Do athletics really help better shape youth?
While some people believe that sports aren’t for everyone and that they serve no real benefit, Lori Gano, a writer for Education World, believes that through sports and exercise children get fit and learn valuable lessons. She also encourages parents to get involved with their children and help them find ways to stay in shape. In other words, Gano knows that as a parent people try to make sure their kids live a long and healthy life. As Gano puts it herself “Giving them a head start on a lifetime of physical fitness maybe one of the best ways to accomplish this goal.”
Referring to athletes as “dumb jocks” is a thing of the past. It takes a lot of time, effort, and guts to be an athlete, but in the end it all pays off because playing sports help prepare children for the future. Playing sports as a child is like a practice run for the future; there are many life lessons that are taught through sports. The child will be forced to deal with these life lessons in a larger prospective when they grow older. Athletics are a very important part of growing up because of the benefits and life lessons that sports teach.
As an athlete I can agree completely with Gano. I believe that athletics have played a part in who I have become as a person and have also helped me to stay in shape. My parents got me involved in physical activity as soon as I was able to. They encouraged me to at least TRY a variety of sports and if I ended up not liking particular ones that was fine with them. It is important for children to find out who they really are and to develop their own character. Sports help them find out more about themselves and teach them to be happy with whom they are. I’ve gained the skills of leadership and self-esteem from the interaction in athletics. Sports also introduce athletes to sportsmanship, communication, and independence. I not only use them on the playing field but in my life outside of sports.
Gano challenges us to also think about protecting children from childhood obesity, a growing health problem in the United States. Over weight kids have a tough time. Their self-esteem suffers and they can’t keep up with the other kids. Overweight children are more likely to be overweight adults. Successfully preventing or treating overweight in childhood may reduce the risk of adult overweight. This may help reduce the risk of heart disease and other diseases. Gano suggests that children spend at least one hour a day engaged in physical activity or a specific form of exercise. The early years of development are critical years for learning about oneself. The sport setting is one where valuable experiences can take place.
