When you think about the benefits of sports for young children there are a few things that come to mind immediately: it teaches them discipline and keeps them active. However, there are many other benefits of putting your child in some sort of sports team or activity from a young age.

According to researchers at the Institute for the Study of Youth Sports at Michigan State University, kids who participate in organized sports do better in school, have better interpersonal skills, are more team oriented, and are generally healthier.

Participation in sports provides opportunities for leadership and socialization, as well as the development of skills for handling success and failure. It also introduces them to the idea of competition, but in a structured enough environment that the consequences of failure are cushioned.

In addition, it teaches children how rules work. They see that rules are needed to maintain order of the group and that the individual must accept and follow them to be a successful part of that group.