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May 9, 2007
Introducing young children to physical activity is indisputably healthy. Organized sports as well as more "artistic" activities such as dance can help develop motor control, social interaction and creativity. Experts have found that those who participate in some form of fitness activity when they are young are more likely to stay active for the rest of their lives. And take into consideration that not all children play sports to compete. As Will Ferrell's over-caffeinated soccer coach discovers in the movie Kicking and Screaming, many kids are happier playing on a losing team than being benched. With advanced degrees in psychology and counseling as well as 20 years experience working at a sleep-away camp, Peter Corbin is the founder of the Manhattan-based kids' sports program Corbin's Crusaders. He and his staff provide sports education in several schools and run an extensive after-school operation for kids. Below are some of his tips for introducing children to organized sports and helping them stay enthusiastic and engaged: Be Brief: Preschoolers tend to have short attention spans, so activities should be brief, varied and emphasize playfulness, experimentation, exploration and looking out for others. Bright Starts: As far as organized sports are concerned, soccer – because it teaches the concept of boundaries – is often a good place to start for young children. Equally baseball, a game with a lot of targeted running, provides a good introduction. Get a Group: Having a catch or kicking around a soccer ball with Mom or Dad is great, but children benefit from playing in a group and learning from a stranger they feel encouraged to impress. This is where drilling should take place. Within a group setting, kids learn sportsmanship and how to play as part of a team. And by striving and succeeding in their work with a coach, they develop confidence and a sense of pride. Nobody's Perfect: Kids should be encouraged to make mistakes – that is how they learn. Games that revolve around messing up as much as possible can be fun and relieve the pressure of feeling like you have to get things right on the first try. Do Your Best: When practicing a skill, don't allow yourself to have low expectations. Children who have had to stretch (within reason) into learning something new will feel a sense of accomplishment and be excited to move on. Baby Steps: Don't assume that a child who loses interest easily in an activity isn't ready. Just break the activity down to its smallest move and work up from there. For example, help a child learn how to throw by having him give you a high five a few times. Then have him take a ball and high five it into your mitt. Then take a step back and have him release the ball into your mitt. Slowly increase the distance between you. Learn the Ropes: Don't let a child who displays natural talent skip out on learning the fundamentals. A firm base is crucial when it comes to playing at a higher level later on. Do a Trial Run: Try a few different sports – gymnastics, martial arts, tennis, fencing – to determine which one seems to best fit your child. Watch it Live: Take your kids to see a game where kids, teenagers or pros are wearing uniforms and engaging seriously in the sport. Ask Questions: When checking out a sports program, don't be afraid to ask questions. Will the director take the time to meet with you or answer your questions on the phone? Where does the staff come from, have their backgrounds been checked, how old are they and how have they been trained? How is the program run? Are parents allowed to watch? What safety measures are in place? Does the program emphasize safety, learning and fun over winning at any cost? Is there a balance between learning drills and play? How does the program deal with differences of ability within the group? Are the children given a rest time where they can refuel and hydrate? Corbin puts it this way: "A good program will have a mixture of what we call 'Skills, Drills and Thrills.' You want your child to fall in love with sports, understand the concepts of each game and value sportsmanship as much as they do anything else." Now, go out and play ball.  |
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