Although we are in the midst of winter, we know that spring and summer are coming. Just like spring brings with it new life through flowers and leaves, many of us often use the changing seasons as a springboard for new and exciting things in our lives. One of the most common ways that this happens is by joining new spring and summer activities. Perhaps this is joining a week night league with your spouse like kickball or cornhole, or maybe it is introducing a new sport to your child like soccer. Whatever your choice may be for spring or summer activities this year, it’s always fun to try something new. Below is a bit more info about three organized sports that that 60 percent of kids are playing outside of school every single year:
Soccer – Soccer is an old game that has actually been around since the 1860s when it originated in England. Teaching soccer to kids at an early age is a great way to instill a love for the sport that is sure to last their whole lives. Because soccer involves running, walking, sprinting, and jumping for the duration of the 90 minute game, kids are taught endurance, teamwork, leadership, and continually build on their hand-eye coordination. A great introduction to the sport is through a soccer summer camps and other types of soccer programs that teach soccer to kids.
Baseball/Softball – Another incredibly common sport of the list of spring and summer activities is baseball or softball. Although not as high energy as a sport like soccer, baseball and softball are also great sports for children to learn teamwork and leadership skills that will stick with them. Baseball and softball are also good for kids who might not have the physical strength to run for more than an hour at a time. In these sports the players only have to run when they hit the ball or when they are fielding the ball that is hit to them.
Swimming – Swimming is another great sport for children to learn at a young age. Swimming competitions sometimes involve teams and sometimes require the child to compete alone. Swimming is a tedious sport that can teach kids things like breath control and how to be detail oriented. Even the slightest change to their form during a certain style of swim can result in being disqualified.
Whether you are wanting new spring and summer activities for you and your spouse or are looking to enroll your children in a program to learn a new sport, you really can’t go wrong. Human interaction, exercise, and critical thinking skills are all facets of life that we need every single day. Getting your children involved in organized sports when they are young will build a fantastic foundation for them when they are older.