The Hidden Advantages of Baseball for Children: How Parents Can Encourage an Active Lifestyle
80% of adolescents do not meet the recommended levels of physical activity, the World Health Organization (WHO) highlights. Regular physical activity provides significant physical and mental health benefits — in children and adolescents, this includes the promotion of healthy growth and development of muscles, and an improvement in motor and cognitive development.
Baseball is just one sport that can bring to light advantages such as the development of eye-hand coordination and key life skills, and can play a major role in a fit and healthy lifestyle when fostered early on by parents.
The value of sport participation
An active lifestyle is essential to good health, as physical inactivity is linked to numerous health concerns such as obesity, reduced sleep, and mental health concerns (to name just a few). For children and adolescents aged 5-17, the World Health Organization recommends an average of at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous intensity physical activity each day.
In regard to the WHO’s recommendations, The Conversation explains: “This should incorporate vigorous aerobic activities, as well as those that strengthen muscle and bone, at least three days a week.” Participation in an organized group sport is an excellent way to meet these recommendations, as regular practices serve as a simple way to stay engaged.
Physical activity also comes along with mental health benefits, as children who get regular exercise experience lower levels of depression and stress. Higher levels of positive self-image serve as additional benefits, highlights the American Psychological Association (APA). The Mayo Clinic News article also notes that a daily routine that involves physical activity can set the stage for a lifetime of fitness and good health.
Hidden advantages highlight unique opportunities
The American Optometric Association (AOA) explains the role of eye-hand coordination, defined as “the synchronization between the visual and motor systems” in a sport like baseball. The article cites a study published in the journal Optometry & VIsion Science, in which research demonstrates how faster eye-hand visual motor reaction time among professional baseball players can correlate with better plate discipline batting metrics.
Eye-hand coordination is especially important in baseball, the AOA notes, as batters “have less than 400 milliseconds to judge a 95-mph fastball from pitch to plate.” For children and adolescents, participation in baseball is a great way to develop
Beyond hand-eye coordination, sport participation can benefit academic progress, too. A University of Missouri Health article shines a light on the fact that many athletes do better academically due to the nature of organized sports. For example, it’s explained that sports require an array of skills (such as memorization, repetition, and learning).
While these skills are necessary to sports, they are also integral to the classroom — for example, a foreign language class will require repetition in order to retain vocabulary, pronunciation, and sentence structure. Sports also involve determination and goal-setting, which can translate into the classroom in significant ways — study time (which is crucial in order to do well on an exam) can be equated to the value that baseball practice has for a big game.
Participation in sports like baseball is a fantastic way to foster other essential life skills, like teamwork. Dr. David Soma, a pediatric sports medicine specialist at the Mayo Clinic, highlights the fact that sports can come along with social benefits like the opportunity to make friends and connect with others.
Due to the fact that baseball practices and games require communication and problem-solving, children and adolescents can proactively learn what it takes to have a successful game. Accountability is another great skill that kids and teens learn to develop via sports participation, as it’s incredibly important to routinely show up to practices and games on time and ready to play.
Getting involved
Parents can encourage participation as well as foster a love for sports in multiple ways. In addition to participation in a school baseball program, community teams are another great way to get involved and set the stage for a fit and active lifestyle. However, it’s important to note that your child doesn’t have to sign up for the baseball team in order to reap the benefits of the sport — time spent on a classic game of catch can be a great way to get outside and spend quality time together as a family.
Another great way to foster a love of baseball is to help your child learn more about the sport’s history — especially when it comes to the prominent players of the sport’s past and present. Online resources that specialize in sports biographies shine a light on prominent baseball players and their individual stories, from the challenges they’ve faced to on-field accomplishments.
This can help foster an appreciation for those who have dedicated their career to the sport, and can be a great way for kids to gain inspiration (especially for those who may already have a special interest in sports).
Organized group sports present a variety of opportunities to children and teens alike. Mental and physical health benefits as well as the development of key life skills make sports like baseball even more attractive for parents who wish to encourage their children to lead a fit and healthy lifestyle.
