The Paris 2024 Olympics motivated a lot of kids to become more involved in sports, which is a good thing. However, pediatricians are often asked by parents if their children should play sports, what age is best for starting organized activities, what sports are recommended for younger children, and if children should play more than one sport.
Recently, Dr. Phyllis Agran sat down with Dr. Chris Koutures — who is a pediatric sports medicine specialist here in Irvine — to ask questions that many parents ask:
WHY SHOULD MY CHILD PLAY SPORTS?
Children should play sports to have fun, learn the values of hard work and life-long exercise, while taking pride in self-improvement and teamwork. I find many 5-8 year old children eager to tell me about the fun they have in their various sports and activities, so I think these goals are often met in younger children.
However, when I see adolescents, I tend to see two extremes. Some of them are burned out and disinterested in sports or any exercise while others are part of an increasing number putting so much emphasis on sports that they are suffering from overuse injuries and fatigue. Helping to place proper perspective on sport choice and participation is an important role for all parents, and your participation in sports and behavior at sporting events send a message to your child.
If exercise is a regular part of your life, odds are your children will be more receptive to regular exercise or sport participation. Negative adult attitudes or poor sideline behavior set bad examples for children and take away much of the enjoyment of youth sports. You may have to make tough decisions or set limits on sports participation. That is part of your role as a parent so you should take that role seriously. Sure, winning records, all-star teams, college scholarships, and pro contracts are cool goals, but these should not be the ultimate measure of success. Sports should be enjoyable for the young athlete and the family.
WHAT AGE IS BEST FOR STARTING ORGANIZED ACTIVITIES?
Simple skills such as throwing or kicking a ball are part of normal toddler development. However, children this young are not ready for more complex tasks like proper throwing or kicking technique. All play at this age should be fun and spontaneous with minimal organization.
I highly recommend that all pre-school and early school–aged children learn skills such as balancing, tumbling, rolling, and jumping. No matter what activity is selected later in life, command of these fundamental tasks will enhance athletic ability and safety.
Formal introduction of organized sports should begin at age 5 at the earliest. Most five year-old children have developed an attention span to listen to adult teachers, work with other children, and follow simple multi-step commands. They also can learn a task in one situation (school) and repeat it in a new situation (home). All these reasons explain why children start kindergarten at age five.
From age 5-8, the main emphasis should be on fun and learning of the basic sport skills. There should be no competition (keeping score or standings) as competition is so complex it may interfere with learning skills. Repeat as many times as necessary: there should be no competition.
Contrary to the beliefs of many parents and coaches, an early start or early success in sports is not consistently correlated with success in later years. Thus, the key to five year-olds is to focus on the basics. At this young age, the winning percentage should not be based on any measure of wins and losses, but rather on how much fun the children have and how many want to play again the next season.
SHOULD MY CHILD PLAY MORE THAN ONE SPORT?
Most definitely! Childhood is a time for challenge and exploration with a variety of sporting activity developing multiple skills and interests, usually leading to more overall sport enjoyment. However, this does not mean that children should participate in so many different sports that the parents feel like virtual taxicab drivers. Make ample time for schoolwork, family time, friends, and just being a kid.
Unfortunately, the concept of single-sport specialization is becoming more commonplace at increasing younger ages. In fact, leading sports medicine advisory groups such as the American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Sports Medicine and American Medical Society for Sports Medicine have cautioned against early sport-specialization. The concerns of physical injuries and emotional burnout often outweigh the benefits of concentrating on one particular sport.
Most high school and collegiate coaches that I know like to see the multi-sport athlete (aka 2-3 sport letter winner in high school) because they know these kids are well-rounded athletes and not just good in one particular activity. The multi-sport athletes also have more up-side potential when they get to college and then focus on one sport leading to more improvement than the athlete who has already focused on one sport and may not get much better.
WHAT SPORTS DO YOU RECOMMEND FOR YOUNGER CHILDREN?
Ideally, younger children should participate in a variety of activities including team sports, individual sports, sports that focus on lower body (soccer, running) and those that focus more on the upper body. Allowing the children the chance to sample different activities can build up different talents and interests. I also believe that early in life, children should learn basic gymnastics skills such as balance, tumbling, rolling, and proper ways to land or roll after a fall. These are important talents that can be used in a variety of activities to prevent injuries and improve self-control.
HOW OFTEN SHOULD MY CHILD EXERCISE FOR GOOD HEALTH BENEFITS?
Young children should spend at least one hour a day engaging in play which can be a formal sport practice or game, working in the garden, walking the dog, or chasing other kids around the neighborhood. Do not be too worried about structure as most children have enough organization in their lives so allow spontaneity and creativity. If you try to participate on occasion with your child- this will be a benefit for both of you. For adolescents and young adults, the American College of Sports Medicine recommends 45 minutes of vigorous physical activity at least 4 days a week. This does not have to be 45 minutes all at once, 15 minute activities done three times a day counts just the same. Vigorous activity is anything that raises heart rate and increases breathing rate. I like to use the talk test to measure exertion: if you can say one or two sentences before needing a breath; you have found an appropriate activity level.
Chris Koutures, MD, FAAP is a dual board-certified pediatric and sports medicine specialist who practices at ActiveKidMD in Anaheim Hills. He is a team physician for USA Volleyball (including participating in the 2008 Beijing Olympics); the U.S. Figure Skating Sports Medicine Network; Cal State Fullerton Intercollegiate Athletics; and the Chapman University Dance Department. He offers a comprehensive blend of general pediatric and sports medicine care with an individualized approach to each patient and family.
- Should Your Kids Play Sports? - November 19, 2024
- Does Your Child Need a Sports Physical? - July 1, 2024
