2023-04-22 20:30:42
Football is not only a fun sport for children, but it also brings emotional and physical health benefits. Find out here what these benefits are.
Social media was in turmoil for several hours following confusion arose between the son of one of the best players in the world, Lionel Messi, and a little Dutchman who went viral for his skill with the ball. It kicks us off to wonder what the benefits of football are for kids.
The video has been shared on Instagram thousands of times. It shows a boy similar to Mateo, Messi’s son, clearly dominating the ball. However, soon following, it became clear that the real protagonist is Aminan 8-year-old boy from the Netherlands.
The situation is ideal to recall the importance of sport in development. In addition to improving their physical condition and balance, soccer can help children develop different social and emotional skills.
The benefits of football for children
The practice of sport is an essential activity in the development of the child, since it provides him with many benefits that allow him to strengthen his body and mind. Indeed, a study published by the journal Health Qual Life Outcomes, suggests that there is a close relationship between health-related quality of life and sports participation in children.
Find out below which are the most notorious benefits of football in child development.
1. More physical abilities
Among the most important physical skills children develop while playing soccer are coordination, balance and agility. The coordination involves the ability to make controlled and precise movements with different parts of the body at the same time.
Balance refers to the ability to hold the body in a stable position, either in motion or at rest. Agility, on the other hand, is related to the ability to move quickly and flexibly in different directions.
Moreover, soccer promotes visual-spatial awareness and eye-foot coordination, which has an impact on motor skills and the perception of the space around them. As you can see, football is not only a fun sport for children, but it can also be a valuable tool for their growth.
It is important for children to engage in physical activities that help them develop these skillsas detailed in Frontiers in Pediatrics in this article. Science has verified that there are positive results in these aspects when learning football as a child.
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2. More social and emotional skills
In addition to physical skills, children need to develop social and emotional skills for their growth and well-being. Among the most important ones you can acquire are the following:
- Team work.
- Perseverance.
- Resilience.
This is the subject of this study published by the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. There, evidence of athletic physical activities in children and their relationship to the development of healthy prosocial behavior is reported. It can be defined as the ability to act purposefully and positively, demonstrating responsiveness, helpfulness and cooperation in relationships with others.
3. Improved cognitive abilities
According to an article published in Frontiers in Psychology, football is a sport that encourages quick decision making and problem solving in high pressure situations. This skill is crucial for children as it teaches them how to overcome challenges and handle stressful situations.
4. Strengthening bone density
The practice of soccer for the little ones can have significant benefits on their bone health. According to a study published in the Journal of Bone and Mineral Researchin 2016, children who participated in high-impact, weight-bearing sports like soccer had higher bone density than those who did not.
This characteristic is essential for healthy growth. Childhood and adolescence are characterized by the constant remodeling of bone tissue.
5. Good general health
Being a sport that requires constant movement, children who practice it can improve their cardiovascular and respiratory condition. This, in turn, helps reduce the risk of developing chronic diseases in the future.
Moreover, soccer can help maintain a healthy weight. This is explained in an article published by the Nutrients Journalin which the body composition of children who had played football was assessed.
It was concluded that “playing football is positively associated with increased lean body mass and decreased fat mass”. Specifically, it translates to more muscle and less fat tissue.
Sport also improves the quality of sleep. Children need adequate rest for optimal growth and development.
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Some tips to encourage the practice of football among children
There is no doubt that playing soccer in children can benefit their physical and emotional health, as well as their social development. Here are some tips to encourage your practice:
- Provide them with a safe and supervised environment to play.
- Recognize the importance of regular practice et d’efforts constants.
- Motivate them by example and active participation in their games and competitions.
- Help them develop teamwork and cooperation skills.
- Teach them to play by the rules, as well as their teammates and rivals.
- Motivate them to celebrate their achievements and progressand don’t just focus on results.
By following these tips, parents can encourage the practice of this sport in their children and contribute to their personal development. Always, the priority will be that they have fun with the football and don’t feel it’s a pressure.
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