Knowing when to start children in sports can be a daunting question. The idea that there is a perfect age or a perfect developmental time to begin sports is a myth. Many conversations about starting sports young center around outcomes such as elite play or being able to “go the distance”. The truth is that being involved in sports at an early age creates a learning playground for children.
The sports field is a treasure trove of life lessons. These lessons are so elegantly mixed with play, that our children are willing to stick through the struggle of each lesson because the joy of playing is so rewarding. I have experienced this first hand with our tiniest athletes in my Sports Stars classes. These little ones are 2 to 3 years old and are accompanied by their caregivers. In the 45 minute class, we rotate through 2 sports and an obstacle course that allows them to show off their toddler speed, newly earned agility and developing balance. These little ones are excited to be involved in each sport and they come to class eager to play.
We begin class with an opening circle where they get to say their name and show off a skill for the week. The life lesson here is how to introduce themselves in a group and how to perform under “pressure”. Some of our toddlers love this. They are eager to shout their name and show off their skills. Others want to hide a bit. They take time to warm up and they often just want to be greeted with a “hello” instead of showing their skill. This teaches our little ones that it's ok to step out in the spotlight and it's ok to pass on the spotlight too. They are learning their own agency and their comfort level in front of a crowd.
As we move on to our warm up, we incorporate a partner game like catch or passing the ball. These toddlers love to pair up with their caretaker which creates a really fun bonding time. As they work on the motor skill of the week, they tend to make mistakes. They miss a pass or have to chase after the ball they didn't catch. Hidden in this game is the life lesson that we are not perfect. We learn from making a mistake and then we try again. The repetition of trying again pairs with the encouragement they receive from their caregivers and coach. This embeds in each of them the belief that they are capable and they are resilient.
The first sport of the day always comes with seated directions. This creates an amazing opportunity to practice listening skills, to learn to follow instructions and to wait for a turn. That sounds like a lot of hard lessons for our little ones to endure in one sitting. The truth is that while it can be a struggle some days, most days they are so happy for the reward of getting to play. They are willing to do what it takes to get there. They sit quietly, answer questions, wait for directions and then they get to go. Caretakers participate with them and that helps them to feel the immediate satisfaction of praise and engagement. This feedback loop reinforces classroom skills and gives children the incentive to keep practicing even the things that are not so fun.
The second sport station of the day involves active demonstration rather than seated directions. Our young athletes only have the capacity to listen for so long, so we now provide instructions with movement incorporated. They are challenged to push their gross and fine motor skills to meet the goals of the day. Oftentimes, they will find one part that they really love and zero in on that particular part of the station. This is where parents are able to see where their child’s natural interests are and our toddlers are able to practice the power of repetition. By engaging in repetition, they are able to progress quickly and gain mastery of the skill faster. Toddlers love mastery because it gives them a sense of independence. When they can do it “all by themselves”, they gain self confidence and a belief in self. They understand that if they want to do something independently, they will have to do it over and over and over to master it. When they do, they receive big praise from their caregiver and coach. This reinforces the loop and sets early neuro pathways that will serve them into the future.
Our Sport Stars class adventure always ends the same way. Toddlers thrive on consistency so this allows them to feel centered and safe. We get out the bubbles and have a bubble party. While bubbles are great for hand eye coordination, the real purpose is just to have fun! Then we highlight what we learned that day so that our children and parents can be reminded of all we accomplished in the midst of the play. Finally, we get stamps and lollipops. This provides another method of positive reinforcement for our tiny athletes and gives them that extra incentive to come back for more next week.
Being exposed to sports early allows our children access to an arena that builds skills that go far beyond swinging a bat or catching a ball. The life lessons they gain from their time in class are truly priceless. The time set aside each week to play with purpose with their caretaker creates sweet moments of joy that leave everyone feeling just a little bit better about life. These little athletes may learn to love sport throughout their lives or they may take up other interests, either way, the lessons they learn in their Sports Stars class will serve them well for the future.
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