Children can begin to benefit from sports and athletic training at a very young age. Activities like soccer, gymnastics, or karate and other martial arts programs provide a number of benefits for the mind, the body, and for your child’s social development. If you haven’t enrolled your child in a sport, you should do so for the following reasons.

Benefits for Your Child

Exercise

There is a noticeable trend in modern America for kids to get less exercise than in generations past. The internet and video games are helpful and enjoyable in controlled doses, but need to be balanced with physical activity to keep the body healthy as they grow.

Teamwork

The group training your child will participate in as part of a team sport is an irreplaceable experience, as it will help them learn to work together with others, negotiate, cooperate, and invest in something bigger than themselves. Non-team sports like karate still involve these elements of cooperation during practice.

Commitment

By taking your child to regular classes and expecting your child to practice and train, you will teach them how to work hard over a long period toward a goal. This skill will serve them well in life, as hard work and diligence achieve more than talent alone can. 

Respect & Sportsmanship

When your child participates in sports and competitions, they will experience both winning and losing. This experience can help them learn to do both graciously, especially in activities like karate where a code of conduct is built into the training. They’ll also learn to listen to a coach or instructor and follow directions.

Whether your child simply needs the exercise, is interested in the culture, or would benefit from the disciplined environment of karate training, sign them up for classes at Ohio’s Japan Karate-Do Cincinnati. Here, you’ll find experienced professional teachers trained in JKO Hokushin Shito Ryu International style who offer classes for children of all ages to learn martial arts, increasing both mental and physical strength. To enroll your child in classes, call (513) 860-4386 or contact them online.