Good sport

Our guest columnist is Kristen Galloway, PhD, a licensed psychologist with Baptist Behavioral Health.

As the summer comes to an end, most parents are focused on buying school supplies, getting back into routines and preparing for the school year. On top of academic demands, parents often consider after-school activities.

As a parent, it can be challenging to balance responsibilities (both at home and school), technology, structure, physical activity, socialization and free play for children. Youth sports are a great way to have your cake and eat it, too!

Brain and body benefits

Did you know that physical activity is a crucial part of development? Recent studies also show positive benefits on brain development. Here are five reasons to consider enrolling your child in youth sports this season and many seasons to come!

1. Being active is important, not just in childhood, but also in adulthood. Children who participate in recreational activities throughout their youth and into adolescence are more likely than their peers to be active or continue to engage in recreational activities into adulthood. Exercise reduces risk for numerous diseases including diabetes, heart disease, stroke and obesity. Sports programs for kids expose your child to numerous activities, focus more on play than practice, and help your child identify specific interests over time that they’ll want to continue for years to come.
2. Youth sports encourage mental wellness, healthy goal-setting and resilience. Take a moment to reflect on a time in your childhood when you felt proud. Often, we feel fulfilled when we persevere, accomplish a goal or make it through a challenging time. Youth sports teach children how to feel competent, set and attain specific goals (like make a three-point shot in basketball), and persevere through difficult tasks (like learning how to swim or earning the next belt in karate). Children also feel a sense of satisfaction, value and pleasure when participating in sports.
3. Physical activity helps the brain develop. According to recent research, children who participated in physical activity for 8-9 months showed improvements in executive functioning, the brain center responsible for planning, problem-solving, organization and self-regulation.
4. Sports build a sense of social belonging. In a world where it’s so easy for children and adults to be locked into technology, sports are a great way for children to make friends, learn social skills, meet new peers and feel like they belong. Athletic programs offer an opportunity to learn important interpersonal skills such as conflict resolution, self-advocacy and boundary setting. Did you know that kids improve their self-efficacy, or as the kids say, “clout,” by participating in sports? These programs also teach children and teens how to move from egocentric mindset (me, me, me) to understanding their relation to others (I am part of a team).
5. Youth sports are for everyone! Often, even parents can get stuck falling for stereotypes about whether kids are athletic or “into” sports. More than anything, I want to break through these walls. Sports are for everyone, though competition is not. It’s important to continue to expose your child to a number of recreational activities until they find the one or two they love. Remember, the goal isn’t to become competitive, but to continue to engage in physical activity throughout their life. If soccer or basketball aren’t working out, try karate, tumbling, swimming or tennis. The goal is to play, have fun and be active, not practice to compete! But, if your child falls in love with sports and competition, competitive sports are also a great way to stay active, build resilience and competence.

As you’re approaching the school year and considering how to keep your child entertained (and get some time back for yourself), consider youth sports. You’ll be doing yourself and your child a favor by improving their physical health, building their resilience, helping them develop socially, emotionally and mentally, and teaching them the power of sports.

The start of the school year is a great time to schedule your child's annual wellness visit with their pediatrician. Looking for a provider? Call 904.202.4YOU (4968) or visit baptistjax.com/newdoctor.

Sources: “Youth involvement in sport,” Côté, J. & Fraser-Thomas, J.; “Exercise improves executive function and achievement and alters brain activation in overweight children,” Catherine Davis et al.; “Effects of the FITKids randomized controlled trial on executive control and brain function,” Hillman et al.