Sports for Kids

Family Conversation Starters – Sports

Created by Shari Medini
For more on this topic, check out the full Sports collection

We hear all the time how important it is to open up the lines of communication. Communication improves relationships with partners, friends, & coworkers; but we can’t forget that it also improves our relationships with our children.

Taking the time to have a genuine conversation with your child can be so much fun & so insightful! It also helps to build up a great family bond, which is why we are offering a few family conversation starters to go a long with each curated collection of content….

4 Injury Prevention Tips to Share with Your Young Athlete

This article is written by Michael Wolf, MD
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Portions of this article were first published through phillymag.com

Sports participation rates in children are at a high in America more than ever before. Whether a child plays multiple sports year-round, or is committed to succeeding at one sport, injury prevention is an important topic.

Michael Wolf, MD Sports Medicine Physician, Orthopedic Center for Children at St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children offers four injury prevention tips parents can share with young athletes of all ages….

How to Determine Which Sport Your Child Should Take Up

This article is written by Samantha Olivier
For more on this topic, check out the full Sports collection

The question is not whether your child should participate in regular physical activity, rather it’s how you can make this new chapter in their lives as enjoyable and rewarding as possible. With the rise of technology in the modern world, aimed at making everyday life as easy and pain-free as possible, adults and children alike are becoming more sedentary with each passing day.

Therefore, instilling some healthy habits, such as taking up sports, in their developing minds is essential for paving the road towards a healthy and happy adulthood. Here is how you can easily determine which sport is perfect for your little bundle of joy.

Continue reading this article below, or click play to listen to this article being read to you!

Mind their physical traits

Subconsciously, parents tend to live out their own unfulfilled dreams through their children, nudging them towards making decisions they might not be particularly fond of. While it might be difficult to detach yourself from what you think is best for your child, it is essential for making a decision that speaks to their heart and soul.

Take a look at their physical traits first. Are they tall enough to play basketball or volleyball? Are they strong enough to take up martial arts? Examine the height, weight, and strength of your child first, and you will be able to narrow down your search easily. Which brings us to the next step.

Listen to their desires

What your kid wants really does matter. Your child should be presented with numerous choices, and choosing their first sport takes time and planning. Take them to see a wide variety of sporting events, from martial arts, to group sports like soccer or baseball.

Remember that your child is not a blank piece of paper waiting to be filled with your words and desires; they have a natural inclination. You will notice a spark in their eyes when they see the sport that resonates with their hearts in action. So, if it’s ballet, let it be ballet, same as for karate or baseball – it’s all the same.

Let them change their mind

Children are wild, untamed creatures that need to run, play, and enrich the tapestry of their minds with numerous experiences they simply won’t find the time for when they’re all grown up. Don’t hinder their adventurous spirits, rather let them have as many changes of heart as they want. Don’t worry, they will persist in a sport they fall in love with, but rarely is true love found with a single try.

Be a role model

What is equally important is the fact that children are visual creatures and they are led by positive or negative examples. Your children will, to an extent, be a reflection of the values and habits you instill in their hearts and minds. This is a perfect opportunity for you to inspire them to take up a sport with your positive influence.

Naturally, you can’t just tell them to do something, you need to paint them a vivid picture. This means you need to be an active individual yourself. Along with inspiring them through action, you also need to look the part. You can find various sports clothing at Ryderwear and pick out the pieces that will spark fire in their hearts and inspire them to want to be just like you when they’re older. Remember, Superman did not just have laser vision, he also wore a cape.

Do your research

Finally, nothing bad ever comes out of doing some research. You can easily inquire with the coaches at your local sports center about what they think is the perfect sport for your child. It never hurts to hear the opinion of a professional – who knows, maybe your kid will love the idea.

Physical exercise if of the utmost importance for every developing child, and every adult as well. Follow these simple tips and you will have no problem sparking a lifelong passion for sports in the hearts and minds of your children. Chances are you will follow in their footsteps as well!

For more on this topic, check out the full Sports collection

Featured Contributor: Samantha Olivier

Samantha has a B.Sc. in nutrition, and has spent two years working as a personal trainer. Since then, she has embarked on a mission to conquer the blogosphere. When not in the gym or on the track, you can find her at Ripped.me, or in a tea shop.

Website: ripped.me
Twitter: @sam_olivier_

Nine Reasons Why You Should Encourage Your Daughter to Skateboard

This article is written by Angie Collins
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I met my husband when we were both freshmen in college. At almost 18 years of age, though he was past the active skateboarding stage, he was not out of the skateboarding culture or his passion for the sport. When the topic of skating came up with friends, my otherwise quiet and reserved boyfriend would suddenly excitedly shout out terms I had never heard before and he would ramble on about the contests in which he had participated. As we would drive through his childhood neighborhood on the weekends, he would reminisce about his earlier days of skateboarding in ditches, in front of convenience stores, and on his street. Back in the day, this was the world of skateboarding and of skateboarders – they were mini rebels, constantly searching the neighborhood for pavement that their boards could glide or grind on….

3 Safest and 3 Most Dangerous Sports for Kids

I grew up playing sports all my life and I’ll be the first one to tell you that physical extracurricular activities are extremely beneficial for kids of all ages. However, as a personal injury lawyer I’m also all too familiar with traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries and other serious injuries that can happen to kids playing sports (especially the most dangerous sports for kids). Because of this, I understand why some parents do not wish to let their children engage in certain sports as many of them can be rough and even dangerous….