How to choose sport for your child: fun and growth

Choosing the right sport for a child is not always simple: between parents’ expectations, children’s desires and the ever-wider range of disciplinesthere is a risk of transforming a moment of growth and discovery into an occasion of stress. Sport, however, it should first and foremost be a positive experiencecapable of fueling the pleasure of movement, sociability and self-confidence.

KINDER JOY OF MOVING: THE PHILOSOPHY OF THE PROJECT

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A concrete example of this educational vision is Kinder Joy of Moving, the international social responsibility project of the Ferrero Group, which promotes physical activity among children and young people in more than thirty countries. The underlying philosophy is simple but revolutionary: there is not just one way of doing sport, but many possible paths, all oriented towards the joy of movement. The objective is not performance, but the harmonious growth of the little ones through playful and inclusive experiences. The project also makes use of training manuals intended for teachers, instructors and sports operators, who become real practical tools to accompany children. Among the references: the manual Joy of moving. Movements & ImaginActionedited by Caterina Pesce, Rosalba Marchetti, Anna Motta and Mario Bellucciwhich describes the theoretical and methodological approach of the method and proposes practical activities to develop motor skills, collaboration, creativity and respect for rules. A concrete guide that helps adults to convey sport as an opportunity for happiness, discovery and sociability, without pressure or excessive expectations. But also the very detailed and important manual: Joy of moving Family. Come on, let’s get involved!, a text dedicated to parents, to support them in their educational mission. It’s not just a manual: start a passionate dialogue about gaming as the best way to help your children grow as best as possible. And this becomes a unique and precious opportunity to improve as parents and not to deprive children of their right to happiness.

THE WORD FROM THE SPORT PSYCHOLOGIST

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The first rule is to never force a child into a physical activity that doesn’t feel right. Elena Giulia Montorsisports psychologist, clarifies this concept: “Sport must first and foremost be fun, curiosity and passion. Only in this way can it become a tool for growth. Often parents get caught up in the desire for medals or the thought of future earnings, forgetting that children need to experiment, try more disciplines, make mistakes and change their minds. It is not important to get a result immediately, but to build a healthy and lasting relationship with physical activity. If a child has fun, will continue: and it is precisely this continuity that is the real victory.” In the end, choosing the right sport for your children means helping them discover what makes them feel good, respecting their times and their uniqueness. “There is no absolute “best” discipline: there is the one that makes their eyes shine, the one that makes them go home tired but happy and the one that makes them feel part of a group. In this path – underlines the psychologist – parents have a fundamental role: to support without pressuring, to encourage without imposing, to listen without judging. This is how sport becomes not only a physical activity, but a school of life, where one learns to fall and get up, to work with others, to manage emotions and to cultivate one’s passion. So, rather than asking “What is the right sport?”, perhaps the question to ask is: “What is the best way to make sure my child has fun while moving?”. The answer is not a medal around your neck, but a smile after training. Which must first of all be a game.”