Pros And Cons Of Sport Classes For Kids

By Mara Boone


Sports are a major part of modern society today. Many of us have grown up watching a variety of sports and participating in some as well. Even many of those who weren't active in athletics become followers of a particular sport or team once they get older. With the growing popularity of these pastimes, more and more children are participating in sports, oftentimes to a much more serious degree than was typically done in the past. As a result, sport classes for kids are increasingly common and there is some debate as to the benefits that they offer.

The development of such attributes as sportsmanship, teamwork, and social skills is an important part of sports participation that proponents of these classes often cite. There is little argument that this can be true if the classes are conducted in a proper manner. There is also not much debate that such skills are valuable not only during childhood but all throughout life in many aspects.

The downside of this is the possibility for some children to develop an over-competitive nature or, on the other end of the spectrum, to be turned off by competition altogether. As is the case in life in general, neither of these extremes are highly desirable.

Modern society includes a degree of stress that can be harmful, especially to children. Participation in sport is often claimed to be a way to release and deal with some of this tension. This is in part related to the physical activity involved as well as the social aspect alluded to previously.

On the other hand, rather than helping a child to deal with the stress that they are facing in other aspects of life, the competition that comes with these classes can compound what stress is already there. It is not at all uncommon for both coaches and parents to place a lot of pressure upon their kids. Peers can be another source of this as can the child himself or herself.

Probably the most commonly referenced benefit is the simple fact that participation in sport provides the child with much-needed physical exercise. With progressively sedentary lifestyles these days, this is a very important consideration in the overall health of children and in establishing healthy habits for adulthood.

One drawback to this added exercise is the risk of injury that is inherent in many such activities. American football, rugby and other collision sports obviously have a higher risk than ones such as tennis and golf, but none are completely free of jeopardizing the health of the participants. Major and minor injuries can both have long-lasting effects, both physically and mentally.

It is clear that there are both benefits and drawbacks to sport classes for kids. There is little to no black and white in this debate and, because everyone is different, it is up to each child and his or her parents to decide what is best for him or her. This will depend upon the personality and needs of the child as well as the benefits and risks involved.




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