does sport have a positive effect on our children

[KarenMaguire2012]

Hi all, hope someone can reach out too me I'm struggling with my step son and was wondering if sport could be a way to escape school work and the hormones that come with teenage life?
please let me know as I would really love to share point of views and if you have anything to add about the importance of sport in education

Hi, I saw this earlier when I was skiving at work, but I couldn't answer then.

Yes, absolutely. And I say this as the biggest couch potato you've ever met. I loathe all sport.
In fact when my dd was born, one of the first things we said was "yay, we won't have to freeze our arses off on football pitches".
Well we were right, but we never thought of netball courts.

I think sport is incredible for kids. Doesn't matter what level. It's good in terms of health, obviously. It's good for hand/eye coordination.

It's something other than a screen.

It teaches resilience. Coping with winning and losing. In the case of team sports, teamwork.

If they do it as extra-curricular, then making friendships and connections from outside the main pool that is their school group.

I think it's brilliant. Even though I personally hate it.

Yes, absolutely. My son is pretty sport-phobic (as am I), but the difference in his mood when he exercises - and more so outdoors - has to be seen to be believed. I think the big thing is finding something he loves doing and it can be anything. Mountain biking, swimming, running - anything

It was never my thing as a teen but for my DS it has been fantastic. Gets him outdoors in all weathers and off screen/gaming. He plays a couple of sports and they have given him whole new sets of lovely friends outside school. He's grown in confidence socially and through coaching primary age children. He's now of the age where they integrate them into adult teams and that's also great for having to be a team player with adults and communicate with more than grunts

your thread title suggests maybe you are researching a dissertation?!

how old is your stepson - what sports does/could he take part in?

meanwhile am very happy to suspend my suspicions and say that yes sport is massively positive for kids of any age. the whole team work ethic is as key as the fitness and new social outlet that it can provide.

when i was an EFL teacher for a couple of years it was easy to spot the kids who were in sports teams - they were always the most engaged kids in the class.

Hope that helps with your stepson.

My DD1 wasn’t sporty and I can assure you she was fully engaged in class. It was often the sporty ones who were late back from team training sessions!

However, in general sport is good. Some DC won’t enjoy it if they don’t get any fun out of it. So DC who are always last, never in teams and cannot hit a ball simply won’t enjoy it. Most sport involves some coordination and skill and not everyone has it. So why would they enjoy feeing rubbish about themselves?

Most parents work out if a DC is sporty. If they are not, just riding a bike or going for walks is a start. Definitely learn to swim. My DD preferred music, debating, drama, singing, and was super busy with clubs at school. The main thing is to control weight and do something - either with your brain or your body!

Yes, it is massively beneficial for physical and mental health. It is one area where good private schools tend to offer much more to pupils so even the kids who aren’t naturally sporty can get plenty of exercise.

My kids are very musical/into drama/academic etc mainly, but get daily exercise in their private schools which balances them out. My DC at state school does not and it affects his mood.

Where I grew up (Switzerland/Germany) state schools did not necessarily have grounds but there were always tons of outside and affordable lunch time sports clubs which most kids participated in.

A slightly alternate view:

Sport at school can be soul destroying if you aren't sporty or have poor body image, especially if you are female.

It's just so obvious when you can't throw or catch, run fast, or whatever. Fine if you shine in other ways but rubbish if you don't.

DD's school offers exercise/fitness things in y10/11 such as zumba - much better.

I think it's hobbies and activities that are beneficial mainly, not necessarily competitive sport. Kids need exercise, yes, but doesn't need to be sport.
As for them being more engaged in class, that's just not true at all.

Both of my DDs really enjoyed dance which they did at school. I agree, exercise does not have to be competitive sport. It just has to get you moving! Other activities keep the brain agile.