Let’s face it, kid’s sport can be stressful. Organising rides to the field, making sure the oranges are cut and washing the grass stains off a white shirt can seem an arduous task to time poor parents.
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But when you consider the benefits that playing sport has on a child’s development and well being, it soon becomes well worth the trouble and mess.
Kid’s sport is excellent at building healthy minds, healthy bodies, promoting friendships and teaching children important life skills.
By teaching your child how to be a good sport from early on, you help him get the most out of being part of the game.
This winter, kids in Orange can sign up for a number of local sports, all of which strive to help children learn about being part of a team, winning well, bouncing back from a loss and coping with unpleasant experiences such as injury.
Junior sport is a great way to give your child the chance to experience the emotional highs and lows of winning and losing in a safe, appropriate and structured environment which builds confidence in youngsters.
Studies suggest that children who are highly involved in sport are more psychologically resilient.
This isn’t surprising when sport teaches kids to pick themselves up after a hard tackle, or to hold their head high after losing badly, then get right back out there the next week.
Sport is about bouncing back, and learning from mistakes. These are skills everyone needs to navigate the twists and turns of life and the earlier kids can learn these skills, the better.
Overall, the psychological and social benefits of playing sport can help kids become well-rounded, mature adults.
Encouraging your children to participate in sports from a young age is also proven to be good for their health. According to the Department of Health and Ageing Australia's Physical Activity recommendations for children, children who do not get enough physical activity and spend significant amounts of time in sedentary states increase their likelihood of poor fitness, raised cholesterol and being overweight in adulthood.
In Australia in 2006, 63% of children had played sport which had been organised by a school, club or association outside of school hours, an increase from 59% in 2000. Which is great news for our kids and great news for their health.
In Orange, kids are spoiled for choice when it comes to sport. They can participate in sports such as football, rugby and martial arts - all of which keep our kids bodies and minds healthy and strong.
Registrations are now open for many of the winter sports, so make sure you give your kids the very best and sign them up to a fun sport this season.