Physical activity is essential for children, as it helps develop movement coordination and responsiveness. Modern times with their comfort and the illusion of having everything ‘at hand’ are changing our lives and consequently are also reflecting on the habits of the new generations.
Children, increasingly attracted to video games and social media, end up spending much more time in front of the screen than outside playing. Not that video games or technology are bad, but, as with anything else, it is necessary to limit their use to the youngest, who could develop a real addiction. Furthermore, sitting too long without motor activity is not suitable, especially when the body is developing.
Coordination skills are essential for a child. Although Fortnite can develop good reflexes and hand-eye responsiveness, it certainly isn’t suitable for developing the physical ability of little ones. Sport, therefore (not e-sport) is significant, as it improves motor skills and allows children to socialize, have fun and face the first challenges with themselves.
Coordination skills and conditional skills develop factors such as strength, endurance, speed, and muscle lengthening. Many of these physical characteristics are often determined by genetic, environmental, and child age factors. In fact, not all are born athletes, but this does not mean that they cannot play sports and have fun. In addition to the physical ones, the coordination and conditional skills involve the perceptual apparatus, the sensory-motor one, and also the expressiveness of children. Different disciplines and activities can improve children’s conditional and coordination skills; let’s see what they are.
Ball Games
Sports, in general, allow you to develop what are defined as special coordination skills, that is, those related to a specific discipline. Those with the ball are the most suitable among the sports that allow children to develop their motor skills. Football is incredibly intuitive and can be played even without learning the fundamentals, developing leg strength, endurance, and even excellent coordination; plus; it allows children to socialize. Likewise, one of the particularly recommended team sports is basketball, as the movements are more complex than football but can develop children’s motor skills and coordination in an exceptional way.
In addition to this, basketball, with its multiple rules and geometries, can also help the child develop a tactical and analytical capacity for situations. Similarly, volleyball is excellent for visual coordination, as you need to hit the ball while it is still in the air. However, volleyball and basketball pose some limits compared to football, especially for children who are not too tall who could find themselves in difficulty. For these sports, it is vital to give children good sports shoes.
Judo
Many believe that Judo is the most recommended martial art for children, as it allows them to develop coordination and considerable strength and endurance. This martial art also teaches respect for the opponent and collaboration and that for one’s master. In the same way, it eradicates the fear of falls, as many exercises are based on how to fall on the mat properly.
Swimming
Swimming is a fundamental sport, both for coordination and posture. Not all children love to swim; however, many tend to get bored after a couple of lessons. However, if the child gets passionate and has fun in the water thanks to a good teacher, he can still benefit from learning the basic styles. First of all, he will acquire great confidence, as he will be able to move freely in a ‘foreign’ element, and secondly when you go to the sea or the pool he will feel much more accessible and peaceful.
Dance and Song
Children generally love to dance, so learning a type of dance or group dance can both develop coordination and be fun. The dance gestures can help the child express himself when socializing, as well as the singing that can help overcome shyness.
Musical Instruments
Some tools, such as the drums, can be handy for developing motor skills and coordination. Playing the drums requires the use of arms and legs and can also increase the sense of rhythm and improve the coordination of the hands and the vision of the child. The drums can also make the little one passionate about music. The guitar and piano are also great to start with, and they also allow you to develop the musical ear, which should not be underestimated. If the children are bored studying the usual flute or diamonds at school, but you see that they have an interest in music, then don’t hesitate and give them a more fun instrument like the ones mentioned above and let them express themselves.
How to Overcome Laziness
Although children must always be active and awake in the common imagination, in reality, they can still go through moments of boredom and apathy; in the end, they are still people. Don’t be alarmed, so if now and then they want to spend a little more time in front of the computer, these are often fleeting moments.
If, on the other hand, you notice that the children don’t want to do certain things, you will probably have to look for what can be interesting for them. There are so many sports and activities to try, and you have to look for the right one.
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