Kayla Culp
FOCUS
Deal/White
March 31, 2013
The Impact of Sports on Childhood Development
Sports very well may be one of the most influential activities for children. Being a part of any sports team not only helps a child develop physically, but mentally and emotionally as well. If asked, any who has ever played/is playing sports will say one of two things; “Sports have had a positive effect on my life” or “Sports have not changed my life”. Although, a majority will most likely say the first. The good thing about sports is that, for many, they become an outlet. Athletes can use sports to escape for a while and forget about any problems they may have or take out any aggression they may have built up inside. Of course, sports should not always be aggressive, but also friendly. As a result of playing sports, children gain many skills, get a positive impact on their health, and there is also a slight down side.
Playing a sport in general helps people gain many different, useful skills. One of the areas that is greatly impacted is the social development. As said in the the article “Sports and Kids: Creating a Healthy Environment for Every Child.”, “Kids who do sports: develop leadership and team building skills; enhance their knowledge of social rules and roles; experience supportive relationships with adults; form relationships with peers; and have the opportunity to experience interacting with children of other” (Engle, 2001). In addition to these, children who play sports also learn how to cooperate with others, be respectful, be honest, be organized and how to play fairly. These skills are not only important for children to have, but necessary. This is mainly because in todays society, it is expected.
In addition to social deve...
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Lawrence, Carissa. "The Impact of Sports in Young Children." LIVESTRONG.COM. Demand Media, Inc., 14 Feb 2014. Web. 20 Mar 2014. .
Mango, Kirk. "Character Building and Competitive Sports Participation-Do They Mix?." Chicago Now. CTMG - A Chicago Tribune, 07 Oct 2013. Web. 29 Feb 2014. .
Pedlar, Lesley-Anne. "How Can I Help My Child Develop Mental Toughness?." Positive Sport Parent. N.p., 22 Mar 2011. Web. 20 Mar 2014.
Athletes in times of difficulty can be important role models.” This shows that sports are in fact helpful because they can grow children into being important role models for the rest of society. Studies have shown time and time again that playing sports can be beneficial to children and we also believe this to be true. Many people still think that sports cause “too many injuries”, or coaches “are not fair enough”, but adolescents will experience these things all throughout their lives because injury can happen anywhere and they will not always be the best at what they are doing. Sports are beneficial to the youth because they can teach children and teens important life skills, help them maintain a fit and healthy lifestyle, all while improving their mental health.
While this is not completely true, sports develop people in many ways still, some people say that “sports make me what I am today.” While it is impossible to prove exactly the way each individual takes in sports, it is seen that overall it has some positive effect. Sports are a tool of development and instead of it being a choice between sports and academics, the real answer is both and that they work together to constantly develop quality generations of people. Though problems exist, the true qualities of sports maintain the role they have in developing young ones.
Stephen D. Keener, writer for the New York Times, says in his article Sports Teach Kids Valuable Lessons, “The lessons young players gain between the foul lines have guided some to become astronauts, emergency first responders, bestselling authors, military heroes, professional athletes and even president of the United States” (Keener). Keener talks about how playing on a sports team as a child can teach the kid very important characteristics, like: teamwork, leadership, and sportsmanship. Any kid who wants to get a job when they’re older is going to have to know how to work well with people, which is where learning the skill of teamwork is so huge. Considering Ripley’s point about sports lowering academics, Keener argues, “These lessons directly translate into the classroom and beyond” (Keener). These are some very important lessons I think that kids can benefit from
One of the many benefits of playing sports is the children will build character. Building character is important because with character they will obtain new friends and develop different skills. Playing sports at a young age can build character in many ways, “Playing sports at a young age enables children to participate in social interactions and build skills such as teamwork, leadership, and responsibility as they learn to work with others to achieve a common goal,” (Aspen Institute). This is a benefit because they will build character from learning how to deal with wins and losses from playing sports. Also, they will develop different skills. Developing different skills will build character because, “numerous positive developmental indicators have been associated with sport participation, including improved self-esteem, emotional regulation, problem-solving, goal attainment, social skills, and academic performance,” (Holt). This shows how when children play sports that some of them acquire different skills than others. Lastly, some of the benefits that the children will receive from playing the sports are obtaining new friends and developing different
Participating in a sport at an early age can be essential to the overall growth process during a child’s upbringing. Whether the participation is through some sort of organized league or just getting together amongst friends and playing, the lessons learned from this can help teach these kids and provide a positive message to them as they develop. There is a certain point, however, when organized sports can hinder progress, which is when adults get too involved and forget about the underlying reason to why they are helping. While adult involvement is necessary, adult involvement can sometimes send the wrong message to children when they try to make participation become more than just about fun and learning. According to Coakley (2009), “organized sports are worth the effort put forth by adults, as long as they do what is in the best interest of their children and put that thought ahead of their own agenda” (Coakley, p. 151). This is a valid argument because once adults put themselves in front of the children and their values, it needs to be re-evaluated as to why they first got involved in the beginning. Partaking in organized sport and activity from a young age can be beneficial to the overall development of children, as long as decisions actions are made in the best interest of the children and not stemming from ulterior motives of adults.
