Children and Sports: Choices For All Ages

Want to give your child a head start on lifelong fitness? Consider children's sports and other kid-friendly physical activities.

With your encouragement and support, chances are a few sports will spark your child's interest. Fan the flame by taking your child to local sporting events and sharing your own sports interests with your child.

Consider age-appropriate activities

Your child is likely to show natural preferences for certain sports or activities. Start there, keeping your child's age, maturity and abilities in mind.

Ages 2 to 5

Toddlers and preschoolers are beginning to master many basic movements, but they're too young for most organized sports. Toddlers who participate in organized sports typically don't gain any long-term advantage in terms of future sports performance.

At this age, unstructured free play is usually best. Try:

• Running

• Tumbling

• Throwing                                                              

• Catching

• Swimming

Ages 6 to 9

As children get older, their vision, attention spans and transitional skills, such as throwing for distance, improve. They're also better able to follow directions.

Consider organized activities such as:

• T-ball, softball or baseball

• Running

• Soccer

• Gymnastics

• Swimming

• Tennis

• Martial arts

Carefully supervised strength training is OK beginning at age 7 or 8 in kids who are motivated. Focus on proper technique and movement.

Ages 10 to 12

By this age, children have mature vision and the ability to understand and recall sports strategies. These children are typically ready to take on complex skill sports, such as football, basketball, hockey and volleyball. Keep in mind, however, that growth spurts caused by puberty can temporarily affect a child's coordination and balance.

Whatever sports your child participates in, ensure that he or she has a foundation of proper technique and movement. Coaches and sports professionals, such as golf and tennis pros, can be helpful resources.