Your Toddler and Sports
When to Introduce Sports to Your Toddler
Preschool sports programs are popping up all over the place with the sole intention of teaching little ones how to punt, kick, pass, throw, bat, field, and catch everything from a softball to a football. The motto is the earlier you start a child, the more talented they will be and in the competitive world of children’s sports parents are eager to jump the gun. But when is too soon and what is the right age to introduce sports to a toddler.
If you take a look at all the baby toys there are little games that introduce softball appropriate for 6 – 8 month old babies. Then you have basketball goals for toddlers and even golf sets for preschool kids. Introducing sports is often initially about the parent’s interest for a child rather than the child. The toddler years are just too young to begin priming the next NFL quarterback, although the idea of sport is always good to identify with.
Toddlers love balls. They love games that involve balls and they will play, run, chase, throw and catch balls all on their own even before they are trained to do it a certain way. This is the best way to introduce sports. Toddlers are just too young to force into the world of competitive sports and preschool t-ball leagues and the such are ridiculous. Not only do they not have the motor skills to master these feats they also don’t have the mental skills to understand the game or the idea of winning or losing. However, playing basketball with your children or placing them in sports minded play groups is a great idea that exposes them to socialization, exercise and fine tunes large motor skills.
When a child enters kindergarten they may have the mindset to join competitive leagues although parents shouldn’t expect too much. At this age, the introduction of sport should be about teaching sportsmanship and giving your child a sense of pride and accomplishment. In fact, most youth ball clubs at this age don’t even keep score. The sport should also be approached from an angle by mom and dad that make a kid want to play. There are far too many maniac parents on the sidelines yelling and screaming at 5 year olds while they play ball. This will only place a negative feeling on the idea of sports and can actually turn them away when they get older and when things really begin to matter.
It is also impossible to realize professional talent in your toddler. Most of them don’t even know which hand to use or which one is dominant. If you think your child is going to be the next Babe Ruth, than you need to back off a bit and make sure that your child is enjoying him or herself first. Otherwise you become an intrusive and destructive component in just how talented they might be one day. Also realize that even after years of priming your child to play a certain sport they may decide on their own that the trumpet, the ballet or acting are really what fill them with passion. The dream may die for you, but it is just beginning for your child.
As you introduce your child to sports make sure it is fun. Make sure that you mix things up a bit and expose them a full rainbow of activities that really challenge them physically and mentally. Regardless of where your dreams as a parent lie, make sure that there is enough room in your life for your child’s dreams as well. Introducing sports early on may give them an edge of ability and help them to make friends but it should always be something that they look forward to and feel proud of participating in. This stands true for 3 year olds just as well as 13 year olds.
