Most parents wish to encourage children to play sports to help them feel valued. Every child can be successful at one sport or another. However, it takes time for parents to find the sport suitable for the child. Therefore, they should be patient in selecting the sports, since it is a process that will pay off in the long run.

No other thing in life affords children such opportunity to develop positive character traits and to soak up many quality values as sports does. Here are some benefits that may come from playing sports:

• Kids’ character and moral principles are formed through fair play. Moreover, children who are actively engaged in sports can be good role models for their peers from school, neighbourhood, or even school choir, and inspire them to start playing some sports as well.
  
  
• Playing sports enables them to create friendships they otherwise might not have formed. For example, the friendships professional athletes create on the field remain intact even when they are not playing sports, and often last a lifetime.
  
  
• Sports bring people together from all over the world, regardless of their nationality, religion, culture, or skin colour.
  
  
• Teamwork and benefits of social interaction among children are best seen in sports. Kids learn they are part of a team that requires the same effort from all members to succeed, as well as how to win with class, and lose with dignity.
  
  
• They view competitions on and off the field as opportunities to learn from their success and failure. In addition, losing often motivates kids to work even harder for next time.
  
  
• They learn to respect authority, rules, team colleagues and opponents.
  
  
• Sport is an important learning environment for children. Numerous studies have shown that children who play sports perform better at school. It is also within sport that peer status and peer acceptance is established and developed.
  
  
• Sports experiences help building positive self- esteem in children.
  
  
• In addition, participating in sports can be a helpful way of reducing stress and increasing feelings of physical and mental well-being, as well as fighting against juvenile delinquency, conflict and aggressive outbursts. The point is to keep the body in good health in order to be able to keep our mind strong and clear.
  
  
• When children learn positive life lessons through sports, there is no doubt they will become honest, reliable adults who will try to help others in need at any moment.

As long as your child is involved in sports activities, (s)he is in the world where (s)he tries to be as best as (s)he can be. All his/her senses, the locomotor system and intellectual capacities are engaged. By playing sports your child will not only become stronger physically but mentally too. Best of all,(s) he will learn how to overcome any obstacles and challenges that will come his way. Isn’t that what we all need?