Something that isn’t discussed or noticeably spoken about when it comes to children and football lessons is mental health. Football has apparent physical benefits, however, the correlation between football and children’s mental health is often unspoken about.
Recent studies have shown the link between the beautiful game and mental illness, showing promising results. In fact, if we speak about football as exercise, it promotes wellbeing both physically and mentally in everyone, and that includes children.
As we are aware regularly playing football is a fantastic way of keeping physically fit but this article looks at ways football lessons can improve children’s mental health.
How Does Football Help A Child’s Emotional Development?
Mental health is a global issue that needs attention, and children’s mental health is no different. At Kixx, we play an active part in promoting wellness, helping children to be active which hopefully stays with them for their lifetime.
If you’re a parent of a young child reading this, we’d love you to pay attention to the next part of our blog. We discuss the positive effects on mental health that playing football can achieve.
Football Promotes Social Activity & Life Skills
Being part of Kixx is a great place for children and adults to make friends. Especially those outside of their usual social circles. It can also provide the opportunity for more introverted and shy children to feel more comfortable in social situations.
Being part of a football academy means that children must learn to work together and care for one another on and off the pitch. This can increase children’s’ empathy towards one another, whilst improving their own self-esteem knowing that they can depend and rely on their teammates, which again is important in life off the pitch.
Exercise Eases Mental Health
Regular exercise is beneficial to mental health. When you combine this with football’s teamwork and social aspects, you have a potent weapon against depression, anxiety, tension, and low self-esteem.
Physical activity has been demonstrated to relieve depression symptoms as effectively as prescribed medication, without the potential side effects. Regular exercise can also help treat severe, long-term mental illnesses, including depression and schizophrenia.
Football is contagious with fun, happiness and laughter!
Football Builds Confidence
The previous points all lead up to this, confidence. Teamwork, happiness, sense of involvement, and meeting new people, you get a chance to do it all whilst playing football. Mental health problems often lead to a reluctance to socialise and meet new people.
It’s clear that football eliminates all of the possibilities and promoting this to your children from a young age is important. We understand children doubt themselves or over-stress in situations, but automatically you will see these issues ease and resolve.
Emotional Control In Training, Games And Life
The competitive element of all sports can sometimes be a rollercoaster of emotions. And as time goes on and players experience more things on the pitch, they will begin to better control certain emotions.
For instance, when players experience bad performances or losses they should learn how to bounce back from defeat without dwelling. This can be carried into general life as players will learn how to better deal with more negative emotions to a certain extent.
All of this helps build resilience within a player as they know not to fear failure and setbacks. Instead, understand that they can learn from them.
Conclusion
Football is a sport that requires lots of communication and teamwork. This means children are placed in an environment where they can freely express their emotions, and this helps improve their personal confidence.
Sports can help boost social inclusion and encourage citizenship whilst also encouraging a child’s natural leadership abilities.
Kixx is a football academy that provides football lessons and recognises many benefits of sports and in particular football. Our sessions are created and delivered by professional sports coaches who have a passion for working with younger aged children. That means we provide the best coaching, the best care, and have the most fun.
Kixx: Football Academy
Our goal at Kixx is simple: To positively impact a children’s life at every opportunity.
Our football academies are centred around physical and social development through the enjoyment and fulfilment of the world’s most popular sport, football.
Children’s football classes are intended to be fun, creative, age-appropriate, and high in energy.
Every Football Academy at Kixx is an opportunity for your children to make friends. Our football classes for kids have been carefully designed for both; boys and girls aged 18 months to 10 years.
Located throughout the United Kingdom, find your nearest academy or contact us to learn more about our children’s football. You can call us on 01302 618080 or email us at admin@kixx.org.uk
Visit our blog page if you want more details, guidance, and tips.
