselves.
Buy active toys – Next time you purchase a toy for your child, make sure it is something active. There are plenty of fun active toys, from jump ropes to balls and roller-skates. This will encourage your child to get outdoors and enjoy some physical activity, which could be the start of their interest in sports.
