According to the guidelines of the World Health Organization, children aged 5 to 17 should engage in at least 60 minutes of varied physical activity per day, and 5 times a week it is recommended that this includes 30 minutes of intense activity. Sport means health, so it is worth encouraging children to practice sports that interest them and bring them joy. What sports can children practice from an early age?

Swimming is a sport in which even newborns can thrive – after all, until recently, before birth, their daily environment was amniotic fluid. That is why you can take babies to the pool as early as just a few months old. While swimming comes quite intuitively to infants, conscious swimming lessons can begin at around the age of 5. Being in water brings both fun and numerous benefits. Water activities can be highly diverse, ranging from swimming techniques, diving, aerobics, to jumping into the water (all under the watchful eye of an instructor and parents). Swimming strengthens the spine, helps develop and maintain proper posture, enhances the respiratory system, and improves coordination of movement.

Martial arts are sports that play a significant role in teaching self-discipline, patience, composure, and respect. Contrary to appearances, martial arts have little to do with aggression – during training, children primarily learn self-defense, not attacking others. Martial arts help children control and channel negative emotions. Knowing the basics of martial arts gives them greater confidence and a sense of security. Benefits of practicing these sports include improved coordination, stronger muscles, and better physical fitness. Training, for example in karate, improves concentration skills, teaches focus, and nurtures determination.

Team sports are an excellent opportunity for children to learn cooperation with peers and develop interpersonal skills. The wide variety of team sports allows children to choose a discipline they feel most comfortable with. Volleyball, basketball, soccer – regardless of whether the child prefers kicking or throwing, they will have fun playing in a group, cooperating with others, and working toward a common goal, which is winning the match.

It is important that when choosing a sport for a child, parents avoid imposing their own will. Parents must be careful not to project their ambitions onto their children – it often happens that children attend extra classes because their parents want them to, while the children themselves would prefer to pursue something else. Talking to the child is essential, and it is worth seeking an activity in which the child feels comfortable – the first choice may not always be the right one, but perhaps the chosen sport could become a lifelong passion.

Sports and physical activity increase the risk of accidents and injuries – this is an inseparable part of training, and even minor scratches or bruises are an everyday occurrence for many athletes. For children practicing sports, it is worth purchasing Child Accident Insurance (NNW), so that in case of injury, you can use the policy to recover treatment costs or compensate for health damage.