Introducing Babies to Sports

Most of the world's sports champions developed their talents in their respective fields at an early age. Golf prodigy Tiger Woods began to play the game at the age of two. Tennis star Maria Sharapova started playing at age four, while basketball superstar Michael Jordan began developing his skills when he was only nine years old.

Taking these sports icons as inspirations, many mums and dads have now started enrolling their offspring in structured sports programs at the ages of three and four. If you are one of those parents who are dreaming of raising their own sports champions whose names will be praised and chanted by people, follow their lead and introduce your child to sports early.

As young as one to two years old, babies can already play sports. As a matter of fact, there are a number of sports games that young kids, who can barely speak a word, can enjoy playing. One of the best sports that you should consider enrolling your baby in is swimming.

While you might not feel too confident about swimming yourself, your baby can beat you in the pool. This is because children under one year old have a good natural reflex against water entry to their trachea. Their epiglottis, the cartilage flap that covers the wind pipe while drinking or swallowing, protects them from taking in water. Moreover, children grew in water conditions for nine months in the uterus, which would help them enjoy the familiar surroundings of water without fear.

Another sport that you might like to consider enrolling your baby in is football. While this may be a physically challenging activity, football is an interesting and learning-filled game for children. It can be played by toddlers as young as two years old. But what makes this game a great introduction for babies to sports is that it does not only allow children to exercise their bodies, but it can make them happier as well. The sport enables them to meet and competitively interact with other children their age. So let your child go out in the field and learn how to compete in sports.