Different Sports for Children

Children that participate in sports starting at a young age learn basic movements and physical skills that are helpful as they grow. Children develop coordination, dexterity and discipline when participating in sports taught by parents or coaches.

  1. Gymnastics

    • Gymnastics can start as early as 2 years old and follow the child into adulthood. Children learn graceful moves on floors and on equipment such as balancing bars. Little ones learn the basics of walking on a bar and advance to different classes as they age. Children that participate in gymnastics can perform well into adulthood or change to dance in high school.

    Tennis

    • Children who are 7 and older can participate in tennis. Tennis instructors teach children the fundamentals of hitting the tennis ball, how to protect the court and how to serve the ball to an opponent. Children can participate in tennis competition well into high school. Some children may continue to play tennis professionally or as a sport for exercise as an adult.

    Swimming

    • Swimming is for children 2 and older. Starting a child young and continuing the swimming lessons throughout the child's school years can enhance the child's desire to join a swim team in high school. Swimming strengthens the upper and lower body, which can also help a child with weight control. Many high schools have swimnastics, where kids perform water acrobatics, a competition sport in schools.

    Baseball

    • Softball can start when a child is 4 with tee-ball. Tee ball is played with a ball stand that holds the ball for the batter. Batters swing a bat at the ball and try to hit the ball into the field. Children practice throwing, catching and batting the ball while competing with other teams. Children learn the basic rules needed to understand baseball. After tee ball, children can move on to the next classification, which is little league baseball.

    Soccer

    • Soccer teams are formed for children as young as 7. Children learn the basic rules of the game and how to move and run the ball. Children starting early can develop a style of play that can follow them into junior high school and high school. Many communities have adult soccer leagues for soccer players. Advanced soccer players can also help with coaching little leagues.