It’s that time of year again. No, I don’t mean the beginning of tourist season, it’s the beginning of baseball season. Around this time every year I get a little melancholy. I played softball competitively for over 10 years, and every year when it comes around, I miss it. It’s not a constant thing, more of a twinge here and there, but it’s definitely there.
Last year, my oldest son, who was 4 at the time, started playing T-ball. While I was excited about getting him into sports, I got some backlash from others in my acquaintance circle. “Are you sure you want to get him into sports? That can create major issues you know. What if he’s not any good, and it permanently alters his self esteem?” While I basically ignored the un-asked for advice from the peanut gallery, it made me reflect on why I want my boys to play sports.
First and foremost, it’s a type of physical activity. We spend so much of our lives (even at a preschool level) sitting, and let’s be honest, young kids have a LOT of energy. If it helps him sleep past 6 am, I’m in.
Going along with the physical aspects, playing sports can improve coordination. Kids learn to control their limbs, and can begin to get comfortable with their bodies. If they are comfortable in their own skin at an early age, it can actually INCREASE self-esteem rather than decrease it, and that can be fostered into adulthood.
My kid is far from the best kid on his team. But you know what he is? Coachable. Being able to take criticism at an early age is a wonderful thing. I haven’t met a person yet who hasn’t had some sort of criticism in their life, and if children are taught how to handle it early on, they can have better coping skills later. Who knows, they may even learn better communication skills, and truthfully, we ALL need to learn how to communicate better with one another.
Sports teach you about teamwork. How to work together as a unit, even if you’re not great friends off of the playing field. My son didn’t know a single soul on his team. But, when he got home, he knew all of their names, and said he had made new friends. Socialization skills are important, they not only help kids make friends, but they can provide a basis for navigating social situations as adults; and let’s be honest, it’s way easier to make and keep friends as a child than as an adult.
Sports teach a competitive spirit. This is a wonderful thing, as long as it’s tempered. That competitive spirit can push children (and adults) to think out of the box for the best way to win. These people are called innovators; and we need more of them.
This list could go on, and on, but I think I’ve made my point. Whether your child wants to play soccer, baseball, gymnastics, lacrosse, or competitive skateboarding, let them play. It’s not just a game, it’s sports; and sports can teach you so many important life skills.
