6 Benefits of Promoting Sport in the School Curriculum

Sports and Education: The Benefits of Sports in the School Curriculum

School is an essential part of childhood - and it teaches kids how to grow, develop and prepare for adult life.

We take a look at the benefits of sports in school - how can we better support the next generation?

Sports are beneficial at any age - let’s take a closer look

From the ages of 4 to 18, kids will spend the majority of their days at school. It's where they learn the basics - as well as more advanced concepts to support their lives as adults.

It's also the place where kids will forge friendships, make lifelong connections and learn how to socialise - and some additional elements of the school curriculum are worth promoting, such as arts and sports.

The Sporting Blog shares 6 key benefits of promoting sport in the school curriculum.

1. It Creates a Lifelong Passion for Sport

Sport is an excellent way to connect with fellow humans, whether that's watching a game on TV with friends and family or heading out to see a match in person.

You don't have to have a sports journalism degree to be passionate about sports!

Those who follow the same team will bond over a shared passion for their favourite players and can chat for hours about plays, counterplays and legendary moments in the sport.

By promoting sport in the school curriculum, teachers can engender a lifelong passion for sport that will benefit children as they mature into adults.

2. Sport Improves Self-Esteem

Participating in school sports as part of the curriculum can improve kids' self-esteem and help them feel more positive about themselves.

Physical activities help children develop the social skills to work well with others, make new friends easily and learn how rewarding it is to participate in team sports.

Sports help children build their self-esteem and feel more confident

Scoring a point or goal can also be invaluable for self-esteem and self-worth.

Seeing how an individual contribution can impact the team's overall success can be empowering for children and can make them feel part of the wider school community.

The self-confidence and self-esteem children gain from participating in sports will have a positive impact on other areas of their lives, such as their academic pursuits and personal relationships.

3. Sports Build Social Skills

Encouraging children to play sports as part of the school curriculum will assist children in learning social skills, as well as building and maintaining positive relationships with other teammates.

Sports can also help kids learn how to engage in friendly competition without being a sore loser or a gloating winner, with some help from their peers and teacher.

Team sports provide an excellent opportunity for children to practice working with others towards a common goal, helping them to develop leadership and communication skills.

Working together as a team encourages cooperation - and it can build and strengthen people skills.

It also teaches effective problem-solving and allows students to experience success as individuals and as part of a collective effort.

Celebrating a victory or commiserating a loss is a shared experience for everyone.

4. It Encourages a Healthy Lifestyle

Regular participation in physical education and sports helps school-aged children learn the importance of activity as part of a healthy lifestyle - and it can encourage kids to find a balance in life.

In addition, having sports on the school curriculum helps children become physically active adults, as they can learn about the many benefits of exercise for developing a healthy body and mind.

Children may decide to get involved in extracurricular school sports clubs after enjoying sports as part of the curriculum.

This can encourage healthy eating habits, as kids will begin to understand how different foods impact their energy and overall well-being.

You can see this positive impact later in life, as children start to understand the importance of a healthy, balanced diet.

5. Sports Can Improve Mental Well-Being

Encouraging children to play team sports like cricket is brilliant for their physical health, but it can also improve mental well-being.

Sports and physical education, as part of the school curriculum, can help kids take a break from stress, whether they’re concerned about academic pressure, social relationships or home life.

School sports allow children to focus on having fun and enjoying the moment with their teammates, without focusing on anything else.

Sports encourage kids to come together and forget about their stress

Regularly scheduled sports can also improve concentration throughout the rest of the school day.

Physical activity has been proven to increase dopamine, serotonin and norepinephrine in the brain - and these vital neurotransmitters impact a child’s ability to concentrate on tasks like academic learning, tests and exams.

Sports at school can help students beyond the benefits of physical education, improving their ability to learn and grow.

6. Sports Build a Sense of Community

One of the excellent benefits of participating in sports as part of the curriculum at school is that kids will develop friendships with other children - and there are lots of social benefits of children’s sports clubs.

Kids will engage with different people compared to their daily school life - and they can get used to varied social settings.

They can bond with others over their shared interest in a particular sport, whether you want your kids to get into tennis, football, swimming, cricket, rugby or hockey.

Participating in regular sports activities outside of school helps students feel part of a community of peers, especially if they play in competitive tournaments or social games.