Saturday, June 15, 2013

Pros And Cons Of Sport Classes For Kids

Pros And Cons Of Sport Classes For Kids


by Mara Boone


In today's society sports play a large role in the lives of many people. Whether it's playing, being a spectator or both, this is a important form exercise, personal development and entertainment. Children have always been active in sport but the seriousness of competition is often much higher than it used to be. For this reason, people have differing views of how healthy competitive sports are for young ones. Naturally there are both pros and cons to sport classes for kids.

The development of such attributes as sportsmanship, teamwork, and social skills is an important part of sports participation that proponents of these classes often cite. There is little argument that this can be true if the classes are conducted in a proper manner. There is also not much debate that such skills are valuable not only during childhood but all throughout life in many aspects.

The downside of this is the possibility for some children to develop an over-competitive nature or, on the other end of the spectrum, to be turned off by competition altogether. As is the case in life in general, neither of these extremes are highly desirable.

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.

The other side of this is that the classes and the related competition can actually add stress rather than helping to relieve and to deal with it. There is oftentimes an inordinate amount of pressure that comes along with competition. Coaches, parents and peers can all be external sources while the child may also place undue pressure upon himself or herself.

One of the simple and most essential benefits is the physical exercise that the kids receive. This factor is not one to be taken lightly given the sedentary nature of the modern lifestyle. Fostering a healthy body and developing good exercise habits that can be carried on into adulthood are indeed important considerations.

The downside of this is the chance of injury that comes along with certain activities. This obviously will be different depending upon the chosen sport. High-risk ones such as American football are more likely to put kids in danger of suffering a severe injury but even less risky sports like golf or tennis are not immune to injuries that can have lingering effects.

It is clear that there are both benefits and drawbacks to sport classes for kids. There is little to no black and white in this debate and, because everyone is different, it is up to each child and his or her parents to decide what is best for him or her. This will depend upon the personality and needs of the child as well as the benefits and risks involved.




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