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Tuesday, March 1, 2011

How to Help Kids Who Hate Sports Keep Fit





It's a great idea to encourage children who don't like sports very much to feel a part of the sporting community and to find a sport that suits their temperament. Here are some suggestions to help out.

Steps

  1. Get the child's health and vision checked out. Sometimes, reluctance to involve yourself in certain activities can signal a problem.
  2. Offer choices. There are many activities that can keep kids fit, not the entire of them involving team sports.
  3. Keep an open mind. Some girls want to play ice hockey and basketball, while some boys want to take ballet or figure skating.
  4. Suggest activities that work well for solo types as well as team players. Choices could include dancing, gymnastics, swimming, skating, martial arts and horseback riding.
  5. Give confidence. Also support non-sporting activities to build teamwork and sharing skills, such as school clubs, band or orchestra participation, volunteer activities, debating teams, or performance groups.
  6. Be supportive. Be enthusiastic but don't shove. If your child mentions interest in a certain activity, don't immediately assume you're raising the next Olympic champion. Your child might just want to play tennis for fun and fitness.
  7. Set a good example. Take a walk, go for a swim, play different types of sports, or sign up for a fitness class yourself.
  8. Be aware of your expectations. Remember that your child may not care for the sports you excelled in during your youth. Let him go his own way, as long as he's fit and active.

Tips

  • If your children are mature enough, consider holding a family fitness conference. Discuss various types of activities, list the pros and cons, and help your children decide on a few things that they might like to try, either alone or with the whole family. Also, explain why you are doing this.
  • Equipment is essential. Before signing your child up for any fitness activity, find out just how much supplies and equipment will cost you and how often they may need to be replaced.

Warnings

  • Pre-adolescent children should not get involved in weight training; if your child seems interested, ask your pediatrician for advice.
  • Some kids just aren't cut out for team sports and that's okay. There are many other physical activities they can do, and their reluctance to join athletic teams shouldn't be a cause for major family friction. Find a sport that fits the child, not fit the child to the sport.
  • If a child does not want to or is not physically or mentally ready for a sport or activity, try to encourage them to try but don't force them to. If a child is forced to do a sport they aren't good at and fail miserably, it will likely crush their self-esteem.

Related wikiHows

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