Team vs Individual Sports for Children
Expanding on the theme from Dr. Cleere’s last blog, I want to talk a little bit today about team sports versus individual sports for children. As Dr. Cleere discussed in her blog, cliques have a tendency to form in team sports. These cliques have pros and cons for children, and are usually formed in team sports because of the natural groupings of the “us and them” mentality sports teams develop. However, team sports can teach sportsmanship as children learn to relate positively and cheer on their teammates. Team sports teach children how to work together and cooperate with their peers. Additionally, children benefit from the stress relief of physical activity and usually have fun participating.
Individual sports develop mental strength as well as physical agility. Players can develop confidence and resilience because, in individual sports, a person’s success and failure is their own. Individual sports can teach accountability and independence. Additionally, individual sports can help children with special needs get exercise and develop self-esteem.
Athletics can have some negatives as well, including physical strain. Too much of a single activity can cause unnecessary stress on a child’s muscles. It is important for children to maintain a healthy balance in their life, enjoying their sport but not overdoing it. Also, some children do not find sports to be stress relieving. Instead, some children find that playing sports causes too much pressure to perform.
So should parents put their children in team sports or in an individual sport? It depends on the child. Think about the personality of your child and where he/she would benefit. Team sports and individual sports both have the benefits of having children gain physical fitness, coordination, and agility. It also teaches discipline and endurance. As an athletic participant, a child can benefit from both team sports and individual sports. Maybe the answer is to allow your child to try many different athletic opportunities and to let your child decide where his/her passions lie…
Jennica M. Janssen
Photo cred: www.flickr.com
