Curious Parents Parenting Resources

Kids & Sports

Keep Sports Fun—Your Child isn’t in the Major Leagues Yet
By Justin Jenei

Throughout my life I have always enjoyed sports. Every spring and fall my life revolves around them. Sports and games are an essential part of childhood. Not only does playing sports encourage physical fitness, but being part of a team stimulates good learning experiences.

Sports, whether individual or team, teach children all of the positive values necessary to live a well-balanced life: teamwork, cooperation and pride. Some of my proudest moments were finally hitting a baseball, catching a football and breaking my own freestyle records. I remember when my fourth grade roller hockey team went undefeated. It was one of the first times my friends and I came together as a team and did something that felt important.

When I was younger, my parents encouraged me to participate in many different kinds of sports. I’m glad I had that kind of exposure because it really helped me develop my interests. It also helped me to learn to stick with something even if I wasn’t a good player. I can recall quite a few times my mom dragged me to a practice or game that I didn’t want to go to because I thought I was terrible. I was, but I learned that every contribution to the team counts.  

Because I tried different sports at a young age, I could start with people who were on my level and give myself a chance to enjoy the sport. Now that I’m old enough to make the decisions, I can narrow it down and participate in sports and related activities that I enjoy. 

If you want to get your child involved in a sports program, it’s best to have them begin a new sport with a few friends. That way they can begin with people they know. It makes the experience of trying a new thing more comfortable and easier. Also, after you sign them up, it’s important that you encourage and help them practice, but don’t be overbearing. Sports should be enjoyable, but parents can sometimes pressure child athletes. Remember, let the coaches do the coaching.

Playing sports also encourages a healthy way of life. If you enjoy playing sports, then it’s no chore to go out and exercise. They give a person different options of exercising. Why run on a treadmill when you can go out and play a game of Frisbee in the park? Why stay indoors when you can get out and go on a bike ride or play football with a group of friends?

Parents may grapple with one question: When is it time to quit? When you’re younger, you don’t always know what’s best for you. Maybe you can’t hit a baseball or make a basket. Parents often know best in these situations. Mine encouraged me to keep trying at it. Sometimes sticking to a sport is a good experience in itself. I usually found that I enjoyed things after giving them a chance even if I wasn’t the best. However, in high school, if you find that a sport just isn’t working out, it is important to know when to quit. In my junior year of high school, I decided that football just wasn’t for me. I wasn’t contributing to the team or having fun, which, for me, is the main reason to play a sport in the first place. Now I am free to play other sports that I can enjoy and benefit from. Plus, I can explore other activities and clubs that I didn’t have the time for before.

Justin Jenei is a freelance writer and local high school student.