Football, tennis, basketball, swimming … Whatever the chosen sport, the practice of a physical activity is essential for the good development of a child. At what age can it begin, in what discipline, what are the contraindications? Answers from Dr. Eric Jousselin, sports doctor and head of department at Insep.
Why is the practice of a sport important for a child?
Physical activity is necessary because a child needs to move. Just look at how young people run during recess or on the street! They have energy to spare and the advantage of the sport is to allow a harmonious development of the body . Not to mention that with the progress of obesity , it is always welcome to spend rather than stay in front of the TV to eat peanuts …
Sport is also an excellent way to socialize : there are rules, we must respect each other, it is a great way to instill in the child some benchmarks that will be useful for the future.
Is there an age to start a small sport?
From the moment he knows how to play, a child can play a sport. Moreover, from kindergarten , teachers put two teams face to face, this is the beginning of the competition . What is important is not so much the sport itself as the regular practice of physical activity.
The ideal is to try everything , ball games, snowshoeing or water activities. It is necessary to be wary of the early specialization that locks the child into a given practice. Often, he accepts to please his parents or his coach. But for an elected successor, how many crack and ruin life?
How do you know which activity is best for your child?
It’s not up to the parents to decide. You have to let the child make their own choices because motivation is essential in the sport. Of course, the family circle tends to induce a choice over another: spontaneously, parents direct their children to activities they know. But the child may not hang if the desire does not come from him.
Physical activity must be a pleasure, one must go with a smile. It is finally the circle of friends, as well as television images, movies and video games, which push the youngest to certain activities in particular.
Sports activities for teenagers 