How to Choose a Sports Program for your Child
This week we’re talking about how you can select a great sports program for your child. Remember from last week’s blog that the most important thing is to do as much outside free play as possible, and once you’ve got that, you’re ready to augment that with a really great sports program for your child.
There are so many programs out there. Where do you even begin? What should you choose?
For the purposes of this blog, we're staying high level. But if you're interested in the science behind it all, be sure to check out Sport for Life's awesome resources section.
There are three basic activities that are recommended for kids to participate in during the first six years of their life.
The purpose of all of these is for kids to learn basic fundamental movement skills and be able to link them together through play.
1. Running and Throwing
The first recommended activity for kids 0-6 is something that introduces running and throwing.
This might be something like a track and field type program, and you might even find this in your elementary school PE curriculum.
2. Water based Activity
The next thing to look for is something water based. For both safety and skill development, making sure your child is confident in water and safe around water is key.
3. Developmental Gymnastics
The third highly recommended activity for kids under 6 is developmental gymnastics.
The key here is we’re talking about developmental gymnastics, not competitive gymnastics.
Some small percentage, maybe 1% of kids or less will love competitive gymnastics and go on with that, but for most kids, gymnastics provides so many opportunities to learn balance, coordination, agility, better than almost any other program out there.
What We’re Not Talking About
Now, note here we’re not talking about high performance sports skills. Nowhere does it say your child needs to learn how to throw a fast pitch over home plate. Nowhere does it say to teach volleyball spiking. Nowhere does it say when you take your kid to swimming lessons, they have to learn to swim the butterfly stroke and under a certain number of minutes. This is not the time for any of that.
This early introduction is all about learning basic skills that set the foundation, and letting them explore them through play.
What else do you need to consider?
Not only should a program be developmentally appropriate for your child, but it also needs to match your family’s schedule and budget.
There are often very inexpensive ways that you can find programming. There are grants and subsidies. There are also community centre programs, which are a great opportunity to explore new activities at a lower cost than private programs.
Once you’ve found a program that suits your budget, make sure it fits your schedule. You don’t want to be driving all over town at the crack of dawn, when you are more of a cozy, Sunday morning cuddles type family. It might seem like a great activity, but chances are high you’ll start to resent it and then no one has any fun.
Maybe there is an activity in your community that everyone seems to participate in. It might be hockey, or soccer, or baseball. You might wonder, “What if my kid doesn't participate in that sport? Will they be left behind?”
We’re here to reassure you that no, they won’t be.
A Real Life Example
I have a really good friend, who had a three or four year old son and they were very concerned that every other boy in the community was playing hockey. They worried that if their son didn't get on the hockey team now that he was going to be left behind and he was never going to play hockey.
But for them, the expense and the time just wasn't something that their family wanted to choose at that time.
I told her to make sure he was active, playing outside lots, and participating in other activities that were a better fit for their family at that time. And I promised her, if, when her child is around 11 and 12, he still wants to play hockey, there's not much that's going to stop him from playing hockey.
But the difference is when he’s 12, he can lead the way. He can sell his skateboard to buy skates. He can get on the bus and take himself to the local ice rink.
It turns out that, sure enough, this kid is now graduating from high school this year and he plays hockey all the time. He plays street hockey with his friends and he plays on a rec hockey team at the community centre. He didn’t miss out on anything by not starting at three years old.
So don't let anybody tell you that if you don't push your kids into a particular sports program now that they will have lost the opportunity for the rest of their life. It's simply not true. And it's a myth that unfortunately ends up becoming perpetuated in our sports system.
So remember, whatever program you choose, learning basic fundamental movement skills and linking them together through play is the ultimate goal. Giving your child a strong foundation in these skills will allow them to participate in whatever activity they choose when they get older.
Have any questions or comments? What sports programs are you choosing for your family? We’d love to hear them from you! Drop us a comment or head to our instagram and let’s chat!
Have you downloaded your free mini ebook?
Click here!