Why have a children’s sports party?
Children’s birthday parties are one of those annual events that can strike fear into the hearts of parents. How do you ensure that a group of young children are kept entertained, safe, happy and active for a two or three hour period. It’s bad enough making sure your own child is having fun on his or her birthday, but when you are responsible for 10, 12 or more of the little darlings – well that becomes a whole new ball game.
Well, fear not, because once again sport provide the perfect solution. And it is a solution with many additional, long-term benefits as well.
Plenty of choice
There are all sorts of sports party activities on offer for children depending upon group size and the age of the children. Whether it is something competitive and high-tempo such as football, basketball or volleyball or something that involves technique and concentration, such as climbing or archery, giving the children the chance to get involved in a sporting activity is a perfect way to entertain a group of children while promoting a healthy attitude towards sport.
Sports centres such as Kelsey Kerridge are a great place to introduce the children to a sporting activity via a children’s sports party. They are under careful and expert supervision; they will have all the right equipment for the children to take part in an activity in a safe environment and there will be no clearing up for you to do at the end of the day!
What activities are best for a children’s sports party?
Here are some activities you can introduce at a children’s sports party, and a few hidden side benefits:
Archery – mastering archery requires skill, concentration and perseverance. It’s a sport that’s fun, but also allows participants of any age or skill level to compete against others or challenge themselves individually. The sport helps archers gain confidence and physical strength, and there is also a theory that archery helps students with maths!
Climbing – climbing is a great way to improve stamina as well as strengthening the core muscles across different muscle groups. For young children, climbing can be a crucial way of improving motor skills and basic movement. It also promotes flexibility and coordination and there is some evidence that climbing can be beneficial for children with dyspraxia because of the stability of the environment.
Uni-hoc – uni-hoc is a great team sport for mixed groups. It has rules to maintain safety but it is simple to learn and children of all ages and abilities will soon be dribbling the ball and burning off heaps of energy. Team sports such as uni-hoc are great for encouraging social interaction.
Trampolining – every kid (and every adult) loves to jump around, which is why trampolining is such a popular activity. It is also a sneaky way for parents to get kids exercising without realising it. It is also thought that trampolining can help children’s academic progress. A child that begins jumping at an early age begins to control the movement of their bodies. Studies show that the earlier this happens in the kids, the better they perform academically. It has do with the increase in coordination and the positive effects that have on their brain.
But whatever the sport, there will be benefits. Children who move more and learn new skills at an early age will increase their coordination levels, raise their fitness levels and develop better muscular and bone structure. Children that play sport at an early age will be able to do physical movements more naturally. Start a kid in any sport at an early age and the more natural and easier it will be when they grow up.
