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Is It Too Soon for Organized Sports?

   If you've ever watched a group of 4- or 5-year-olds playing soccer or teeball, you've probably seen a player or two stray away to pick flowers, do somersaults, or watch a plane pass overhead. Such behavior is typical for children of this age, who usually are not yet ready for organized sports.

   Somewhere between the ages of 6 and 7, most children develop the mental capacity to understand rules and focus on the game for more than a few minutes. They become more capable of working together as a team and gain the maturity necessary to deal  with defeat. But prior to this point in development, most young children are just not ready to play an organized sport.

   Pediatricians also have concerns about sports injuries to children.  Ask you child's doctor about the risks of a specific sport and whether your child is physically ready to play.

   Give some thought to your child's emotional development as well. Children vary widely in personality and emotional maturity, and you know your child better than anyone.  Involvement in organized sports before the child is developmentally ready can hurt their self-esteem and self-confidence.  Waiting a few years allows him time to develop the physical, mental, and emotional capacities necessary to play team sports. Meanwhile, many activities at school and at home lay the ground-work for team play.   

  At home, you can make a point of involving your children in tasks where cooperation is key, even simple two-person jobs like folding a sheet or using a dustpan. When kids hear "Good team-work!" or "We finished so quickly because everyone helped!" they see the value of working together.  Such participation will be helpful when it's time for external team sports.