Should Kids Sports Be Competitive?

The reality is that far too few children get enough exercise. When combined with poor eating habits, this can become a real issue. Many health experts suggest that childhood obesity, for instance, is frequently associated with health problems in later life.

To a certain extent, we may think of this as being a somewhat frightening thought. As parents, we usually look to take the best course of action for our kids. As a result, we hate to think that we might do something that could actually be causing harm. It's not particularly nice to think that eating and fitness habits at an early stage in life can have such a significant impact.

Given this background, it's understandable that many parents are so keen to encourage their children to get involved in sports. Those sports that are particularly associated with active behaviour are most likely to appeal.

But how much encouragement should you offer? Is it possible for things to go so far? There's no doubt that some parents like to see their children doing well in a competitive sense. This means that they may feel that it's not enough for their children to simply take part in an activity. Rather, there's an expectation that the kids should win.

This can cause problems in some instances. If children feel that their parents expect them to win, then this can add a level of pressure that they would rather avoid. This may mean that the kids actually dread taking part in a sporting activity, instead of looking forward to it. If you're not careful, you may find that your children forget about getting involved in sports and decide to stay at home.

You also may want to think about how other adults will react if you are trying to make sure that your kids are always competitive. It may be sending out the wrong message.

A better approach could be to encourage your kids to simply take part. Remind them that sports aren't just about those who win. They could be reminded of the importance of making friends and having fun. They are, after all, still children. If the pressure is removed then it's likely that they'll perform better, which is an irony that many parents seem to miss.

If your child is not the star player on the team then this needn't be a reason to despair. Many teams and associations even offer trophies for kids who regularly attend, or those who show a great attitude. This is surely the right way to approach things.