Doing sports actitvities with your child is a great way to bond with them and stay healthy, but what types of sports can you get involved in? Here are some ideas…
Whether your child is disabled, has suffered from child brain injuries, is able-bodied, or anything in between, quality time with your kids is very special. There are lots of sports activities you can enjoy with your child, no matter the situation. In fact, there’s so much choice it can be difficult to decide which ones to try out!
So, to help you decide which sport will be the most enjoyable for you and your child, with the least risk to their physical health, we’re going to share 10 of them with you.
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Which Sporting Activities Should You Try with Your Child?
We’re going to share a mixture of sporting activities, from athletics to water sports, so there should be something in this list for everyone. So, whether your child has coordination issues from an injury or disability, there should be something to try.
Of course, this should always be done with the advice of a doctor beforehand, so these are just some potential suggestions, if your child’s health allows it. So, without further ado, here are some fun sporting activities to try with your kid.
1. Football (Soccer)
Football is a low maintenance, classic sport that you can play anywhere. It doesn’t matter whether you’re playing in the garden, at the park, or at your local AstroTurf or gymnasium, all you need is a ball and a set of goal posts or two trees with a gap between them.
It’s unlikely you’ll be able to play a classic 11-a-side football match with your children. This is unless you’ve got 20 of them and your partner is with you, but there are lots of other football games you can play, such as:
- Penalty and free kicks
- One vs, one
- Heads and volleys
It all depends on how many kids you’re playing with and what you fancy playing at the time.
2. Basketball
Basketball is another sport you can play with your kids that’s fun and doesn’t require too much preparation. There are basketball courts all over the place and you can even get a simple hoop to put against a wall in your driveway or back garden.
You have a significant advantage over your child with you being older, taller and stronger. Because of this, you’re more likely to spend your time training them and playing free throw games until they get a little older. Why not try a game of:
- H-O-R-S-E
- Knock out
- Around the world
- Firing Squad
3. Cycling
If you prefer your long-distance sports to your team sports, and you’d like your kids to develop some serious cardio, cycling could be the answer.
It’s a great excuse to go on a trip with your child and tire them out at the same time. No matter where you live, there’s likely somewhere beautiful or interesting within cycling distance so hop on your bikes and go find it together.
4. Running
They might not be able to get as far as you can on a bike, but running is a great way for you and your child to keep healthy and have fun.
This could be running long distances or sprinting, depending on whether you want your child to develop explosive exercise habits or work on their cardio.
5. Dancing
All the above sports are great for having fun with your child, however, what about those of you who want your children to work up a sweat but also express their creative side?
Dancing fills that void perfectly. There are lots of different styles of dance you can learn together, and it’s one of those pseudo-sports that children can actually excel at better than you. If you decide to try dancing with them, you’d better bring your A-game.
What’s more, this one is great for any kids with coordination troubles from an injury or disability. Certainly one to give a go.
6. Martial arts
Most sports teach children discipline, but none of them do it quite as well as martial arts. Lots of people think of martial arts as an aggressive sport, but it’s more about knowing how to defend yourself if you’re ever in a tricky situation.
On top of teaching them discipline and how to defend themselves, it’s a genuinely fun sport to try with your child. Also, most classes allow adults and children to train together, which is a great bonding experience for you both.
7. Kayaking
If your preferred type of sport is adventurous, exciting, and different to all the sports we’ve listed so far, why not try kayaking?
Kayaks are highly portable so you can choose to do it in the river behind your house or drive out to a lake 20 miles down the road. There are lots of different kinds of kayaks, but as you’re doing this sport activity with your child, a tandem kayak is probably best.
Grab your kayak, get out on the river and go for a family adventure.
8. Swimming
Rather be in the water than on the water? Swimming is a great sport to enjoy with your child, and will teach them a valuable life skill.
It’s up to you whether you go to the local pool just to have some fun, or actually drill laps and treat it as a real work out. Either way, both you and your child will be happier, healthier, and wetter if you decide to go swimming together.
9. Yoga
Yoga might seem like something to do either on your own or in a room full of other adults, but you can actually have a great time doing yoga with your child.
Yoga increases your fitness, improves your flexibility and helps you relax. Treating it like a game by introducing new poses will keep it more exciting for your child and help them engage with the subject matter.
10. Skateboarding and roller sports
There’s an endless amount of fun to be had with skateboarding and roller skating. At first, you’ll likely be learning the basics together, but once you get rolling there’s a lot you can do, from learning new tricks to working on your balance.
They’re also great hobbies for your kids to learn and develop on as they get older.
Are These the Best Sports to Try with my Child?
In this post, we’ve shared 10 sporting activities to enjoy with your child, but there are plenty more out there to be found.
Hopefully you choose to try some of the sports we’ve mentioned in this article but, if not, they’re at least a starting point to find the one that’s right for you and your child. Thank you for reading and good luck with the sports.
Photo credits:
- Parents playing football with child – Photo by Gustavo Fring from Pexels
- Cycling – Photo by Tatiana Syrikova from Pexels
- Martial arts – Photo by Ashima Pargal on Unsplash
- Yoga – Photo by Kamaji Ogino from Pexels
