Finding the RIGHT SPORT for Your Child Sports shape children from the moment they pick up a bat or kick a soccer ball.
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ajor sports franchises and traditions in our community are a major influence on Kansas Citians—even children are introduced at a very young age to football, baseball, soccer, basketball and more. We dress our infants in Kansas City Chiefs onesies and Kansas City Royals booties, and so it begins! As your children grow and learn, they will give you cues about which sports most attract their attention. Then, it’s up to you to help nurture a healthy, balanced sports life that will keep your growing athlete in the game for years—even a lifetime. Choosing a sport for your child is an important decision for any parent. Some children are more inclined to team sports, and others prefer individual sports. Some body types are better suited to some sports than
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others. And while some children will be more interested in low-impact sports, others will be anxious for a more physically demanding sports opportunity. The ideal way to discover what makes your kids’ adrenalin start to rush is to expose them to a wide variety of sports experiences. Watching sports on TV is a good introduction, and talking to them about what they do or don’t like makes the most of viewings. Watch how they react—maybe they will talk about the players or the strategies. They might even tell others about the experience. Kids may gravitate toward friends that play a particular sport. Watch and listen to pick up clues. Some kids may shine in a team sport, such as football, baseball or basketball where they play a role on
a team. Others will prefer being on a team where their own skills matter most, such as swimming, playing tennis or golf. Or they may simply enjoy individual sports like cycling, gymnastics or running track. Watch them as they participate and zero in on a sport that will work best for each of your children. Remember to match the sport to your child’s body type, too. We know players who are 4-foot-2 aren’t naturally the greatest at basketball. But pint-sized players may be great at soccer, zipping around the other players. A short, stocky child may be better suited for football, as opposed to the tall lanky kids who play basketball. Once you have narrowed down to a few the sports your kids seem to like, try them out. It’s fine to play soccer in the spring, football in the fall
