Raring2go! 15 Raring2go! 14 . There is a lot to love about this Summer and one of the most anticipated events is the Commonwealth Games! A fantastic array of sports will be on offer to watch live in Birmingham or on the television, and the best part is that it gives us a chance to watch sports that we don’t know much about and which aren’t televised as often as the more well-known sports. This is great exposure for swimming, gymnastics, judo and so many more and will get our kids excited about giving a new sport a go! The Importance of Sports and Emotional Development in Children There are countless positive reasons why sports are important for children. The camaraderie and team spirit that is built from playing a sport is a vital part of a BRING ON THE COMMONWEALTH GAMES! Thursday, 28 July - Monday, 8 August 2022 child’s development. Even independent sports, such as singles tennis, wrestling, gymnastics, track and field and so on, offer children an opportunity to meet other kids who have the same interests as themselves and this helps towards building friendships. The competitiveness in sports is also an excellent way to learn how to deal with the emotions of winning and losing. Being able to mentally cope with the highs and lows of sports, is a good way to learn that things don’t always go to plan and to get up and try again. The elements of sportsmanship are respect, responsibility, fairness, honesty, integrity and good citizenship. These are attributes we are all trying to instil in our children and sports are a superb way of gaining these qualities. Research has been conducted around the world as to the benefits of leading an active lifestyle versus that of a sedentary one. Here are a few of the emotional and physical benefits to being active: Emotional Skills • Healthy self-esteem and body image • Social interaction • Sportsmanship • Leadership development • Increased concentration and focus • Decreases stress and depression Physical Benefits of Sports • Better body control • An early start in sports helps build cardiorespiratory fitness and health. • Increased strength in muscles and bones. • Increased stamina • Helps manage weight • Better sleep quality Sporting events are an opportunity for our sporting heros and teams to show what they are capable of and gives them an opportunity to put all their hard work to test against the best in the world. Underpinning all this remarkable physical achievement is the uniting factor of sport - the sportsmanship, friendship and the exposure to other cultures and countries that makes sporting events, such as the Commonwealth Games, a uniting and exciting experience.
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