Wednesday, January 7, 2009

Kids and Sports

By Jennifer Dumas

Organized youth sports that promote life-long healthy habits are a great alternative to TV and video games. Its time to get our nations children off the couch and move them onto the playing field!

We all know that exercise helps us maintain a healthy weight but it also has many hidden benefits! Read on to determine if youth sports are the answer for your child.

Children who exercise often have a more positive self image. Research indicates that exercise reduces stress, depression and anxiety. Not only do children look healthier, they feel healthier!

Kids quickly learn that they have to work together for a common goal and that each person is an important part in achieving that goal. The concept of teamwork is a critical developmental skill that will impact them both socially and academicaly. Many will develop the leadership and initiative to help their team succeed.

Does your child work well with others? Children quickly learn that teamwork is essential to their success. They identify strengths in their peers and find ways to untilize those strengths to acheive their common goal. They learn that it is to their benefit to stop and help a teammate develop a skill and become mentors their peers.

Research has proven that children that participate in organized sports have greater academic success. Additionally, they are less likely to get involved in drugs and alcohol.

Organized sports are a great way for Children to develop important life skills that will have lasting effects both physically,intellectually and socially. Parents, if you want to know where your children are and who their are with, youth sports can make this dream a reality! - 16083

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