Page 32 - SilverLakes_Issue 2_2022

TODAY’S CHILD

LET THE CHILDREN PLAY

By Dr Ilse Ruane

Sport should be fun, not pressurised otherwise may not have formed. They The ups and downs of competing in
Sport brings camaraderie, unity and learn to be humble winners and to be sport
happiness to people of all ages. But its gracious in defeat as well as how to come Competitiveness is not necessarily a bad
greatest contribution lies in the mental, back from a loss, all the while building self- thing. It encourages children to achieve
physical and social development it provides esteem. But perhaps more importantly, their potential. It can foster skills that
to children and adolescents. Here’s how: they learn to respect authority, rules, prepare them for adult life. However, it
coaches, teammates and opportunities. becomes a problem when winning is all
• Staying active promotes good health. that counts or when a child (or parent)
Research has shown that living an active • Sport gives children something productive is prepared to do anything to achieve a
lifestyle from a young age decreases the to do. This is especially important as we goal and gain parental acceptance. When
chances of contracting serious medical battle with the fallout resulting from the joy of playing the sport is taken away,
conditions. Regular exercise can have a Covid-19. During the past two years, we need to re-evaluate our approach to
profoundly positive effect on depression, children have developed bad habits childhood sports.
anxiety and ADHD. It relieves stress, when it comes to online screen time and
improves memory, helps you sleep better technology use. Friendships have suffered Children can be taught to develop a
and boosts your overall mood. Therefore, as a result. It is a direct consequence of the healthy attitude to competition from an
children who stay active are managing context of Covid-19 as children have had early age. It is important to allow them
their lives more effectively without even to become more proficient in the online to experience the full range of emotions,
realising it. world. However, now is the time to start negative and positive, that go with
returning to the real world – the one in winning, losing and competing. But what
• Physical activity can improve academic which children get to interact with others. are the consequences of being over-
performance. Many research studies The return to a semblance of normality can competitive?
have found a direct correlation between be daunting for both parents and children
participation in sport and academic as sometimes we do not know where to • Friendship problems: Children are
performance. start. Sport is the easiest way to make this forced to compete with and be judged
transition back as the “rules of play” are alongside their friends. This is the reality
• A child’s character and moral principles established (there are rules on how to play of life, but when children experience
are formed through sport. Behaviours soccer, for instance, and everyone must intense achievement pressure, they may
and values such as honesty, teamwork, play by those rules). focus on winning and outperforming
commitment, respect for others and their friends. Arguments and problems
understanding rules are just some of the • Most importantly, playing sport is fun. within a friendship can result, and soon
benefits of sport participation. In short, It shows our children that physically this unhealthy competition creates
sport is the playground for life. It enables interacting with people again is fun – negative peer interactions such as
children to create friendships they more fun than interacting online. jealousy, isolation and loneliness.

30 | INTRAMUROS MARCH 2022