Enhancing the physical well-being and emotional growth of their children is the best gift parents can confer upon them. There’s great wisdom in the old adage that ‘all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy’. It rightly highlights the significance of sports and games during a child’s growing years. In this context, it’s important for parents to know that sports education isn’t limited to physical play. It also develops life skills such as teamwork, cooperation and sportsmanship and ability to perform under pressure — skills that will do them a world of good in the modern era in which they are flooded with information and advice to get ahead at any price. 

Therefore, sports must be made compulsory for all children in primary-secondary schools. Sports and academic education are mutually reinforcing and together play a vital role in holistic development of children and make a positive impact on their overall growth and development. Through sports, children learn the rules of fair play and healthy competition and decision making skills. Unfortunately in the new digital and Internet era, children are increasingly switching to digital games and side-lining their sports and outdoor activities. Consequently, there’s a clear and present danger of the next generation of India’s children transforming into unhealthy and obese individuals. 

Because of the limitless health benefits, social popularity and positive values sports and games confer on children, it’s the duty of all parents to ensure their children’s active participation in track and/or field sports. It will reduce stress, strengthen bones and muscles, teach them team spirit, and boost their self-esteem and confidence. The theory of multiple intelligences developed by Dr. Howard Gardner of the Harvard School of Education, suggests that given proper guidance every child can excel in one sport or the other. Therefore, parents need to make the effort to discover the games and sports their children enjoy. That’s the first step towards developing healthy, balanced and active children, even if not national and Olympic champions. 

Most parents are confused about choosing between academics and sports education. When confronted with this familiar dilemma, they should remember that encouraging children to actively participate in sports and games gives them the chance to perhaps become Olympic and world champions or hockey and cricket stars who are admired nationally and even internationally. And even if they don’t become champions, you will be conferring the gift of health and valuable life skills upon them. Here are some major benefits you will confer upon your children by persuading them to become athletes and players. 

Health & well-being. There’s a mountain of evidence to prove that children who are actively involved in sports and games tend to be less stressed than their peers who have opted out of any type of physical activity. Sports-playing children have greater cardio-vascular fitness and robust bones, muscles and ligaments, sleep well and also perform better in workplaces. 

Socialisation benefits. Participation in games and sports socialises children and helps them make new friends. Field games such as cricket, hockey and football teach the critical skills of teamwork and communication. 

Obesity reduction. Child obesity has now emerged as a global problem which is certain to increase medical expenses and reduce the productivity of the next generation worldwide. Nor is this a Western nations’ problem. Even in India where 48 percent of children below age five suffer severe malnutrition, the majority of children of the growing middle class are obese. This has grave implications for the growth and development of the Indian economy in the 21st century. Therefore, responsible parents should insist on children playing games and sports regularly. Engaging children in outdoor games will keep them active and reduce excess fat build-up in their bodies, burn out excessive fats and improve stamina and fitness.

Confidence building. Small achievements and crossing minor milestones build children’s self-esteem. On playing fields and sports arenas, children learn the vital skills of winning and losing gracefully, leadership and continuous self-improvement.

Success on fields of play, sports arenas and stadiums is a boundless source of motivation and contentment for children and parents. It could make your child a role model for other children and youth. And let’s not forget, unless our children go out and play, how will we produce the champions that make our country proud? But even if every child doesn’t turn out to be a Ronaldo or a Messi, the health and life skills benefits that children derive from participation in sports and games will enable them to lead healthy, balanced and productive lives as adults. 
Therefore, all parents need to encourage, coax and cajole child couch potatoes who prefer staying indoors watching television or playing computer games to venture outdoors and get to know the world through the medium of sports.

(Ajit Agarkar is a former India cricket star and advisory committee member of KA EduAssociates, Mumbai)