Taking part in sport brings a lot of benefits to us all but it is highly beneficial to get children taking part in sports when they are young. Within this article, we will look at 5 amazing benefits of sports for toddlers.
All children are different, with different strengths and different interests. Some children are naturally sporty, taking to a variety of sports with ease. Some may need more time and practice to learn a new sport and they may need to try out a variety to find something they really enjoy and excel at.
Whether your child is naturally sport or not, in the right environment, all children can enjoy taking part in sport. Within this article, we will look at 5 amazing benefits for sports for toddlers.
1. Enhanced Physical Development
Taking part in sports from being a toddler will help your child with their physical development. It will help them to develop their gross motor skills such as running, jumping and throwing, along with their fine motor skills such as hand-eye coordination and balance.
It will also help your child with their fitness levels, agility and improve their strength and stamina. All in all, taking part in sport from their toddler years will help your child’s physical development which will set them up for a healthy life.
2. Learning Social And Emotional Skills
Having your toddler participate in sporting activities is a great way for them to meet and interact with other children. It will help them learn how to share, to take turns and cooperate. If they stick with team sports, they will also get to a point where they begin to learn the importance of teamwork.
All of this will help them to develop social skills, communication skills and to form friendships. Having friends is a really important part of a child’s emotional development as it increases their self-confidence and helps them to develop a more positive outlook.
3. Cognitive Development
Taking part in sports will help your toddler with their cognitive development.
Cognitive development is the development of your child’s ability to think and reason. Toddlers will be learning how to do things such as learning through exploration, following simple directions, understanding words, sorting objects and imitating adults.
Cognitive skills and development are a really important part of childhood and life. The strategic thinking, communication, cooperation and problem solving that are a part of sports will help your child with their cognitive development. Studies have actually shown that memory, concentration and academic performance are all significantly improved when children take part in regular physical activity.
4. Skills For Life
Taking part in sports will also help your child to develop important life skills. Taking part in sport will see them have successes and failures and they will learn how to deal with them.
Sports will help them to learn skills such as good sportsmanship, winning or losing gracefully, resilience, and perseverance are highly useful life skills to master.
Sports and being a part of a team will also instil discipline, responsibility, punctuality, and the importance of playing by the rules in their life. All these skills and lessons will be important and useful throughout life as well as academically.
It will also instill into them a love of physical activity and sport from a young age which is a big part of a child growing up to be an active and healthy adult.
5. Fun And Enjoyment
And we cannot talk about the 5 amazing benefits of sports for toddlers without talking about the simple fact that it is fun! When it comes to sport for toddlers it should all be fun and come from a place of play and enjoyment.
Yes, your child will learn elements of competition but ultimately, at this young age, the emphasis will be on fun. Or it should be if you choose the right sports class! Your child should leave their sports classes feeling encouraged, engaged and with a sense of accomplishment.
Finding The Right Sport For Your Toddler
When it comes to finding the right sport, there are some tips that we can offer. Within this section, we will look at how to find the sport that is right for your toddler.
Let Them Try A Variety Of Sports
Quite often one of the easiest ways to find the right sport for your child is to let them try out a variety of sports. Many sports clubs and organisations offer introductory classes and trial sessions. At Socatots, we offer free taster sessions so you can see if your child enjoys football and our classes.
Listen To Your Child
Once your child has attended a taster session and introductory classes for varying sports, listen to their feedback. Ask them if they enjoyed the class and participating in the sport. Listen to what they say because they need to enjoy and be interested in the sport to get the most out of it.
Consider Their Age And Ability
The age of your toddler and their physical abilities are important factors to consider when looking for the right sport for your child. Some sports may be more suitable for younger children, while others require more advanced motor skills.
For example, activities like swimming, gymnastics, and basic ball sports are great for toddlers and younger children, while contact sports or complex team games may be better suited for older children who have developed their physical abilities. This is why at Socatots we break down our football classes into phases based upon a child’s age.
Look At Local Sports Clubs
Look at all the sports programs and clubs available in your local area. Different areas will have a variety of sports organisations and facilities. Research the sports leagues, clubs, and academies that offer coaching and training in your child’s area of interest. Consider factors like proximity, schedules, and the reputation of the organisations. Using a local sports club will make it easier for both you and your child to attend classes consistently.
At Socatots, we have classes across the UK, as well as in Ireland and the Channel Islands.
5 Amazing Benefits Of Sports For Toddlers
There are many amazing benefits to getting your child involved in sports as a toddler. Taking part in sport from a young age will help with their physical development, their social skills, their cognitive skills and give them skills to lead a good life. If you choose the right sports club or class, your toddler will also have lots of fun and enjoyment from taking part in the sport.
It may take some time to find the sport that is the right fit for your child. Take them to a variety of taster sessions for different sports and talk with them about whether they enjoyed the classes. Also, think about their age, ability and look at local sports clubs/classes.
We hope you have found this article helpful. If you would like to know more about our football classes, please head to our click here.