Whether you're an athlete or not, it should be pretty evident the lifelong impact being a part of sports team can have on a person. Aside from the physical and health benefits, playing sports can teach your children valuable life lessons that they will carry with them into adulthood–lessons that will hopefully support the values you are trying to instill at home. Of course, sports are not for everyone, but I firmly believe that you should encourage your kids to try at least one, whether it be dance or hockey. If they try and don't like it that's fine. Even just a single season can make an impact that lasts a lifetime. Keep reading to learn how sports can help your kids overcome obstacles.
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__Better social skills. __Athletes have to learn how to communicate well within their teams as well as with authority figures. In some sports, they must also be able to read body language and communicate non-verbally. And of course, team sports teach people how to work together for a common goal. These are all abilities that will become true assets in the real world–whether it be at work or in personal relationships. Some day, your child will be an adult that has to work with someone he doesn't really like or will need to read a spouse's emotions in order to diffuse an argument, and he may have to lean on the communication techniques he learned on the field.
Greater focus on goals. Goal setting is an important part of becoming a successful adult, and it's a skill that can be learned from a very young age. Oftentimes, a child's first introduction to formal goal setting happens in an athletic environment because in order to improve in any sport, you have to be able to recognize your weaknesses and set goals for improving them. Being able to set goals and work towards achieving them will come in handy for overcoming all sorts of obstacles, from paying for college to landing that first job and eventually saving money to buy a house.
Stronger work ethic. To be successful in sports, you have to work hard, even if you have natural talent and ability. Because if you don't, there will always be someone else who is working hard, and eventually whoever works hardest is going to win. That idea in and of itself is life lesson–the physical and mental acts of actually putting in the work, will teach your child an enduring lesson about what it takes to get what you want out of life.
Tougher skin. No one wants their child to have to deal with criticism, self-doubt and disappointment, but the reality is, we all do. When kids are involved in competitive sports, there is really no way to shield them from these things completely, even at a very young age. It may hurt in the moment, but over time, they will develop a thicker skin and will be able to effectively use criticism and losses to their own benefit. In the workplace especially, many of us are shocked when we land our first job and our bosses don't immediately rave over everything we do–kids who are used to a little constructive criticism, who are used to making mistakes and having to learn from them, will be able to bounce back a lot more quickly than kids who aren't, and will be able to use the experience to grow and learn.
Image via Edwin Martinez/Flickr
