Summer is the season to get your children outside and active. The sun shines earlier, the birds sing more joyfully, and there’s no excuse to stay indoors playing video games.
Physical activity has numerous benefits, and as a parent, it’s your responsibility to encourage your children to get involved in summer sports.
Don’t let them miss out on the opportunity to stay healthy and have fun at the same time. Get them moving and engaged in outdoor activities today!
The Novak Djokovic foundation explains that aside from health benefits, sports play a critical role in teaching children certain life skills that would beneficial to their development.
Some of these skills include developing their self-esteem, social skills, accepting defeat, discipline and becoming a proper team player, by selflessly putting the needs of others above your own.
In South Africa we are fortunate to have a number team sports that each play a critical role of including the above-mentioned pillars.
Soccer
In order to get the ball behind the net, communication plays a big part in the performance of this sport. Children often learn the importance of teamwork and that there is no “I” in team.
Cricket
Dubbed as the sport of strategic thinking and decision making, cricket plays and important part in programming your child’s mind to develop the skill of problem solving. The lifestyle hub, Times Now News explains that: “These skills prove to be invaluable in various aspects of their academic and personal lives.”
Canoeing
Canoeing is an excellent sport to increase physical fitness and improve your cardiovascular health. The lifestyle publication Sporting Bounce explains that children acquire a wealth of knowledge as they navigate through various rivers.
“Paddling on a river or lake can provide opportunities to observe and learn about different types of wildlife, plants, and ecosystems.”
Swimming
“It teaches children that success is a journey, not a destination. Regular training sessions instill a sense of discipline and the understanding that improvement comes with consistent effort,” explains Swim Care, a popular swimming school in Australia.
