Playing sports is excellent for your child’s physical development. But did you know that beyond that, sports can play a crucial role in improving their social skills? Here’s why:
Improved Communication Skills
Communication is the foundation of any good relationship.
Our ability to communicate effectively and appropriately is how we relate to others and welcome them to understand us. It can be as basic as remembering peoples’ names to engaging in thoughtful conversations. We encourage our kids before they even learn how to talk, how to communicate.
Team sports such as football and soccer are ideal activities for learning about communication. To effectively perform as a team member, our kids will need to relate to the members of their team and coach. They learn about complex plays in sports and how they can communicate this to their teammates on the field or court. And beyond that, they learn how to engage with people in general.
Knowing How to Be a Team Player
As adults, we are asked at job interviews if we are team players. They’re certainly not asking if we know how to play sports; rather, the interviewer wants to get a sense of your ability to work well with others.
Some children know how to approach a group and ask to join the fun; for other kids, this doesn’t come to them naturally. Sports is the perfect channel for kids to learn how to approach others and work with them. They learn about the parts that they play. Are they a leader or a role player? They learn about the value of being both when it comes to team sports which they can later apply in life.
Confidence and Self-Worth
Discovering how to assert yourself is one of the most challenging skills kids should learn. Just as there are aggressive children; there are kids that are more vulnerable and will often be bullied for it. Sports can help build a child’s confidence and prepare them for later life. Team sports will teach kids the difference between being aggressive and assertive. The competitive atmosphere of sports is a good training ground for building one’s confidence to achieve a goal.
As they start to see their skills improve, their determination to succeed is increased, and there is a boost in their self-worth. Furthermore, being part of a team instills a sense of camaraderie in kids. This shared sense of purpose gives children something to strive for. And having a purpose is incredible for a kid’s self-esteem.