As a parent, the fact that you are thinking about getting your child more active in sporting activities is a very responsible thing to do. It may be the case that you don’t have the time to show them the ins and outs of playing a popular sport, but thankfully, we can turn to sports camps for such things. We are quite fortunate in that we have a number of different sports camps that offer structured activities, to allow children to play and to have fun, while learning something new.
You would be remiss in your responsibilities, however, if you didn’t teach kids about the importance of keeping themselves safe while playing their favourite sporting pastime. One of the smart things to invest in is a sports mouthguard, because many Australian kids take sports quite seriously, and it can get quite physical at times. The last thing that you want is for your young kid to lose their front teeth, as this will have serious repercussions on their confidence levels, and it will also hit you in the wallet or purse to get it fixed.
This is just one way to protect your kids when they’re playing sport. Here are a few more to consider when keeping your kids safe while still being active.
It’s important to talk - You need to make it clear to your child that if they have any difficulties with playing any particular sport, they should approach you immediately. This relates to any issues that they may be having interacting with other kids, and also any pain that they might be experiencing as a result of their efforts. A lot of kids don’t want to complain because they will look a little foolish in front of their peer group. Many will push through the pain, and this is something to be avoided at all costs.
Explain the importance of a warm-up - Even though children are young and healthy, it doesn’t hurt to encourage them to do some stretching and warming up before they take part in any physical activity. Anything that can encourage the muscles in the body to loosen up and prepare your child for the sporting activities that lie ahead is time very well spent. You can teach them simple things like touching their toes, stretching out their hamstrings, and maybe some fun warming up like jumping jacks.
Explain the importance of rest - Tiredness comes to everyone, including very young, active children. It’s great that they want to continue playing sports day after day, but you need to encourage them to take some rest days as well. They will end up injuring themselves, and they won’t be able to take part in the sports camp that you have organised for them next month.
It is also your job as the parent to provide your children with a healthy and well-balanced meal every single day. Encourage them to drink lots of water during their sporting activities, and always be looking out for any signs of heatstroke.
