Regular exercise is good for everybody and the earlier you get into the habit, the better. That's why it's important to motivate your kids to stay active. The best way to do that? Sports!
Though most children may be able to get their endorphins by running around with their friends, getting them involved in a sport will do much more for them to keep them active. In fact, organizations like the Women's Sports Foundation have found that playing on a team can provide a myriad of advantages for young female athletes. Below, check out four surprising benefits of sports for girls:
Read more ¿Qué más?: 5 Tips to getting girls motivated to play sports
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Girls who play sports have higher levels of confidence and lower levels of depression. Why? Playing with a team makes them feel better both physically and socially and seeing your skills improve through practice can help them gain self-esteem.
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Playing sports will help girls learn the importance of team work and goal-setting. Being a team player and working with other people to meet the same goal (whether it be winning a game or perfecting a certain move) will come in handy later when they enter the workforce.
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Girls who play sports actually do better in school. Though some might think athletics act as an distraction, research shows that females who play sports get higher grades and are more likely to graduate than those who don't–perhaps because exercise improves learning and memory.
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Besides the obvious benefits of helping them stay fit, girls who play sports are also less likely to smoke and have a reduced change of developing diseases like breast cancer and osteoporosis later in life.
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