5 sports for children recommended by the AEP
Sport has many benefits that are directly related to the improvement of children's health: cardiorespiratory endurance, flexibility, strength, muscular endurance and coordination. But also, the sport is especially recommended for children because it improves their self-esteem, they learn the value of effort, it helps them to socialize, it favors relaxation, it increases the possibilities of leisure, it releases endorphins (the hormones of well-being) and avoids a sedentary lifestyle.
But what is the most recommended sport for children? Always the one that is more fun because the motivation is very important so that the practice of the sport is habitual and triggers all its multiple benefits.
In the case of children, extracurricular sports activities can be very positive for the development of children. Organizing children's time outside school hours is very important and we should always avoid overburdening our children. The extracurricular activities keep the children distracted during the afternoon while they develop their physical, social or cultural capacities and, specifically, the extracurricular sports activities are highly recommended from an early age.
5 sports recommended for children by the AEP
The AEP (Spanish Association of Pediatrics) advises to practice some sport after school, and presents five proposals as the most recommended sports:
1. Swimming This sport requires a lot of discipline and concentration. It helps them to awaken their motility and intellect, and it is also tremendously complete. With swimming we work and exercise almost all the muscles of the body, stimulates motor coordination and the circulatory and respiratory system.
2. Football. It is very useful for them to learn to relate to other children, to work as a team and to develop companionship. Football is very attractive in our country because, as we already know, it is very often played by children as well as adults. Strengthens legs, stimulates motor coordination and increases peripheral vision.
3. Judo. It helps them to master their body and identify their movement abilities, and above all to have confidence in themselves. Although it may not seem so, it teaches them that violence is never the way and helps them acquire discipline and respect.
4. Rhythmic gymnastics. As we know, it helps them improve their flexibility, muscle strength and coordination. It also helps to promote balance and concentration, and what is very important: to correct bad postures and increase self-confidence.
5. Tennis. It helps them strengthen muscles and develops their psychomotricity and coordination. It is good to develop aerobic capacity, speed, agility and reflexes. The advantage is that you can practice both in a sports center and in the open air.
7 tricks to choose the best extracurricular sport
1. These activities should not occupy the hours that parents can spend with them. It is much more important to spend time with the family.
2. Charging them from extracurricular activities will lower their desire to learn.
3. The most normal thing is for a child to say "I get bored" from time to time. Raising sport as entertainment helps children escape boredom.
4. Avoid projecting into the child what we would like to practice on us.
5. Let the child try the sport and decide if he likes it or not.
6. Group sports help introverted children learn to relate.
7. Individual sports are the most successful for scattered children.
Sara Pérez
