Sports Classes for Toddlers?

Sheila Whitlow, owner of WEST, Soccer Tots, ‘Lil Sluggers and Hoopster Tots talks about the benefits of sports classes for toddlers and preschoolers.

Soccer for 18 month olds?  Baseball for 2 year olds?  Basketball for 3 year olds? Some people think it’s crazy to introduce sports to children that young, but there are so many advantages, beyond just learning about sports.  Successfully teaching sports to young children involves learning through play and imagination.  To them, it’s about having fun.  To parents, it’s about developing sports skills.   The right programs achieve both goals, along with many other benefits, such as:

• Build athletic ability
• Develop motor skills
• Acquire social skills
• Create self confidence
• General fitness and exercise
• Prepare for later participation in competitive leagues

What should you look for in a sports program for children four years old and under?  The games and activities should be non-competitive and not too challenging, so that every participating child can achieve success, no matter how small the objective.  Class sizes and coach/player ratios should be small to ensure each child receives plenty of acknowledgment and positive reinforcement from the instructor.  Each child should get many, MANY opportunities for “touches” on the ball and every individual should have access to their own ball for the class (as opposed to sharing one or two balls among many kids).   There also shouldn’t be too much taking turns or downtime, which can result in disinterest or boredom.

Above all else, the child should leave the class with a sense of accomplishment and a smile on their face, which is, of course, the best indication of a great class.