Mothers of Preschoolers
Active Living
Is there a right time for children to become involved in organized physical activities and sport?
Children tend to be physically active – it is a natural part of being a child! The unfortunate thing is that as children get older (especially girls) and move through the teen years into being young adults, their activity levels decrease. Research shows that the chance of adults being physically active in their free time is much higher if they were members of organized sports or teams as children (CORDIS Study, Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise). This is the best reason to involve your child in physical activities that include organized sport.
Children develop physical (and mental) skills at different ages. The right time to encourage your child to play organized soccer, for example, or ride their bike without training wheels depends on each child. Because skill levels among children in the same age group varies so greatly, most experts agree that physical activities and sport should be based on how mature your child is, the skill level that she can show, and past experiences of the child.1
1 Luebbers PE. Youth sports and health – the right time for kids to exercise. American College of Sports Medicine Fit Society Page. Spring 2003.