Since early childhood, parents have always wanted their children to engage in some sort of physical activity or sports. It doesn’t really matter which activity they are involved in. From playing with friends, running around, or simply joining a specific sports team, all they expect from their child is to be physically active. After all, both sports and education play a huge role in a child’s development. At the same time, we know that education brings knowledge, but sports teach students life skills that are essential for their future.
From teamwork and leadership to accountability and patience, all these skills can be simply taught to children through sports activities in schools. Gladly, not just the parents but also present-day schools and educational institutions have understood the importance of sports. Finally, sports are not being seen as a mere extracurricular activity but are being regarded as an essential part of the whole education curriculum. In this blog, we will dig deeper to understand the significance of sports and discuss how schools are letting students actively participate in them. We will cover everything from sports day games and activities to their benefits. Let’s first discuss the importance of sports and what benefits they offer.
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Importance of Sports in School
Most people may probably know, but for those who are unaware, sports develop students’ physical and mental health. This is why sports activities for students have become mandatory in every institution. Let’s help you understand this concept for a few reasons.
1. Helps Students Stay Healthy
One of the biggest reasons schools should organize sports activities or sports day games is that they help students stay healthy. Physical activities help students increase their cardiovascular fitness. They also help increase bone density in growing children and make them more energetic and productive for the whole day.
2. Develops Leadership Skills
We all know how the future world is going to jump on our children, and as parents or educators, we surely want them to be able to tackle that. Certain sports activities require students to play in teams, and sometimes, they also have to play the role of leader. Knowing that they will have to lead a team and it’s their responsibility will likely boost their leadership qualities. It will also help them become good decision-makers.
3. Promotes Good Mental Health
Apart from physical fitness, sports can also help your child enjoy significant mental health benefits. Yes, regular physical activities can help reduce stress and anxiety levels and boost self-esteem among children. When students participate in sports, it also helps them develop perseverance and resilience, which are essential qualities that will help them deal with the challenges that will come later in their lives.
4. Teaches Social Skills
We all want our children to be socially active, right? Let them indulge in sports activities and see their social skills grow amazingly. Sports and education offer students an excellent opportunity to brush up on their social and communication skills. Participating in team sports can help them learn to work together with their peers and teach them how to resolve conflicts, communicate their thoughts, and more.
5. Discipline & Responsibility
Last but surely not least, sports help children learn discipline and move them towards taking responsibility. Playing sports helps a student with time management and discipline, which is specifically helpful for their personal growth. When learned early on, these skills translate into accountable behavior in academics and life.
Sports Day Game and Activities for Students
Now that you know the fantastic ways sports activities for students can contribute a lot to your child’s overall development, it’s time to dive into another concept that puts this concept in a fun way for the students in schools. You have probably heard of the term sports day in schools. It’s a special occasion for children, teachers, parents, and other school faculty to get together for competitive sports day games. Post the competitions, winners are allotted rewards, which are typically held in every school nowadays.
Sports Day is a great time for students to get involved in sports activities with their teachers and families. This way, they can learn how fun and rewarding this activity can be. While there are different sports day activities for primary and secondary schools, we will list some of the most prominent ones here. This section will share our favorite sports day activities that suit all pupils. Let’s dive in.
1. Egg & Spoon Race
Probably one of the most loved sports activities for a sports day is the egg and spoon race. In this game, the participants have to win a race while they balance a spoon with an egg on it. If the egg falls off the spoon, they are out of the race, and the one who completes it with the perfect balance is the winner.
2. Tug of War
Sports test brain function and body strength, so Tug of War is a sports day game that tests both. In this game, there are two teams, one end of the team tugging one end of the rope as hard as possible, and the second team tugging the same on the other. The team that successfully pulled the center of the rope past a decided mark wins the game. It is a fun game for both preschoolers and teen students as well.
3. Sack Race
Sack races are not only great fun to participate in, but they’re also frequently quite entertaining to watch. Each child will require a big bag to accommodate them, standing within it up to their waist. The next task is for them to attempt to jump their sack to the finish line first. It is a great fun sports activity in which both parents and children can get involved.
4. 500 Metre Run
Another prominent sports day game is a 500-meter run if your school has a racecourse available. All you have to do is ask the participants to run and reach the 500-meter goal. Count the correct number of laps around the course to find the right winner.
5. Hopscotch
Lastly, hopscotch is a unique sports day game that schools should consider. To play it, you only have to set up a hopscotch board by drawing it with chalk. Then, the children will take turns hopping in each square. This is a great activity that makes them move and practice coordination.
To Sum Up
At Pragyanam, one of the best CBSE schools in Gurgaon, our mission is to offer holistic education to our students. We endeavor to see that our students are academically sound and emotionally fulfilled.
So, this was a small gist about everything, be it the importance of sports, sports day and the different activities you can conduct. We know there’s so much more to everything we have discussed, but we are here to give you the gist of all the information you need regarding sports for your children. Finally, all we want to say is that nothing in the world can substitute or fill in the education sports give children. So, let sports be a considerable part of your child’s life and see them grow into fine, well-behaved human beings.
