Sports And Children: Tips To Motivate Them
Linking your child with sports from an early age is the best way to motivate him to have a discipline that invites him to always stay healthy physically, emotionally and spiritually. There are families in which the equation of children and sport occurs naturally; This occurs because the environment of that family is permeated with people who enjoy exercise and sports-related activities.
Children who grow up in such an environment will surely quickly become fond of some physical activity, since the example of parents is always the best way to teach children. However, not all families are fond of sports; what’s more, our society in general tends to be rather sedentary.
Invite him to know different sports disciplines
If your child is not surrounded by a family environment where sports are frequently practiced, but you want him to develop properly, you can motivate him by bringing him closer to physical activities in some way.
Before enrolling him in a sport, teach him different institutions where they practice various disciplines of the sport. This way you will have the opportunity to choose with certain criteria, so that your decision will be linked to the emotion you feel when you see how the sport is practiced.
Try to get activities related to your personality
The objective of making your child see other boys or girls practicing sports is that they can find one that they like, that is in tune with their hobbies and also with their physical conditions. If you want your child to play sports, you should let him choose freely, you can guide him and make him see his skills, but the last word must be his.
It is also vital that your child knows that the practice of sport should not be a sporadic activity but a discipline that requires dedication and effort.
At 5 years old you can start practicing sports
The psychologist and specialist in childhood and adolescence Trinidad Aparicio Pérez explains that from the age of 5 it is the right time to enroll children in a sport.
She suggests inviting them to choose activities that promote teamwork, as this will help them connect with other children.
This constant contact with children their age through sports helps them develop skills such as socialization and problem solving, which in turn allows them to build healthy self-esteem.
In addition, being able to spend time with other children through the practice of sports gives them the possibility of healthy recreation and simultaneously developing motor and cognitive functions.
Encouragement Gifts
Motivating children through small gifts that invite them to practice sports activities is one way to bring them closer to them.
So, when there is a time when you want to give your child a gift, give him some detail that invites him to play sports. At Christmas you can buy him a bicycle or a ball instead of a video game or mobile.
In addition, try to leave time for him to freely enjoy his toy and for him to decide how he wants to use it.
Talk to him, motivate him
Parents’ interest and active participation in their children’s activities are a natural incentive for any child. If you have already enrolled your son or daughter in a sport or physical activity, it is very important that you continue to support and encourage them.
Take a sincere interest in his progress, talk to him and his teacher about the classes and his performance in them and, above all, listen to your child: it is the only way to know how he really feels when playing sports.
Normally the coaches of the academies stimulate the children through competitions and presentations, which are very motivating for the children since they are taught to achieve a goal. In these types of events, your attitude is essential, you must teach them that important things are achieved through constant effort.
Promotes the healthy bond between children and sports
Aparicio stresses that it is essential that the objective of the parents is not for their child to excel in the chosen activity. The aim is for you to enjoy yourself and get away from the school and family routine.
Promoting healthy enjoyment of sport is an activity that parents can undertake in different ways; Even if it is not in a specialized way, it is always possible to include some sporting activity in family routines.
