5 Mistakes Parents Make When Choosing a Sport for Their Children

28 de octubre de 2025

3 min de lectura

Motor skills, activity, socialization — the benefits of sports can be listed endlessly. But only if you take responsibility for the organization of the process. What mistakes do parents make when sending their children to sports clubs and schools and how to avoid them?

Puntos clave

Motor skills, activity, socialization — the benefits of sports can be listed endlessly.
Not consulting a pediatrician
Not taking into account the child's characteristics

Para quién es

Personas que exploran Pediatría a través de sports, fitness.

Por qué importa

Este artículo te ayuda a orientarte rápidamente y luego avanzar a una colección o serie si quieres seguir profundizando.

Autor del artículo

Dr. Stephen

Doctor en Fisioterapia

Not consulting a pediatrician

Before enrolling a child in any sort of organized exercise or sport, it is important to first consult the child’s pediatrician. A complete examination should show what kind of training will be helpful for the child and any limitations or exercises to avoid that the parents should be aware of.

While physical exercise is always important, not every child is well suited for every type of exercise or sport. Fortunately, it is now possible to choose physical activity while taking into account almost any health condition. The decision of whether a child can play a particular sport should be made by a doctor, since parents sometimes tend to go to extremes, exaggerating or downplaying associated risks.

Not taking into account the child's characteristics

The second thing to consider is the physique and athletic potential of the child. Experts often use the scheme of Stefko-Ostrovsky, which distinguishes four basic types: asthenoid, thoracic, muscular, and digestive. And different sports are suitable for each type. This does not mean that a child is limited in what he or she can do.

However, with age, it can impose certain restrictions, and thus generate unnecessary complexes. Psychological qualities are no less important because each child’s temperament is different. Stoic and shy children are better in team sports or doubles, while those who are more energetic and aggressive are better at individual sports and martial arts.

Not listening to the child’s input

What does this have to do with the child’s health? Simply put, if he or she is not going to enjoy the sport, nothing good will come of it. When parents have a history of playing a sport, there is a great temptation to direct their child to it.

And this approach makes sense: 75–80 % of strength, endurance, and speed are genetic. But it works only when the sport is interesting to the child and he or she is ready to make an effort to achieve results. Pay attention to what the child enjoys doing, and let him or her try different activities and sports to experiment.

Enrolling your child in sports too early

The desire to enroll children in sports at a very young age is real for some parents. However, it is better for children to engage in less-structured play, such as on the playground, for the first five years of their lives. Enrolling children in youth sports at very young ages can have more risks than benefits.

In rhythmic gymnastics and figure skating, it is recommended to enroll children at 6 years old or later. Tennis and swimming can start at 7 years old, soccer can start at 8 years old, skiing and hockey can start at 9 years old, and boxing can start at 10 years old.

Not taking care of the child’s individual needs

Playing sports requires adherence to a daily regimen. It is important when and how a child eats and sleeps, and how much time he or she spends on lessons and other extra activities. Children themselves are not able to manage all of this on their own.

It is also important to take into account how much time it will take to get to the place of training. Yes, some parents are ready to take their children any distance to practices and games. However, this can lead to overexertion and illnesses. Try to find sports activities closer to home for your child.

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