学进去

Thinking of getting your child to take up a sport that involves (牵涉) a coach or instructor? Good news: A new study finds that children who take part in organized physical activity at a young age are less likely to have emotional difficulties by the time they turn 12.

“The elementary school years are a key time in child development, “said Frederic N. Brier, a psycho-education professor who led the study, published this month in Pediatric Research. “And every parent wants to raise a well-adjusted child. “

Researchers followed a birth group over time to examine whether continual participation in organized sport from 6 to 10 would lower risks related with emotional distress, anxiety, shyness, social pullback at the age of 12. Their goal was to test this question as critically as possible by eliminating (排除) pre-existing child or family conditions that could offer an alternative explanation.

To do this, Brier and his team examined data from a group of children born in 1997 or 1998 who are part of the Quebee Longitudinal Study of Child Development. From age 6 to 10, mothers reported whether their children participated in organized physical activity. At the age of 12, teachers reported on the children’s levels of emotional distress, anxiety, shyness, and social pullback at school.

“The results revealed that children who participated frequently from 6 to 10 showed fewer instances of those factors at the age of 12 than their peers who did not join in physical activity in a continual way, “said Brier. “We found these benefits above and beyond pre-existing individual and family characteristics.”

“Getting kids actively involved in organized sport seems to promote global development. This involvement appears to be good on a socio-emotional level and not just because of physical benefits. Being less emotionally distressed at the key stage between elementary and high school is a priceless benefit for children, as they are about to enter a much larger universe with bigger academic challenges. This research supports current parental guidelines promoting children’s involvement in physical activity, “Brier concluded.