Many parents today are looking for activities to engage their children without resorting to screens. They know that too much time spent on video games, the internet, and television is not good for their child’s health, but finding alternatives can be difficult.
However, the world’s most popular sports are a good place to start looking for ways to get kids more active. Basketball is undeniably one of them, and besides being great fun it teaches children a whole bunch of skills that will benefit them as they develop.
This article explains some of the biggest benefits of basketball for children.
Physical benefits of basketball
Whether it’s basketball lessons or just shooting hoops in the yard, the main effects of playing basketball or any other sport on your child will be physical. But this does not only mean that they will get physically fitter and their endurance will improve. There are several ways they can expect to benefit physically.
First, basketball is a great way to develop motor skills, including fine motor skills which are transferable to any number of other activities in daily life. Motor skills are essentially basic movements. Running and jumping are gross motor skills, which means they involve large muscle groups, while fine motor skills are those that use small muscles, such as those in the fingers. Basketball is great exercise for both types.
Secondly, running and jumping are examples of weight-bearing exercise. This is an exercise where your body weight provides resistance as you move, allowing bones and muscles to get a good workout that makes them stronger.
Thirdly, basketball helps people improve their balance and coordination, as it involves various movements such as dribbling, catching, throwing, turning, running, and even walking backwards at times. This helps kids develop awareness and control over their bodies, as well as improving their reflexes since they need to react quickly to what is happening on the court.
Social and psychological benefits of basketball
Playing with your kids and encouraging them to play with others are great ways to bond with your children. Basketball takes little time to learn, and only a few pieces of inexpensive equipment are needed, so it is an excellent way to do this. Children also stand to receive the benefits of being physically active in general, which can include feeling more happy and confident.
However, team sports such as basketball can also teach them valuable psychological lessons that they can apply to other areas of life. To participate successfully as part of a sports team, they will learn to give and read a variety of verbal and non-verbal signals to communicate with others. They will also learn about problem-solving and working with others towards a common goal.
As you can see, there are a number of ways that basketball can benefit young children, not only in terms of their physical fitness but also socially and psychologically. In fact, the Australian Sports Commission has designed two basketball programs to encourage schoolchildren to take up the sport. Overall, as sport choices for children go, basketball is very well-rounded and it is definitely worth getting your child involved.
