Spotlight on Sports- Why Should Your Child Participate?

Are you wondering if a sport is a good fit for your child? Do you have an already busy family schedule and are wondering if it is worth it to add another activity to your routine? Sports and adaptive sports have a variety of benefits for your child and your family.

Whether it be an individual, team, or adaptive sport, sports have many benefits for your child.

Physical Benefits:

Sports provide an opportunity for kids to engage a variety of their body systems to work together to achieve a goal. Sports involving walking, running, rolling, jumping, swimming, and biking provide cardiovascular benefits, making the heart and the lungs strong. Sports involving static poses or movements performed on one leg, such as yoga, karate, and dance, target the balance system, which can result in more controlled movements in daily life and less frequent falls. Sports involving complex movement patterns such as throwing or hitting a ball, memorizing and performing a dance sequence, or swinging a racket, improve coordination. Sports also improve kids’ strength, challenging them to roll and run faster, jump higher, and throw farther. Through these improvements, kids can progress their endurance, leading to walking and rolling longer stretches, which can increase their ability to walk the entire grocery store, increase their time spent at the park, or walk the entire zoo before getting tired.

Social/Emotional Benefits:

Sports provide an outlet for kids to express themselves and interact with peers. Have you ever gone for a walk or called a friend to relieve your stress? Sports can be the same outlet for your child. Sports provide a social setting in which kids can interact with their peers, whether to encourage each other in an individual sport or work together to reach a common goal in a team sport. Working together to achieve a shared goal can boost confidence and problem-solving skills, while performing sports skills improve attention and confidence. Interacting with each other helps children engage in social communication, improving interaction and language skills. Furthermore, engaging in sports allows for children to engage in heavy work to regulate their sensory system.

Here at BDI, we are passionate about sports. With many therapists as former student-athletes and our clinic’s coordination of the I Can Du It! Adaptive Duathlon every September, we want to support your family in your new or experienced sports and adaptive sports journey.

Looking for the best sport for your child? Consult with your occupational or physical therapist to discuss the best option for you and your family.

Cassidy Bannon, PT, DPT