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Many experts across various fields of child study agree that the way children are raised ultimately affects the adults they become. In terms of physical, mental, and social development, the importance of sports in a child’s life cannot be overstated. Tennis camp is a great way to help kids develop life skills and supports their healthy growth through sports and activity. Here are the benefits sports can have on a kid’s well-being.
Character Building Traits
Self-Confidence and Self-Esteem
According to several studies, playing sports help children grow in self-confidence and self-esteem. Positivity in sports is reinforced through aspects like scoring a goal, making a great pass, getting a pat on the back from the coach, or a high-five from a teammate or opponent. These elements really boost a child’s morale and confidence. Sports also teach children not to associate self-esteem with victory. They are taught to value constructive criticism and that enjoying the game is more important than winning.
Discipline
Tennis, like every sport, requires some level of discipline. Aspects like following the rules of the game, respecting and obeying the coach, and practicing restraint when upset or angry are a few examples of discipline through sports. Learning how to manage oneself helps people to reach their full potential and make their goals become a reality.
Social Skills
Sports are very effective in teaching children social skills. Children are encouraged to participate in a joint activity with their peers, with the older and younger players, coaches, and with sports authorities. Learning how to communicate with people of various ages helps kids learn how to put their thoughts into conversation that applies to people of different levels. The skills they learn through sports will help them in their future careers and relationships.
Lifelong Habits
Healthier kids perform better in sports, and sports can help children become healthier. This two-way benefit of sports teaches children the importance of healthy eating, stretching, and getting enough sleep, and instills fitness habits in them that they can bring into their adult years.
Accept Defeat
An important life lesson kids will learn through playing sports is that one cannot win every time. Sports teach children this truth, therefore they can learn to accept defeat graciously. They will understand how to deal with the feeling of disappointment, and get back up to give it another try. They will also learn how to have healthy competition without holding grudges or losing self-control.
Physiological Benefits
Reduce the Risk of Obesity
Physical activity and healthy eating are the two main ingredients to make a healthy person. Since obesity is one of the top causes of health problems in North America, prevention needs to begin early. When children are involved in regular sports, they burn more calories and build muscles that help them burn fat. By staying active, the risk of obesity is reduced as well as obesity-related diseases.
Healthy Growth
Sports help children to grow healthy because the physical stress exerted on their bodies helps make their muscles, ligaments, tendons, and bones become stronger. Physical activity also increases bone density and helps their heart become stronger and more efficient. As a result, the risk of osteoporosis and heart disease is decreased as they enter adulthood.
Improves Energy Level
As many adults understand, low levels of movement and a sedentary lifestyle makes us feel tired and low energy. The opposite is also true—activity improves energy levels so we can function better in all other areas of our lives. Sports help kids have more energy in life, preventing them from getting tired during the day.
Performance Enhancement
Academics
Studies have shown that participating in physical activities like sports help to improve the cognitive and memory functions of the brain. Kids who play sports often do better on tests and academics, especially because of the discipline and perseverance they learn through playing.
Respect Authority
Through sports, kids learn how to respect those in a position of authority over them. People like coaches, referees, peers, and other elders should all be respected, and kids will learn the importance of accepting decisions and taking direction. This skill will translate into success for them when they begin their careers and in school.
Stay on the Right Path
Sports require dedication and discipline, which means there is less free time to be idle. Because of the time requirements of sports, and the demand for a healthy lifestyle to succeed, kids are less likely to get involved in bad habits like smoking. They will also benefit from having extra positive role models who can help them make better life decisions.
Teamwork
Sports can help your child learn how to be less selfish and to work as a team. They must learn to share the spotlight and work with others through passing and participation. Through the teaching of teamwork through sports, they will become more well-rounded individuals who look out for the concerns of others as much as themselves. They will also understand the value of good communication, which is a useful lesson they can carry into adulthood.
Choose Our Tennis Camp for Your Child
At our tennis camps in North York and Toronto, your child can develop all these skills and more. As a bonus, tennis is a life-long sport that can be enjoyed into their retirement years. Kids will learn important life lessons that help them grow into successful adults, and they will learn from our certified and trained instructors while developing into talented and skilled tennis players.
Bayview Village Tennis Camp provides the best tennis lessons for beginners in the Greater Toronto Area. Our Tennis Canada-certified instructors teach kids not only how to have fun with tennis, but also how to play smart and safe. For more information about the junior, intermediate, and advanced summer tennis programs, visit our web site, call us at (905) 889-7293, or e-mail us at pnielsen889@rogers.com.