Over the past year, we’ve written more than a few blog posts about the physical benefits of outdoor play. But what about the emotional/spiritual rewards that come from playing outside?
Professional athletes talk about the lessons they learn on the field, whether they involve teamwork, responsibility or courage.
“While striving to win, children learn about teamwork, leadership and sportsmanship, all of which can contribute to their development as solid citizens,” wrote Stephen D. Keener, president of Little League International, in a New York Times op-ed.
“In organized team sports, children work together to accomplish a task and learn from their mistakes. These lessons directly translate into the classroom and beyond.”
Let’s look at some of the life lessons your children can pick-up on the playing field.
1. Teamwork
Spending time as part of team can teach your kids that success or failure can depend on whether everyone works toward the same goal. That’s a lesson that will help them in sports, in the classroom and later in life when they land their first jobs.
2. Patience
Your child might join a team and wind up as that season’s MVP. Or they might have to spend some time on the bench. Team sports can teach them to be patient and take things a step at a time to master the skills they need to succeed.
3. Hard Work
Not every team is destined for instant success. Your son or daughter might find themselves on a team of underdogs. And that’s fine. They’ll learn that sometimes they’ll need to work harder to achieve their goals, or simply to compete.
4. Friendship
Playing a team sport can introduce your child to a whole new friend group, allowing them to spend time with kids from all different backgrounds. Sports can transcend cliques, which is especially valuable as children reach the treacherous social waters of middle school and high school.
5. You Might Not Always Win
Your kids do their best at every practice, and even try to hone their skills when they’re at home, and still come up short. And that’s an important lesson to learn as a child. It will make losing a lot easier to swallow when they grow up.
As Keener wrote: Striving to win is important -- it’s a line in the Little League pledge -- but the more important lines are “I will play fair” and “win or lose, I will always do my best.”
6. Adults Aren’t Always Grown Up
As a parent, you try to be encouraging and upbeat when your kids are on the field. You know that it’s just a game, and the most important thing is that your child, their teammates and the other players all have fun.
But not every parent thinks that way. Some of them can be hostile to the coaches, referees, and even the young players. With luck, your child’s encounters with these folks will rare and brief, but it’s still an important lesson: even adults can be childish.
7. Fun Is Where You Find It
A pick-up game at your driveway’s basketball hoop can be just as fun as a regional basketball league. Playing baseball in the park can be as rewarding as joining the local little league. When your child learns to love their sport, they’ll love it in all its forms.
And that might just mean the games they play in your backyard, on their swing set or under the basketball hoop.
If you’re looking for ways to help your children spend more time playing outdoors, visit Swingset & Toy Warehouse. We’ve spent more than three decades providing quality swing sets, basketball hoops and trampolines to parents everywhere.
Visit our website – or one of our four locations – today to learn how we can help boost your child’s outdoor education.
