You’ve heard it before — sports are great for a child’s development. In this post, we thought it would be good to explain how basketball specifically can serve as a foundation for your son or daughter as they get older.

Here are five reasons to get your child involved in basketball:

Physical fitness

Let’s get the most obvious one out of the way first. Kids ages 6 to 17 need at least 60 minutes of moderate physical activity each day. Plus, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, children should engage in more intense exercise three days a week.

For many children, gym class and recess aren’t enough, which is why it’s important for parents to explore sports. A beginning basketball player will not only learn the intricacies of the sport such as dribbling, passing, and shooting, but they will also subconsciously incorporate frequent physical activity into their daily routines.

Motor skills

Basketball does more than just work up a sweat for your child. The earlier they start basketball training, the more your child’s motor skills will improve. Think about it — all that dribbling, passing, and pivoting serves as the perfect developer for those major muscle groups. Not to mention, their improved hand-eye coordination transfers to everyday activities.

Psychological development

Every child wants to feel part of a team. There’s no better way for your kid to develop psychologically than through team sports. Whether it’s during a practice or game, your child will encounter regular situations to communicate and use critical thinking skills to solve basic problems.

Of course, there’s also the whole “winning and losing” thing. The earlier a child can deal with the ups and downs of an entire season, the easier it will be for them to manage winning and losing in the real world. As a parent, you’ll quickly come to realize that the healthy competition of basketball is invaluable for your son or daughter.

Age considerations

Maybe your little one already has a love of basketball. They watch games with you at home, play whenever possible at school, and talk about it at the dinner table. In this instance, it makes sense to enroll your child in a youth basketball league as early as possible.

At Hoop Dreams Basketball Academy in Lexington, we are proud to offer camps and clinics for participants as young as 5 years old. We believe that the sooner your child has a sound basketball foundation, the more likely they will have success in their future years.

Fun

This is the main reason to get your child involved in basketball. As opposed to other team sports that require a bunch of expensive equipment, basketball requires just two things: a basketball and a hoop. We’re certain your son or daughter will fall in love with the fast-paced action, teamwork, and skills that are such a significant part of the game.

REGISTER FOR YOUTH BASKETBALL CAMPS IN LEXINGTON

Coach Mike Scott and the rest of the Hoop Dreams staff are all about helping your child grow their basketball skills. For more than a decade, Hoop Dreams has been geared around providing the best basketball instruction at an affordable cost.

Contact Hoop Dreams Basketball Academy today for more information.