At the midpoint of summer break, many parents are searching for new ways to keep their children active, healthy, and engaged. Community sports participation and physical activity offer a multitude of benefits that go beyond physical health. Amy Kim and Katie Flanagan, faculty members in FSU’s Department of Sport Management, delve into the benefits of sport and provide practical advice for parents.

Benefits of Community Sports Participation

"Regular participation in physical activity is associated with numerous physical, mental, and social health benefits among children and adolescents,” Kim notes. “Among many types of physical activity such as unstructured recreation or physical fitness training, sport participation has been one of the most popular and effective physical activities for maximizing these benefits due to its social and somewhat competitive nature.”

Here are some of the key benefits she highlights:

• Higher level of physical activity: Participating in sports encourages an active lifestyle, which can lead to better overall physical health. Regular physical activity helps develop strong bones and maintain a healthy weight.
• Mental health benefits: Sports can reduce anxiety, stress, and depression, improving mental well-being.
• Improved self-efficacy: Children involved in sports often develop stronger self-confidence and belief in their abilities.
• Enhanced social relationships: The social aspect of sports helps build friendships and improve social skills.
• Better social support and well-being: Being part of a team can provide a sense of community and support.

However, Kim also cautions that "too much performance-oriented sports participation has negative effects such as burnout, overuse injuries, higher levels of stress, and eating disorders." She emphasizes the importance of encouraging fun-oriented sports participation to maximize health benefits.

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Choosing the Right Sports Program

When it comes to selecting a sports program, both Kim and Flanagan offer valuable insights. Kim suggests that parents consider their goals, whether it's better health, skill development, or building friendships. She mentions that affordability and the type of program (e.g., performance-oriented or recreational) are important factors. "The City of Tallahassee Parks & Recreation offers affordable sport camps during the summer," she notes. "FSU and private youth sport organizations also offer performance-oriented sport camps every summer, although they are more expensive."

Flanagan adds that parents should consider the number of days their family can commit to games and practices, note the convenience of location, research necessary equipment and related costs, and familiarize themselves with the sports organization, its rules, and procedures.

Social media can be a useful tool for finding local sports programs. "Post on social media, 'Looking for recommendations,' and typically parent pages for the local community will have information," Flanagan advises. She also recommends checking community email listservs and websites like Fun4Kids Tally for syndicated activities and events.

Encouraging Participation in Sports

Getting children excited about sports, especially if they are hesitant or resistant, can be challenging. Flanagan suggests coordinating with your child’s friends and their families to help ease your child into a sport. "Often, just knowing one other child will help ease anxiety," she says. If connecting with other parents is difficult, she recommends sending a note to school with your contact information for your child to pass along to a friend.

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There are plenty of other fun and engaging physical activities for children who may not be interested in organized sports. Flanagan shares some creative ideas:

• Scavenger Hunts: Incorporate a scavenger hunt through nature or during a walk.
• Destination Activities: Plan activities that include a fun destination, like walking to a creek to feed fish.
• Summer Bucket List: Create a list of different activities that children can choose from depending on their mood.

Additionally, she suggests activities like roller skating, playing in sprinklers, trampoline parks, splash pads at public parks, physically interactive video games like Wii Sports, Cosmic Kids Yoga videos on YouTube, or visiting museums and zoos. Flanagan also recommends audiobooks from public library apps like Libby, which children can listen to while engaging in physical activities like rollerblading or jumping on a trampoline. Another strategy to help kids stay active in the summer is to offer an incentive. “Tell them if they move for 60 minutes three days in a row, you can pick the family movie we watch,” said Flanagan.

By choosing the right programs and encouraging participation through fun and engaging activities, parents can help their children develop healthy habits that last a lifetime. As Kim notes, "It is important to encourage fun-oriented sport participation if parents would like to maximize health benefits for their children and adolescents."