Sporting children have better social skills

In the classroom children are taught that good grades will lead to success but let’s be honest; they’re going to need more than top marks! If you want to help your children gain excellent social skills, which are integral to success, keep reading… 

Successful people are disciplined, often charming, and know how to align themselves within powerful social networks. In other words, excellent social skills pay off and as the saying goes, “It’s not what you know, but who you know!”

We’re not surprised that research is pointing to the sports field as a social skills training ground.

As adults we tend to focus on sport performance-based outcomes, like winning that big game or getting into back into shape. Children see sport a little differently. A study found that children are primarily motivated by the idea of making friends and a desire to feel they can do something competently.

According to the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, sports participation boost children’s self-esteems and teaches them how to play fairly in a team. Children also get unique learning opportunities on the sports field, not always afforded in the classroom, to take on positions of leadership, handle disappointment and success, and celebrate their team-mates’ accomplishments as well as their own.

And sport isn’t just for boys! Girls who play sport are more likely to finish high school and college, according to The President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports, and have more confidence than girls who are inactive.  According to The Women’s Sports Foundation, girls who play sport are less likely to become pregnant as teenagers or suffer from depression.

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Sources: American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, eDiet Star,  ExtraMural.co.za and Live Strong.

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