Nurturing Young Minds and Bodies Promotes Mental Health

by staff writer: Hannah Coyle

The mental wellbeing of our children requires an interlocking web of support, practice, and people. Consider adding some practices on the court, the field, at the gym, the track, or the pool!

Youth sports, from as young as T-Ball through college athletics, offer many ways for children and adolescents’ mental health to flourish – feeling united among peers, supported by adults, and engaged in exercise and movement. Sports and exercise can be more than mere games; they are pathways to holistic growth and resilience.

Emotions

Through sports, children learn the value of teamwork and perseverance. Though these skills will serve them in uniform, they’ll also provide bedrock social-emotional skills essential to optimal
mental health.

Whether a game or a race is won or lost, it’s a great time as a parent, caregiver, or coach to have an honest conversation about feelings. Acknowledge the emotions your youth may be expressing
and empathize with them. This is a moment for them to learn that there are no bad feelings, just different ones.

Peers

Teams, whether soccer or swimming, are often where children find their place. When a team of peers wins or loses together, they develop a sense of community and belonging. If children feel valued and accepted within the team, it may foster positive self-esteem and reduce feelings of isolation or loneliness.

Their team can also become a support network, building confidence and social skills, like communication, cooperation, and conflict resolution. They learn to work together towards common goals, building empathy and understanding in the process.

Movement

Exercise has been linked to increased mood and decreased stress, anxiety, and depression in adults. And it’s no different for children. Whether it’s running, swimming, or cartwheeling, exercise helps to reduce cortisol levels, the hormone associated with stress, thereby promoting a sense of relaxation and calmness.

We can also correlate exercise with a boost in cognitive function. Physical activity increases blood flow to the brain, which in turn improves attention, memory, and problem-solving skills. Regular exercise enhances neuroplasticity, the brain’s ability to form and reorganize neural connections, fostering optimal brain development.

Sleep quality and duration are also positive outcomes of exercise, for adults, children, and adolescents.

Choice

Organized sports may not be every child’s cup of tea. And that’s ok! As a parent or caregiver, you can work with your child to find other avenues to support their optimal mental health, get them moving, and in spaces to develop their teamwork and social-emotional skills. Think outside the box. Consider hiking, biking, theater, dance, sailing, or even hopscotch in the driveway.

For more ways to promote the optimal mental health of our youth, visit macmh.org/resource/ways-to-promote-optimal-mental-health.