Spring Sports For Your Child

Now that spring is here, it’s time for spring sports to begin! Whether your child is an athlete or this is his first year trying out for a team or an individual sport, spring is a great time to get him outside in the fresh air. With childhood obesity at an all-time high, encouraging activity such as sports is a great way to promote good health. Team sports are also important in developing skills in working with others that will last your child a lifetime. Here are some sports to consider this spring:

• Baseball, Softball or T-Ball. Baseball is the quintessential American spring sport, and many kids enjoy participating, because it’s simple to learn and fun to play. Little ones often start with T-Ball, which uses a cone (sometimes called a “T”) to hold the ball instead of having a pitcher throw it. Other than that, it has the same rules as baseball and softball, and the kids run around the bases. Baseball is played with a smaller ball than softball. Often, boys’ teams play baseball and girls’ teams play softball, but that’s not always the case. If your child’s school does not have baseball or softball teams, then ask at your local recreation center to find out where you can bring him to try out.
• Soccer. In some areas, soccer is a fall sport, but in others, it’s a spring sport. If your child loves to run around, soccer might be the perfect sport for her. There are a lot of rules to remember, but when younger kids play, then tend to forget which position they’re playing and just run around anyway. Older kids are expected to play their appropriate positions. Soccer games are physically intense and are a great way to help kids stay in good shape!
• Individual Sports. If your child isn’t interested in joining a team, he can still benefit from outdoor activities that have him getting fresh air, sunshine and some exercise. He might enjoy tennis, which can be played with one or three other people. A fun family activity in the spring is hiking. You can probably find trails that range in difficulty from mild to challenging, and that take less than an hour or several hours. Don’t jump into a strenuous hike without having already successfully done milder hikes, though! Maybe your child would like to try to beat his own time by jogging or running. Anything that gets him outside and moving around makes a great spring sport.

Remember the goals of spring sports: They’re an opportunity for your child to improve her teamwork skills and also get more physically fit. What are your favorite spring sports?