Sports for children are the best solution against overweight, yes camouflaged as fun. We have to instill in our children the love of sports, not as an obligation, but as something entertaining, stimulating and healthy.
We recommend what types of sports are best for children according to their edad. But remember to always listen to your son or daughter and do not impose the one you like, but the one who naturally wants to practice.
General sports recommendations for children
The starting point for choosing a sport is one that the child shows interest. It is clear that there are mass sports such as soccer or athletics, which they will practice in their games, but also show them other options that are not so global. I can think of for example hockey, skating,
When your children do sports, take into account their skills and strengths, but also its their weaknesses or fears. There are children who prefer individual activities, while others prefer to be part of a team.
The World Health Organization recommends that children spend at least 60 minutes a day playing their favorite sport. Boys and girls from 3 to 5 years old should not do more than 3 or 4 hours of physical exercise a week and up to 7 years old, sport should be considered as a fun option for the child. The competition or training, of any sport, should not take place before the age of 10 in general terms.
Recommended individual sports
La swimming It is one of the most recommended sports for children, because it provides resistance and coordination. It can be practiced from a very early age, the ideal is to start at 3 years old, but from before you can go with your baby to the pool.
El golf It is a sport that we hardly ever think about, as it does not require great physical effort, however, it involves the practice of skills for concentration, relaxation and patience. It is an ideal sport for the physical and mental development of children from the age of 4. There are adapted kits.
Between 5 and 7 years you can ask the child if he wants to do Martial Arts, of the type of judo, kung fu, karate or taekwondo. These activities they improve the coordination of their movements, speed, agility, strength and reflexes, as well as offering discipline.
For children slightly older and closer to preadolescence, the athletics it could be a good idea. With it, they improve their physical development and promote their desire to improve. In addition, within athletics there are many disciplines, in which each boy or girl can better fit according to their own potentialities,
Team sports for boys and girls
Sports such as volleyball, rugby, hockey or handball, among others, would fall into this category, which in addition to working on physical fitness, helps children to interact and learn game strategies.
El basketball It is a good example of a team sport that is recommended from the age of 7 with mixed teams. Coordination and agility is one of the capacities that is developed with this sport, in addition to cooperation between colleagues. We couldn't overlook the football, closely linked to star players. The physical benefits that we can highlight are aerobic endurance, peripheral vision and speed.
We include the Cycling as a team sport because it implies the development of social values such as companionship, social encounter, and ecological awareness. On a physical level, it improves joints, strengthens the immune system, strengthens bones, fights obesity, promotes blood flow. One of the advantages of this sport is that the child already knows how to ride on the bicycle, they just need to practice and begin to improve their technique.