Sports are another creative activity that is beneficial to all ages, especially in children where playing sports can promote development in many ways, whether it be physical development, which is a direct result of exercise, or what children will gain in return, such as development in thinking, planning, and socializing.
However, not all sports are suitable for everyone. Therefore, we should choose the right sport for our gender and age. Whether it is parents, nannies or caregivers who are close to children, they should choose the right sport to reduce the risk of injury or danger from playing sports.
Kiidu will update you on 5 popular sports that are suitable for children. They are fun, strong, and reduce the risk of injury. They are sports worth playing in 2024. Let’s see what they are.
Suitable Sports For Young Children
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Cycling
Cycling is one of the sports that has always been popular for children because it is an easy sport to play. You can ride alone or ride with friends in a group. It is equally fun in the neighborhood. You can start riding a bicycle from the age of 2 – 3 years, depending on your readiness and muscle strength.
Benefits of cycling
Children will be able to practice muscle strength. It is a very entertaining sport. It creates new experiences and sees new images from seeing new places. Importantly, it also trains balance.
Caution: If parents, nannies, or close caregivers are taking their children cycling, they should prioritize safety by preparing protective equipment such as helmets, knee and elbow pads. For children who are not yet skilled at cycling, they should install extra wheels on both sides to make it easier and less likely to fall.
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Swimming
In addition to swimming being a sport that many people believe will help develop physical development well, such as stronger muscles, taller, etc., swimming has been a popular sport continuously. It also helps improve the respiratory system, including survival. Because when children can swim, parents are less worried.
Advantages of Swimming:
Of course, children will have stronger bodies and practice their breathing systems because swimming is a sport that uses every part of the body.
Full-Body Workout:
Swimming engages almost every major muscle group in the body, making it an excellent form of exercise for overall fitness and strength.
Low-Impact:
It’s gentle on the joints because the buoyancy of water supports your body, reducing the risk of injury compared to activities like running or weightlifting.
Cardiovascular Health:
Swimming increases heart rate and improves cardiovascular conditioning, which can help lower blood pressure and reduce the risk of heart disease.
Improved Flexibility:
The movements involved in swimming stretch and lengthen muscles, enhancing flexibility and range of motion.
Calorie Burning:
Depending on intensity and stroke, swimming can burn a significant amount of calories. It’s an effective way to manage weight and body composition.
Enhanced Lung Capacity:
Swimming requires rhythmic breathing, which can improve lung function and respiratory endurance over time.
Stress Relief:
The rhythmic nature of swimming combined with being in water can have a calming effect, reducing stress and promoting relaxation.
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Taekwondo
It is another sport that has been popular for a long time and is continuously becoming more popular because it is a sport that trains physical strength and is also a martial art. Currently, many schools have added taekwondo as a sport for children to choose to study and there are more competitions as well.
Benefits of Taekwondo
The benefits of Taekwondo are certainly that it makes children stronger, and in recent years, Taekwondo has become a popular sport in competitions. Playing this sport allows children to compete in sports, build good relationships with friends, and also have the opportunity to be athletes.
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Badminton
It is a sport that exercises all parts of the body, played with a small number of people, flexible in playing, and most courts are indoor courts, so you can play often without worrying about the weather. In addition, you get strength in all parts of the body and breathing.
Advantages of Badminton
Physical Development
Basketball is another sport that is suitable for children, especially boys, because if playing in a team or competing, there can easily be collisions. However, playing basketball is still popular for children to practice because it uses many muscles. Physical development will be stronger. You can play with your parents or nannies. There are basketball hoops that are suitable for children to practice with, starting from small hoops that can be kept at home or standard sized hoops in courts or parks.
Stronger Muscle Development
The advantage of playing basketball is that children will practice jumping, controlling the basketball, dividing the senses and resulting in stronger muscle development, including planning. But there are precautions for parents or nannies who take close care. They should choose a basketball backboard that is suitable for the children and a basketball that is not too big or hard because it can cause injury.
Reduces the Chances of Injury
Badminton is a sport that reduces contact and is difficult to risk injury. Children can start playing badminton from a young age, starting with picking up the racket, with parents or caregivers helping to play with the children. Even though they don’t know how to play yet, they can practice holding the racket. When the child is stronger and in kindergarten age, they can be taken to practice at the court or play with friends in the neighborhood to their heart’s content.
Conclusion
Whether you are a parent or a nanny, you can encourage your children to exercise. It does not have to be the 5 sports mentioned above, but every sport will help children develop their bodies and minds. Let’s try to observe what sports our children like and encourage them to play. This will add many good and creative activities for children.