Sports are a popular pastime among all ages and types of people. People not only participate in them for fun, but also for money, physical fitness, rush of competition, and for many other personal reasons. Playing sports is especially common among young people in schools. Athletics are great and enjoyable for many reasons, but there can be a point where sports participation can go too far and become negative for children and adults. Sports specialization for young people is an increasing trend that results in sports having a negative impact on individuals and society.
Involving your child in sports is important part of growing up. There are several benefits to children playing sports. The child will learn how to make friends outside of school, church, and family. It will help develop self-esteem and physical skills. They discover what it means to be a member of a team, and how to win and lose with self-respect. Children also need to be active every day; exercise promotes growth and improves physical and emotional health. The Office of the Surgeon General states that active children are at less risk to high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease as well as many cancers (Office of the Surgeon General, January 11, 2007).
Youth sports are a staple in nearly every American’s childhood as highlighted in “Children Need to Play, Not Compete” by Jessica Statsky. Statsky makes two contentions in favor of this argument: first, that the participants of youth sports are not physically and psychologically ready, and second, that the mentality of win or lose is more harmful than helpful during the formative years of a child’s development. I agree with Statsky that children’s sports are too often over competitive, but some competition is beneficial to their development.
Rosewater, Ann. "Playing Well - Organized Sports and the Health of Children and Youth." Up2Us - Home. Up2Us, May 2010. Web. 21 Oct. 2013.
Confucius once said, "he who does not do well is less guilty than he who pushes too hard." People found that competitive sports are often physically straining and it is detrimental to proper emotional development. This blows away the misconception that competitive sports create a healthy and engaging atmosphere for kids. This and an overly strong obsession with winning create a toxic mix for the child’s wellbeing. People have begun to realize the world of competitive may be doing more harm than good for their children. Parents have also begun to notice that competitive sports often injure their children severely and also make the child feel left out, which in turn is detrimental to the child 's emotional health. Therefore, competitive sports
28 Oct. 2013. Brody, Jane E. " For Children in Sports, A Breaking Point. " nytimes.com - nytimes.com - nytimes.com New York Times, 24 May 2010.
Rowley, S. (1986). The role of the parent in youth sports. In G.R. Gleeson (Ed.), The Growing Child in Competitive Sport, (pp. 92-99). London: Hoddon and Stoughton.
Sports, a very popular past time today, have been around since ancient times. Greek Olympic Games featured events from chariot races, javelin throws, to wrestling. In addition, a game similar to soccer was played in China by the second century BC. In England, a violent rugby type game was even played to settle feuds between villages. With the development of the industrial revolution and the creation of the first public schools, sports decreased in violence and were played more recreationally and constructively. Basketball was invented to help the youth in New England spend their energy in the winter months. Since the early 1900’s sports have been a key experience in the United States (“History of Sports”). I have played sports for many years, and the experience has helped me grow significantly as an individual.
Bradley, A. (2007, September 7) Obviously, Sports Do Not Build Character. Retrieved from Action Institute: http://www.acton.org/pub/commentary/2007/09/05/obviously-sports-do-not-build-character
The main goals behind Sport Education are to help students become knowledgeable about different sports and activities to the point where they can participate in these outside of the classroom to stay active. Also it teaches execution and strategies and encourages competitiveness. It is important for kids to be competitive because they will have to be in life and it will teach the importance of winning and losing the right way. “Sports offer kids a great chance to work cooperatively toward a common goal. And working coope...