Contents
Sports adapted to my child’s age
Sport is obviously important and beneficial for the child, but it is about not “toasting” the stages. Physical activity must be part of children’s daily life, but it must also respect their stage of development. Some examples…
From 18 months, it is possible for a baby to do gym activities on the ground or via an obstacle course. Structures like “Gymborée” offer a wide range of activities, often original, more based on play and the parent-child relationship.
From the top of his 3 years, the child can start cycling like a grown-up! If you have an ice rink near you, you can also introduce them to their first sensations of sliding… Swimming in the swimming pool is also possible via water games with accessories (tubes, boards, balls, etc.) for feel comfortable in the water. Little by little, the child learns to lie down then to blow in the water, to plunge his head.
A 3 4-years, your child is still small, but nothing prevents him from enjoying the joys of swimming or skiing, depending on the season! TO 4 years, you can suggest going to the gym or dancing, a good way for him to acquire flexibility and a sense of rhythm, as well as a better control of his movements! And if your pup is attracted to judo, no problem! Even more, he will be very proud to wear a kimono!
Judo in the lead, martial arts (karate, kung fu, aikido, and capoeira from Brazil) are inspired by the techniques and the spirit of warlike fights in Asia (China, Japan, Korea). But no blow is struck, the objective being to control his impulses. At first, children learn relaxation techniques and the art of falling.
Horse riding is also possible. For children, the initiation is done on a pony then a double pony, in a merry-go-round. Besides the sporting aspect, horseback riding is also a rewarding educational experience suitable for shy or introverted children.
A 5 years, your child is full of energy? If you feel he is ready and willing to do a team sport, you can enroll him in basketball (or rather baby basket!) Or handball, to allow him to develop his psychomotor skills. It is also the age of the first optimistic outings, if the sea is not too far …
A 6 years, your child can do just about any sport they enjoy. The good thing is to let him choose an activity and especially not to impose on him the one you would have liked to do at his age! Without forgetting that it must remain above all a real pleasure. Group or individual sports, it’s a matter of taste: swimming, dancing, football, basketball, judo, tennis, gymnastics … The child is spoiled for choice at this age! He can also try sports that are a little less common, such as horse riding, canoeing, sailing, ice skating, fencing …
Do I need a medical certificate for my child to play sports?
A priori, from the start of the 2020 school year, parents will no longer have to run to the doctor with their child to obtain a medical certificate of no contraindication to sports practice, at least for all sports without “Particular constraints” (diving, mountaineering, boxing or rugby will therefore be excluded). The precious sesame will be replaced by a sworn declaration completed by the legal representative, to ensure that young people have seen a doctor, via the mandatory consultations of the child’s health course.
The advantages of sport
Sport helps develop:
- – motor skills;
- – team spirit ;
- – sociability ;
- – the respect of others ;
- – the performance ;
- – discipline.
Note: If your child is not attracted to sports, it is no big deal! The important thing is that it is spent, which can be done in a context other than that of a club sport. In addition, he can find his happiness in many other extracurricular activities, in particular artistic, musical, creative, DIY, gardening, in contact with animals etc.