How to Get Your Kids to Love Sports

Getting your kids interested in sports can be a great way to enhance their development. The physical aspect of sports can help children to improve their balance, coordination and strength but there are many other benefits on offer too.

Taking part in team sports helps kids to make friends and enjoy a sense of camaraderie, for example. Similarly, staying committed to a particular sport teaches children that regular practice and determination can help them to master any skill.

Of course, being physically active is important at any age, which is why it’s great to instil a love of sports from an early age. By doing so, you can encourage healthy habits and ensure your kids have an outlet for their excess energy.

With so many benefits associated with sports, it’s easy to see why parents are eager to get their kids involved. If you want to learn how to get your kids to love sports, take a look at these top tips now:

1. Start from a Young Age

It’s never too early to get your kids interested in sports, so don’t hesitate to introduce babies and toddlers to various types of physical activities. Many parent and baby groups focus on physical movement, so why not try out a baby yoga class or take your tot along to a dance class?

Sport is an excellent way to help young children develop their motor skills, so you may notice a change in your child’s abilities as they start to throw a ball, for example or balance on a beam. If you’d like your child to develop a healthy interest in sports in later life, start encouraging them to take part as early as you can.

2. Let Them Try Lots of Activities

If you’re a diehard Mets fan, you might be counting down the days until your kid can join the Major League but, of course, there’s no guarantee your kids will love the same sports that you do. While it’s great to share your passion with your children, don’t assume that they’ll necessarily have the same interests.

Finding sports that your children enjoy is the key to getting them interested. To do this, let your kids try as many different sports as possible. Many clubs and teams run taster sessions, so you don’t have to sign your kids up for a whole season or term of training. Instead, you can go along to one or two meets and let your children get a taste of what the sport involves.

While some kids will be passionate about basketball or footballs, others love ballet and street dance. By encouraging your kids to try as many different sports as possible, you’ll have the best chance of getting them interested and excited about taking part.

3. Make Sport Fun

Not every sporting endeavour has to be in a gym or on a field in front of a crowd. In fact, your kids don’t even have to start out going to training classes or playing in games and matches. Making sport fun allows them to enjoy all the benefits of sports without feeling self-conscious or nervous.

From playing in the backyard with friends to family trips to the park, you can incorporate sport and physical activity into virtually everything you do. Grab a bat and ball and head outside for an impromptu game of baseball or install a hoop in your driveway and challenge your kids to a game of basketball. By focusing on the fun elements of sports, you can ignite their passion and let the trickier aspects of the game come later.

4. Watch Sports Together

Nurturing a child’s passion for sport doesn’t just mean encouraging them to take part. Watching sports with your kid can be a great way to bond. From big family events to casual weeknight matches, you’ll always find something sporty on the TV.

Modern technology means you don’t always have to rely on what’s on your TV schedule either. If your kid’s into soccer, for example, why not watch the FA Cup Final or the Super Bowl via the internet? With a fast interconnection, you can enjoy all the action and even project it on to a larger screen.

Making sport social is a great way to show your kids another side to their hobby. When you invite friends and family over to watch a big game together, your kids will get to experience the fun and excitement that sport brings.

5. Don’t Pressure Them

No matter how eager you are to get your kids to love sports, try not to put too much pressure on them. Perhaps they haven’t found the right sport for them just yet or maybe they’re anxious about performing in a team in front of people? If so, gently encouraging them to try different sports can help them to discover hidden talents and enable them to take part in physical activity that they really enjoy.

Alternatively, your kids may not possess a gift for the sports they enjoy. If they love playing baseball but they’re not the most naturally talented pitcher on the field, for example, don’t pressure them to perform better. Even if your kid isn’t going to be the next Mike Trout, LeBron James or Serena Williams, this doesn’t mean they can’t enjoy taking part in sports.

Being encouraging and supporting your kids is enough to point them in the right direction. Leave the teaching and techniques to their coaches and instructors and be positive about their participation if you want them to love the time they spend training, playing and competing.

6. Keep Sports Fun

Children have shorter attention spans than adults, which means they may not want to play sports until the final whistle blows or the buzzer signals the end of a quarter. Kids matches and games are shorter for exactly this reason, so don’t expect your kid to practice sports for hours on end.

While some kids will dedicate all their time to a particular pursuit, most youngsters will switch from one thing to another in quick succession. Instead of aiming to play soccer, for example, for a full 90 minutes, start out by playing 10-minute matches instead. Additionally, use different practice techniques to keep sports fun. Switch from pitching to hitting every five minutes when you’re playing baseball, for example, or swap between being in goal and hitting the target when you’re practicing hockey.

7. Be Involved

You don’t want to put too much pressure on your kids to be the best in their team but, at the same time, it’s important not to overlook their participation either. While you might not be able to get to every game, try to attend as many as you can. Having you at the sidelines or in the bleachers will give your kid a sense of pride and achievement, even if they don’t show it.

As well as going to watch their games or matches, try and get actively involved in supporting your kid’s clubs too. If you have the time to volunteer or space in your vehicle to carpool to events, for example, you can help to ensure your kid’s group continues to thrive.

Your child is reliant on you to facilitate their interest in sports, so you’ll need to be as engaged as possible if you want them to love sports. While watching a match in the cold weather or traveling miles to get to an away game might not be your ultimate idea of fun, it’s these little things that can really make a difference and cement your child’s love for sports.

8. Find the Right Clubs

If your kid shows an interest in a particular sport, joining a club, group or team can be a great way to develop more skills and nurture their passion. However, it’s important to choose the right club if you want it to have a positive impact on your child. It’s natural for kids to want to be on a par with their teammates, so avoid sending your kid to a class with children who are much older or have more experience.

Similarly, if your kid enjoys sport but doesn’t necessarily have a natural gift for it, it might be best to avoid super-competitive clubs that expect perfection. Instead, find a group where your kid can hone their skills and have fun, rather than constantly being pushed to do more.

Make Sports Part of Your Lives

If sports are part of your kid’s life as he or she grows up, there’s a good chance they’ll continue to be interested in it as they get older. However, it’s important to remember that kids need time to decompress and relax in the same way that adults do. Furthermore, your kid may have other hobbies besides sports, such as gaming or learning a musical instrument.

By making sports an important part of your lives but allowing your kid to have downtime and pursue other interests, you can ensure they have a healthy attitude to sport and genuinely enjoy the time they spend training, practicing and playing.