The importance of children participating in group sports and activities goes beyond the physical health benefits; It provides them with social and emotional benefits as well, as sports are an excellent way for social interaction between children.
Dr. Matthew Sacco, a health and sports psychologist, says, “The obvious benefits of exercise are physical activity, especially in our current time, when children spend long periods of time watching screens, in addition to many social and emotional benefits as well.”
In an interview with the German News Agency, Dr. Matthew – a psychologist at the Cleveland Clinic in America – reviews the five most important reasons through which team sports can contribute to preparing children to achieve great achievements in life, whether in their childhood or after they grow up.
Team sports help create a safe environment in which the child can learn important social skills (Shutterstock)
1- Enhancing social skills
Sports are an excellent way for social interaction between children, and if a child is unable to regulate his emotions or interact with others, the organized structure of team sports can help create a safe environment in which he can learn important social skills.
Matthew added, “When participating in group play, children must learn how to find solutions to the problems they face while playing, and cooperate among themselves, and they must – sometimes – learn how to control feelings of frustration, which they may feel because of team members who do not perform their roles in the appropriate manner.” Required”.
Matthew explained that these skills can be applied to all areas of life, starting from school through to their future life in work offices and others. Therefore, learning these skills in childhood can provide them with positive experiences and interactions in the future.
Team sports encourage children to come out of their shell and integrate them more into the team atmosphere (Shutterstock)
2- Learn new skills
Teamwork helps achieve a common goal; Such as: winning a match, which gives children important skills that will last with them throughout life, including how to lead or follow others, and negotiate with them.
He adds, “This type of skill may be difficult to teach in other circumstances. Although these skills are also learned in schools, the fast and active nature of the sport provides an environment with greater freedom.”
3- Benefiting from environmental regulation
Matthew explained that children need organized and unstructured times to practice play; Each of them contributes to their development in a different way, indicating that building personal qualities; Such as: persistence and credibility will have long-term benefits that serve children in the later stages of their lives.
He continued, “Sports provide a highly organized environment that allows children to predict what will happen next, in terms of exercises and game schedules, which provides them with the opportunity to practice sports regularly.”
Participating in team sports provides an opportunity for children to look positively at themselves (Shutterstock)
4- Enhancing self-confidence
Dr. Matthew said, “In team sports, each team member has a role to play. Thus, children learn how to rely on others for their own skills and strengths. These sports can also contribute to encouraging them to come out of their own shell, by “They become more integrated into the team atmosphere.”
If children are shy or lack self-confidence, participating in team sports provides an opportunity to look positively at themselves.
5- Banish the specter of depression
Dr. Matthew explained, “Negative experiences in childhood may remain stuck in an individual’s memory for life, but research has shown that practicing sports has long-term positive effects on the mental health of children who live in difficult circumstances in their homes, such as: abuse, or parental separation.” , or drug abuse.
He referred to a study conducted in 2019, which concluded that participating in team sports can help children ward off the specter of depression. Data taken from about 9,700 children showed that among the children who had bad experiences in their childhood, those who played team sports enjoyed better mental health in adulthood, and did not experience depression as they aged to the same levels as those who did. They did not participate in team activities or sports.
He continued, “We know that physical activities have a positive effect on mood and anxiety levels, but being part of a team may lead to improved mental health in particular, as team activities help children feel that their voice is heard and that they have a strong support system that they can rely on.” “For them in difficult times.”
Children acquire social and leadership skills from other activities, such as playing in the school band (Al Jazeera)
Important activities that develop the child’s skills
Dr. Matthew pointed out that if a child does not like to exercise, there are many other groups that he can join to obtain similar psychological benefits.
Matthew explained, “Children can gain social and leadership skills from other activities as well, such as participating in summer camps, groups interested in acting, or playing in the school band, as these benefits are not limited to sports or physical activities only; “The team structure is essential and provides children with the opportunity to engage with their peers, hone their social skills, and learn to work collaboratively with others to achieve a common goal.”
He advises parents to help their children find a way to engage in physical activities, and “regardless of the activity the child chooses, its goal must be to achieve pleasure and make him physically active.”
2023-10-10 17:20:27
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