Sports activity is conducive to psychophysical balance, especially if practiced since childhood, and offers a wide range of benefits also for emotional and social development, which will continue into adulthood. In short, what the ancients affirmed through the mantra mens sana in corpore sano, which comes to mind every time we talk about sports and, hopefully, we see our children lying on the sofa at home watching TV or playing with their smartphone.
The physical benefits of sports practiced since childhood
The World Health Organization recommends, for children and adolescents between 5 and 17 years old, at least 60 minutes of physical activity a day to obtain benefits and stay healthy.
Regular physical exercise stimulates children’s growth, improving their muscle development, strength and physical endurance. Those who practice sports from an early age have greater motor skills, such as hand-eye coordination, balance and general coordination. Furthermore, physical activity promotes cardiovascular and respiratory health, positively influencing blood circulation; lung capacity is thus increased and the risk of future heart disease is consequently reduced. These are benefits that over 22.5% of young people in Italy do not enjoy, due to an inadequate level of physical activity.
But the benefits of sport are not limited only to physical well-being, which also includes controlling body weight, but participation in an athletic activity also has an impact on the emotional development of children, providing them with important skills and values that will accompany them into adulthood. In this aspect, schools often come to our aid, when they offer engaging extracurricular courses to propose to children, as in the case of Kinder – the first international school in Bologna, where sport is not just free time, not even just a space to let off steam, but discipline, teamwork, communication, strategy, and a challenge with oneself.
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Physical activity for children is essential for emotional development and self-esteem
By playing sports and achieving personal goals, children also improve their self-esteem and confidence in their abilities, and are encouraged to develop a positive vision of themselves. Facing challenges teaches them to learn to manage defeats and increases the ability to deal with difficulties in life.
Furthermore, there is better management of stress and anxiety, because physical exercise releases endorphins, brain chemicals, which induce a feeling of well-being and reduce stress and anxiety in children. And all this translates into an improvement in mood, with a reduction in potential symptoms of depression.
Even the social development of children benefits from playing sports
At Kinder – the first international school in Bologna, inclusion and acceptance of diversity and intercultural understanding are also taught. Here, sport teaches children to work on a team, to collaborate with others, to respect teammates and the rules of the game, developing leadership and communication skills, as well as teaching them the importance of fair play and loyalty.
Not to forget the important social networking, practicing a sport has always offered the opportunity to make new friends and build social networks, both within the team and through sporting and community events.
Inside the Kinder College structure, since children need to experiment to understand and choose the sport that is best for them, in the early years, they are given the opportunity to try and easily change activities, so that they can focus on what could become their passion. The sporting activities divided between football, basketball, fencing, kung fu, judo, artistic and rhythmic gymnastics, take place in the afternoon inside the college structure, both on the outdoor grass field and in the equipped gym of the College.
Do you want to see the spaces dedicated to physical activity inside Kinder – the first international school in Bologna? We are waiting for you every day! Fill out the form now and book your visit, because every day is an open day for us!
