Family Bond Paper™

   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...