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WHY SPORTS ARE THE BEST WAY TO TEACH LIFELONG HEALTHY HABITS

By Kevin Christofora September 13, 2015
As our children grow up, we have to transition from quite literally guiding them through the world to preparing them to live without our constant presence. This means that as parents, we not only have a huge responsibility over what happens to our children right now, we also have a responsibility to instill in them habits and values that will help guide them when they go to summer camp, off to college, and transition into adult life beyond. 

Chief among these responsibilities is teaching our children how to lead a healthy lifestyle. But how do we start that early? Children are notorious for not liking vegetables, and even if they are willing to eat their greens, is that enough? What about exercise, hydration, and even healthy social habits? 

That’s where sports come in: sports are a fantastic way to ensure your kids begin to build healthy habits that will last them a lifetime. The most obvious one is exercise: sports get kids active, get their heart rates up, and get them used to setting aside time for fitness—even though they’re not making their own schedules quite yet. They’ll also enjoy the endorphins that come with being physically active, and subconsciously they’ll associate exercise with feeling good—so, once they’re out from under your roof, there’s a greater chance that they’ll continue to exercise. 

Sports are also useful for teaching kids other things, such as how to stay hydrated. At practice, they’re primarily drinking water and, especially if it’s warm out, lots of it. They’ll get used to drinking plenty of water and constantly replenishing their body’s supply. 

Snacks like orange slices or watermelon wedges after the game begin to teach children healthy snacking habits, as well. As they get older, they’ll look at nutrition as part of what enhances their performance and keeps them feeling good while they play. You won’t have to worry as much about coaxing them to eat vegetables or restricting their candy intake, because they will see the correlation between healthy eating habits and how well they’re doing at practice and games, and they’ll actually want to take care of their bodies! 

Additionally, sports teach children a great deal about social interaction: they learn and practice side by side with their peers, and can make friends in a group environment. They learn to support their teammates, and root for them. As a result, your kids will become better at cooperating and working with others, and more generous and empathetic. Sports teach your children how to work in groups—which will be beneficial in a number of careers—and how to be a better friend. 

Some parents are reluctant to let their kids take part in sports, citing that it’s dangerous. However, it’s not as though you’re letting them run loose through a construction site: your kids will be playing with other children of similar ages/ sizes and will be supervised. They may skin their knee or twist an ankle, but typically, any injuries they could sustain pales in comparison to the advantages they gain. 

Sports allow your children to slowly gain some independence, and learn how to behave when you’re not constantly at their side. They’re able to grow, feel accomplishment, and take pride in their achievements—seeing you on the sidelines cheering them on lets them know that you support them, but that these accomplishments are all theirs. 

Your children might be a long way off from leaving the nest, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t start preparing them for a successful journey. Sports are an all around fantastic way to do this. Habits take some time to build, but sports enable your child to learn about exercise, eating right, and how to work well with others. Over the course of a season, those positive habits will become more deeply ingrained; every season is a new opportunity for those fantastic habits to stick with them for the rest of their lives. 

About Kevin Christofora
Christofora, a father and little league coach, hopes his books will inspire children to play outside more often. A devotee of America's pastime, he aims to teach young people about baseball and the habits of a healthy lifestyle in the form of a fun and educational bedtime story. 

He has appeared on ESPN Radio, 660 News Radio, Santa Fe - KVSF 101.5, and WDST-FM Woodstock, and has had articles featured in About Families Online, KidzEdge, Mom Blog Society, and several other publications.