Why kids should play sports

By Ciara Wallace

A review of multiple articles shows that it is very important for kids to exercise everyday. There are many good ways to exercise but playing sports is a common one. Out of all the articles, the three proven reasons why kids should play sports is for the positive impacts it would have on their lives, the amazing health benefits on their bodies and it will make them smarter. For these reasons, I believe that all kids should play sports.

One of the main reasons a kid might consider playing sports is for the positive impacts it would have on their life. According to the article “Depression and anxiety: Exercise eases symptoms,” exercising can help fight depression and anxiety. Exercising will release feel-good endorphins which are natural mood lifters and can help you gain more self confidence. On top of that, it will also help you have more social interactions. Not only is it beneficial to play sports to create a positive impact on your life but it is also better for our bodies. 

Another reason a kid might consider playing sports is for the amazing health benefits it has on our bodies. According to the article with the title “Does exercise help you lose weight? The surprising truth,” exercising reduces body fat by burning more calories than you eat and then will need to burn your body fat instead. In addition another article called, “Physical activity: Benefits of exercise and wellbeing,” states that regular physical activity helps develop a child’s movement skills, helps bones become stronger and builds a healthy heart and strong muscles. Another thing the article said was that regular physical activity can help maintain a healthy body weight. Keeping our lives and bodies active are both very important reasons why kids should play sports but I believe that your education is equally as important.

Lastly, I believe that all kids should play sports because it makes you smarter. Physical activity promotes brain function. The article titled “Does playing sports make you smarter?” states that for a long time studies have shown that fit and physically active students perform better academically. Dr. James Sallis, a professor at the University of California San Diego, said, “Physical activity stimulates new neurons (brain cells), new connections among neurons, new blood vessels in the brain and better flow of neurotransmitters among brain cells. These improvements in structure throughout the brain lead to better function such as memory, attention and reasoning.”

In conclusion, I realize how difficult putting in the work, practicing hard and driving to games/practices/meets might seem. I admit that it is difficult at times but at the end of the day, the benefits of playing sports are monumental such as fighting depression/anxiety and boosting your self confidence, the health benefits your body will get and getting smarter. Because of this, my thoughts are that all kids should play sports.

Bibliography

“AboutKidsHealth.” AboutKidsHealth, www.aboutkidshealth.ca/article?contentid=641&language=english.

“Depression and Anxiety: Exercise Eases Symptoms.” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 27 Sept. 2017, www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/depression/in-depth/depression-and-exercise/art-20046495.

West, Hellen. “Does exercise help you lose weight? The surprising truth.” Healthline, 18 May. 2018, https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/does-exercise-cause-weight-loss#section1

Retter, Jen. “Does Playing Sports Make Kids Smarter?” ACTIVEkids, Active.com, 14 Sept. 2016, www.activekids.com/parenting-and-family/articles/does-playing-sports-make-kids-smarter.

Team, Realbuzz. “The Health And Fitness Benefits Of Sport.” Realbuzz 5, 14 June 2018, www.realbuzz.com/articles-interests/sports-activities/article/the-health-and-fitness-benefits-of-sport/.