Are Kids Overdoing Sports? How Much is Too Much?

By general definition, kids are free-spirited, active, and often have high amounts of energy to burn. A great way to help them exhaust the excess energy while keeping fit and engaged is through sports. And since kids love trying new things, finding the right sport could do wonders for their development and overall health.

However, a point of concern to note here is kids can overdo sports. That's right, while you may think your child is just trying harder or developing new interests, the sports they are engaging in can prove more harmful than beneficial.

How much sports is too much for kids, how can you identify overexertion tendencies in children, and what can you do about it? Read on to learn more about overdoing sports for kids.

Signs that your child is overdoing sports

One of the best and most effective ways to know if your young one is overdoing sports is by watching them. Certain early warning signs indicate your child may be doing too much in the sporting sector.

As a parent, by clearly understanding what to look for, you can save your child from overly engaging in sports that may harm them negatively and interfere with their growth and development.

Some of the top signs to look out for include the following;

• Bouts of depression

• Insomnia and poor sleep quality

• Extended recovery time required after injuries

• Poor immunity

• Exhaustion and fatigue

• Overuse injuries like tendinitis and stress fractures

How to prevent your child from overdoing sports

The downsides of over-engaging in sports are far more detrimental than any potential benefit. As a result, it's imperative to deter your kids from overexerting themselves in sports and exercising. These tips will help get your child to their recommended physical activity level.

1. Incorporate diverse activities

The risk of being involved in one sport is the child can overwork one set of muscles, leading to disproportionate growth patterns. To remedy this, you can enroll your child in activities that help a wide range of muscles and body parts.

Swimming is one of these diverse sporting activities. Swimming engages all body parts and muscles. Learn how many swim lessons are necessary for your child before enrolling them in swim lessons.

2. Encourage breaks

Most sporting activities have an annual schedule. When the activity is not in season, you can encourage your young one to take a rest and recuperate before the new season. During this time, they can try different activities or give the body time to heal from previous injuries.

3. Engage experts

A child expert is best suited to know the right sporting activity for your child. While you can still try common options like having your child take swim lessons, consulting a professional always helps. This still helps set the right level for your budding champion.

Ultimately, it is important to realize that kids need an active lifestyle throughout their formative years. This will not only help cultivate healthy and sustainable lifestyle habits, but it will also help them keep fit and develop properly.