Research shows participation in sport enhances children’s wellbeing

Children who take part in organised athletic activities between ages 6 and 10 are more likely to have enhanced emotional health by age 12. A study published by the Université de Montréal finds that children who play a sport at an early age are more equipped with the ability to be cooperative and collaborative, skills that are necessary in both school and adulthood. Linda Pagani, a researcher who worked on the study, says these attributes  help children develop social skills needed to navigate adolescence. Having these abilities can therefore prevent children and young people from social isolation and the possibility of an unhappy mental state. “It’s very important, especially in our ‘screen culture’,” Pagani says. “So much time [is spent] in front of their screens…they’re lax in terms of social interactions.” Read more here.