Beyond Children’s Right: Sports and play for their development

LET them play. Let them be kids.

As detailed in Article 31 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, States shall “recognize the right of the child to rest and leisure, to engage in play and recreational activities appropriate to the age of the child and to participate freely in cultural life and the arts.”

No questions asked, every child has a right to enjoy their childhood through different kinds of recreational activities that could aid them in their holistic growth and development.

Take note moms that sports and play do not only make up the leisure time of your kid; rather, as what the United Nations Children’s Fund says, there is a broad consensus “that regular physical activity is essential for the physical, mental, psychological and social development of children and adolescents.”

Also, it is vital to keep in mind that one’s involvement in sports can “boost children’s health, improve academic performance, and help reduce crime”.

Mommies, if you are not fully aware of the benefits of sports and how it could help your kid in his daily life, continue reading and be amazed of how such a child’s right could actually be an effective programmatic tool in helping him achieve goals in health, education, and development among others.

Photo source: http://journeyerschronicles.com/2009/08/at-home/family/raising-independent-kids/

Below are what UNICEF believes to be the plus points of sports into a kid’s existence.

• Engaging into sports, recreation, and play are a fun and exciting way for kids to learn values and lessons that could last a life time.
• They encourage friendship and fair play.
• Sports teach kids team work, discipline, respect, and the coping skills necessary to ensure that they develop into caring individuals.
• They help prepare young people to meet the challenges they will face and to take leadership roles within their communities.
• They create opportunities to let kids express themselves, to contribute their voice, opinions and ideas, and to become agents for change.
• Sports promote stable relationships between children and adults.

Never hesitate to allow your kids be kids. Let them be active in sports or other recreational activities that are appropriate for their ages, especially this summer! Support them all the way; just make sure that you guide them through.

And even though they lose, what’s important is that as young as they are, they could already see the real world.

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