Youth Sports and Physical Activity

Most of the time this blog promotes physical activity for adults as one of the main ways to ward off a chronic disease such as type 2 diabetes. But since National Youth Sports Week of July 15-21 is nearing, it is also important to discuss how sports and physical activity can help our youth.

Statistics say that 70% of young people drop out of organized sports by age 13 for many reasons:

• Not having fun
• Ineffective coaches
• Overbearing parents
• Can’t afford to play

Unfortunately, organized sports in schools do cost quite a bit of money to participate, which many families can’t afford. Some schools are also reducing or eliminating sports programs. Many sports are now done as extracurricular activities with parents signing up their kids for the sport they choose and can afford through community sports and activity classes.

We already know how important physical activity is for all ages. It’s especially important for our youth as health consequences related to obesity is a definite predictor of chronic disease and is starting younger all the time. It’s important to instill a love for sports and activity early to carry our youth over into the adult years.

If you want your kids to stay active, not only to have fun, but to help with their health, there are also things you can do:

• Make fitness a part of their (and your) day. Walk, run, bike or swim together. Be an active role model!
• Have your kids help with household chores both inside and outside the house. Seriously, it is still physical activity. (I remind myself of that every time I clean the house or cut the grass. It makes me feel good AND I can claim the activity minutes.)
• Organize active play at home such as dodge ball, jump rope, frisbee, badminton and volleyball. 
• Try ice skating or skiing in the winter or swimming at the community pool in the summer. Mix it up according to the season. So many other activities such as martial arts or bowling can be done year-round.
• Help them find a sport they enjoy and provide the equipment needed. Drive them to the sport and be an active parent on the sidelines.
• Reward, encourage and praise your kids’ physical activity. 

Physical activity is proven to help a child’s growth and development and boost their thinking skills. We can all do our part as a parent or grandparent to instill the importance of being active into their lives. Exercise can make you happy, along with all the other wonderful things it does for our health.