Teens go through many changes during their preadolescent years, which often affects how they see themselves and their self-confidence. Adding athletic engagement can even seem like a huge feat.
Students engaged in various sports have to balance their academic responsibilities with their social life and maintain physical training sessions to keep them in shape.
If you think about it, life would be so much simpler if teens would have nothing to do but stay home and relax. So, why is it essential to get them involved in such activities? Here are a couple of reasons why it’s crucial to push your teen and support them with their athletic enthusiasm.
Many athletes do well in school
Although playing particular sports require serious commitment, it doesn’t mean that many students engaged in it fail their academic responsibilities. The University of Missouri Health Care says that sports also require memorization and learning, similar to schoolwork. Even more, it also involves repetition to ensure that your teen memorizes every movement. That’s why many parents even try to think of various school fundraising ideas in high school to help support their child’s interest.
Improves physical health
Everyone knows about the benefits that physical activities do to a person’s body. Sadly, most teens these days don’t receive the same amount of activity advised by the Department of Health and Human Services. The pandemic made it even worse as almost everyone needs to stay home to prevent the virus’s spread. Additionally, doing regular exercise can alleviate inflammation, a risk factor in nearly every chronic disease. By getting involved in various competitive sports, teens can help improve their health and develop a good foundation of exercise habits in the future.
Physical activity is important for everyone, but it’s especially crucial during adolescence. Teens who play sports have better cardiovascular health, stronger bones and muscles, and lower rates of obesity than their sedentary peers.
In addition to the physical benefits, playing sports can also help teenagers develop important life skills. Through sport, they learn how to work effectively as part of a team, set and achieve goals, and cope with disappointment.
Try enrolling your kids, whether they’re a child, pre-teen or a teenager, in sports like swimming, basketball or tennis. These sports are easy to get into no matter what age a person is.
Improves mental health
Several studies have proven the many benefits that regular exercises can do to a person’s mental health. Not only does it help boost psycho-social health, but it also helps reduce depression and anxiety levels compared to teens not involved in any sports-related activities. Interestingly, sports also provide teens with an avenue to navigate different social situations and work as part of a particular team. Thus, this results in more decisive and competitive teens in almost every aspect of their lives, including academics.
Develops character
Nothing comes easy for many people. And that’s what every sport aims to teach individuals even at a young age. Among the best lessons that sports can teach anyone are perseverance and sacrifice. Your teen needs to learn that making sacrifices and hard work will help them achieve their goals. These attributes are part of every athlete’s mindset, which will help them become better at sports and help them in academics and other aspects of life. As they develop these traits more, teen athletes will likely become more resilient and better manage various stresses that they may encounter each day.
Sports can teach your child many important values that will undoubtedly help them in their life. That’s why it’s crucial to encourage them to be at their best to help them achieve their full potential. As parents, it is up to you to lend them a hand and be there whenever you can to show support.
Part of developing character is socialization. Teens who play sports have the opportunity to meet other young people with similar interests, and they can learn how to interact with teammates and opponents in a positive way. There are plenty of water sports and land sports to choose from so there’s definitely one out there that your kid will surely enjoy.
As a parent, you can support your teen’s involvement in sports by helping with logistics like transportation and equipment. You can also provide encouragement and praise for their efforts. Let your teen know that you’re proud of their involvement in sport, and encourage them to stick with it even when the going gets tough.
With your support, teenagers can reap all the benefits that playing sports has to offer.