Sunday, June 23, 2013

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.

Developing social skills, teamwork and sportsmanship are reasons that are often given in favor of kids participating in these classes. It is difficult to argue against these points as it is quite clear that this is certainly an avenue for developing these important traits. Few would argue that such development would not benefit children in many ways in their youth and throughout adulthood as well.

On the other side of this argument is the concern about the effect of competition on developing youth. Some may be prone to being excessively competitive, which can be a hindrance socially and beyond. Others may have issues with lowered self-esteem if they are not as successful, which can have a wide range of negative effects on children as well as adults.

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.

The simple existence of an opportunity to get some regular physical activity is a strong argument in favor of sport classes. Many kids have come to lead very sedentary lives and need to learn the importance of exercise and to develop healthy habits that they can carry with them through the rest of their lives.

With this added activity comes a greater chance of suffering an injury. Major injuries can have long-lasting physical and mental effects and even minor ones can cause significant problems. The risk level naturally depends upon the type of sport that is being played, but every one comes with some sort of risk involved.

It would be virtually impossible for anyone to claim that sport classes for kids are completely good or completely bad as there are obvious pros and cons that must be considered. Every child is different physically, mentally and emotionally. Whether these classes are a good idea must be decided on a case-by-case basis based on each individual's desires and attributes. Parents must take careful consideration of the benefits and drawbacks and weigh them against the desires and personality of their child when deciding if participating in these classes is best for them.




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