I decided to write this article because I would like most parents or future parents who happen to read it, to benefit from the paradigm of a person who practiced performance sports as a child, especially if they did not have chance or openness to do so.
I will build on the question: why should I take my child to sports? Let’s first list the costs of this activity. As a parent, depending on the sport you choose with your child, you will need to take the time to help him or her move to the gym for a while, to invest in sports equipment, to pay various registration or participation fees, to support him morally, to understand him and to help him to overcome the difficult moments, to help him maintain a balance between sports – school and childhood activities. Do you find it complicated? Believe me, it’s probably the smartest investment of time, energy and money you can make for your child.
Let me tell you how performance sports worked for me. And we will not only treat the period of childhood, but especially the period that followed. The first and most important element that I assimilated in the 8 years of performance handball, can be generically called education. And you’re probably wondering, but isn’t that why he goes to school? The answer to this question can probably be dealt with in another article, but at least for me, the continuation of the education I received during the 7 years at home, was unfortunately not entirely done at school. Rather, from sports I learned what respect really means, I learned how to win, I learned what it means to work, I learned what it means to lose, I understood what it means to win as a team, I learned what it means to push yourself, I learned what it means to have someone to protect your back, I understood the value of human relationships and most importantly, I learned that apart from God, I am solely responsible for what I can or cannot do.
During childhood, all this seemed insignificant at school, in the pattern built by the education system in Romania where these skills were not cultivated or stimulated. But if we make a leap into the future, by the time I entered the labour market, everything is starting to connect. All the knowledge I gained from books or courses seemed to be connected to and amplified by the skills acquired during adolescence in the sports context. Unfortunately, it wasn’t the school that taught me to find the solution that no one else thought of, it wasn’t the school that taught me that when you can’t, you can do about 10 more reps, but sports. That’s why, in my opinion, sports, and especially team sports, can play an extremely important role in character formation.
A second equally important factor is the joy that sport offers you. Think of your childhood in front of the block playing football or any other game with many other children. Isn’t this an activity that more and more parents have been regretting lately? They’re not saying it’s not like they used to be. That’s right, but there are still solutions. It is important for the emotional development of children to have activities that bring them joy in childhood. Keep that in mind. I was extremely lucky and I say it with my hand on my soul. I have collected so many memories in those 8 years that I would never be able to thank all those who made that period possible.
And the third element that I consider very important to understand from an early age: the ability to make sacrifices or resilience as it is called more recently. At that time, I understood that in order to be the best in the country I had to give up time with my friends or other fun activities. I understand that I have to be disciplined even if it’s not so comfortable. I understand that in order to enjoy the best things you have to work constantly. I understood that this is how you find out how much you want something. Here, too, I learned to overcome failures, and I even learned to appreciate them. After all this, my decision to become an entrepreneur doesn’t seem so surprising anymore, does it? Under this element, injuries must also be mentioned. Yes, performance sports mean constantly pushing the boundaries, which can sometimes lead to injuries. That was my case. A knee injury forced me to end my career as a athlete.
Well, in addition to all these benefits, I did not cover the health benefits, both physical and mental, that sport strengthens. I think it’s self-evident and I don’t need to explain.
In conclusion, I would like to touch on one more point, especially dedicated to parents who want their children to compete in mathematics Olympics in grades 1-12. First of all, they can be performance athletes who are also Olympians in mathematics, I had colleagues. However, it is quite unlikely that there will be many. In conclusion, dear ones, please understand that a child needs first of all balance in childhood. Then he needs to discover as much as possible with your help and choose what he likes. Don’t try to make your children achieve what you failed to become, I’ve seen enough examples and it’s not good.
Take your kid to sports!
