Sports activities for your child

Sports activities for children

At an age when you get to know your body, sports such as gymnastics or martial arts initiate self-control and allow you to express your dynamism.

From 4 months: the baby gym

For the little ones, it is a sensory awakening (cuddly games, massages …). They of course come with an adult. But mum or dad accompanies, without leading the game, without especially limiting it by more or less justified anxieties. Because at the baby gym, you learn to dare. We take risks… without the slightest danger, since the sessions take place in a furnished space, very soft, covered with groundsheets and furnished with accessories in foam or other harmless materials. The goal: to move! Crawling, rolling, jumping… After the phase of discovery and appropriation of the environment, children are invited to perform exercises (often with music) or to follow courses (tunnels, climbing, bypassing obstacles…).

The benefits : we can easily imagine the pleasure that toddlers take to evolve in a space where they do not come up against any prohibitions! This can only promote their psychomotor development. This freedom does not however exclude the respect of certain rules, in particular to take account of his comrades, not to jostle them, to wait his turn. Mimes and musical games promote creativity.

This activity also offers the opportunity for moments of complicity without constraints. Freed from the thankless task of surveillance, reassured by a secure environment, the accompanying parent can also give free rein to his fantasy and his joie de vivre. It appears in a slightly different light.

Good to know : the child clings to the parent who accompanies him, but, the baby gym also tending to promote autonomy, he will detach himself from it, or even refuse his participation. In short, a summary of the solicitation / rejection alternation that parents know well!

Equipment side : Comfortable clothing is recommended.

From 4 years old: fencing

Fans of Zorro or d’Artagnan will love immersing themselves in the flamboyant universe of swashbuckling films! Because this sport, which is very regulated, exudes a certain nobility. Children first learn to better coordinate their movements, gradually entering the technique. They are immediately introduced to draconian safety rules since we use a weapon (foil), even truncated.

The benefits : courtesy and loyalty are essential. No fuss, but attention and respect. This is enough to appease the most nervous and also give confidence to those who need the secure framework of strict rules.

However, it is by no means a “soft” or “stuck” sport! On the contrary, it requires speed, agility and good reflexes. Small sizes can be particularly illustrated there. The mask reassures the timid, to whom it gives the courage to cross their limits.

Good to know : although considered to be a very complete sport, where the whole body works, fencing remains relatively uncommon. If you don’t live in a big city, you might have a hard time finding a club near you.

Equipment side : the mask (from 80 euros) and the foil (from 40 euros) are frequently provided by the club the first year. There are still pants and a jacket (from 150 euros together), gloves (from 20 euros) and soft sports shoes (or fencing, from 50 euros).

From 3 years old: gymnastics

The benefits : Gymnastics muscles the body as a whole, exercises endurance and coordination and, of course, promotes flexibility (but it is still better to be flexible at first!). It also increases strength. However, it is important not, at this young age, to work hard. Eyeing dance, rhythmic and sporting gymnastics, like the latter, gives those who practice it a pretty port.

Good to know : no competition before 12 years old! Even if your child is showing gifts, beware of overly intensive training which could stunt growth and damage the spine. If your boy shows a penchant for this discipline, enroll him in a club where he will find “like”, otherwise the pressure of prejudices might discourage him.

Equipment side : a leotard (from 12 euros) and gym slippers (from 4 euros). Accessories are most often loaned by the club.

Judo from 4 years old

This non-violent martial art has won the favor of many families. There is hardly a place where you cannot find a club for your little one. Until the age of 6, with baby judo, we talk more about awakening to judo. The child practices flexibility exercises, he learns the basic rules as well as the techniques, of fall. We help him gain self-confidence and discover his body. The initiation itself comes with the fights that children, of course, particularly enjoy!

The benefits : Judo is an excellent school of respect for the rules and for others. It is impossible to practice it without having a minimum of self-control. This discipline is more or less well accepted, but most children appreciate rituals (especially since manga fashion has popularized martial arts even more), or at least, accept them as a preamble to highly playful fights. Judo develops strength, coordination, flexibility and balance. The timid can gain confidence there and the restless can calm their ardor.

Good to know : it is a question of neutralizing the aggressiveness, but in no case of exacerbating it. The teacher must instill respect for the moral code inherent in judo. If your child comes out of class with the urge to fight, something is wrong.

Equipment side : a kimono (from 10 euros), a belt whose color indicates the rank of the judoka (from 3 euros) and flip-flops to circulate in the room (from 7 euros).

Initiation to Karate, not before 5 years

Great is the fascination that this martial art exerts on children (especially boys), imbued with the exploits of the Ninjas! Obviously, they will not propel themselves in the air from the first session. As in judo, they will be introduced to the basic rules as a preamble, while practicing flexibility exercises.

The benefits : karate brings the same benefits as judo. In addition, the sequences of movements, very choreographic, promote concentration, grace and maintenance. In addition, we can without fear register a little easily nasty: he will learn to control his aggressiveness.

Good to know : karate does not provide super powers! This practice promotes reflexes, composure, mobility, improves the child’s ability to defend himself if necessary, or more surely to escape, but he will not be able to defeat an opponent for many years. . Check that the teacher has made this clear to your child. The purpose of martial arts is, moreover, to avoid confrontation.

Equipment side : a kimono (from 10 euros), a belt whose color indicates the rank (from 3 euros) and thongs for the room (from 7 euros).

More than 5 years: Initiation to rollerblading and skate-boarding

These street sports frighten parents as much as they attract their offspring. Yes, they are potentially dangerous. Hence the interest of experiencing them in a secure environment, with the benefit of supervision.

The benefits : your child shows a certain taste for risk? He will learn to manage it. This involves evaluating the danger, refining your reflexes, controlling your speed, negotiating falls, respecting safety rules, overcoming failure … A supervised practice sets the record straight: these are real sports, which therefore require warm-up, training and technical training. It is not enough to have self-confidence. Those who are only looking to show off could repent quickly!

Good to know: sliding being a perilous activity, we cannot ignore protective equipment. We must also ensure that we are dealing with a framework that is aware of its responsibilities.

Equipment side : covering and solid clothing, a helmet (10 to 15 euros), protections (10 to 15 euros per set), gloves and a quality skate-board (from 15 to 60 euros) or rollerblades perfectly to the size for the child (20 to 60 euros).

Yoga from 5 years old

This discipline of Hindu origin really makes the body work. We adopt postures inspired by nature (the tree, the frog, the cat …) which solicit muscles and / or joints that are often neglected. From where, although all the movements are carried out smoothly, a healthy fatigue… and possible aches. Children’s courses do not address the philosophical ground. We do not bet them meditation, traditionally linked to yoga. But they go through periods of calm time that allow them to recharge their batteries between exercises.

The benefits : all the exercises are based on the mastery of breathing, which is useful in other sports and in everyday life since you learn to control your emotions. Stressed children will find comfort there, especially in difficult times. Those who tend to be restless will learn to control themselves and to focus. The very playful side of yoga (in particular the imitation of animals) which appeals to the imagination, camouflages its benefits which, of course, remain abstract in the eyes of the youngest.

Good to know : Whatever one thinks of the spiritual teachings of yoga, they are not accessible to children. Avoid classes taught by a die-hard follower who pretends to convey his vision of life

Equipment side : provide comfortable clothing.