It is important for children to begin physical activity at an early age, according to Dr. Scott Rosenfeld, a pediatric orthopedic surgeon at Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children’s Hospital. He emphasizes that early exposure to sports can help children develop habits that last into adulthood.
“The earlier kids are exposed to these activities, the more likely they are to make them a regular part of their lives,” said Rosenfeld, who is also a professor in the Joseph Barnhart Department of Orthopedic Surgery at Baylor.
Children can start with basic activities focused on coordination and balance in toddler gyms. As they reach school age, they often join organized sports such as baseball, softball, soccer, dance, or gymnastics.
Rosenfeld advises parents and family members to encourage and model active lifestyles for their children. He notes that early participation not only supports physical fitness but also helps children learn social skills and teamwork. “We don’t always win when playing sports, and that’s a hard lesson to learn – to lose – but it teaches kids how to deal with loss in a positive way and to win with character,” Rosenfeld said.
He recommends giving children opportunities to try different activities throughout the year so they can find what they enjoy most. Allowing free play at home or on playgrounds is also encouraged.
As children grow older and join leagues or school teams, Rosenfeld suggests continued involvement in multiple sports rather than focusing on just one. He explains that participating in various activities throughout the year can be beneficial even during off-seasons. Regular exercise under adult supervision is recommended.
“Participating in multiple sports or activities allows the development of other skillsets that not only contribute to overall growth in kids but can actually help them out in getting better at whatever they consider to be their primary activity,” Rosenfeld said. “If you look at high-end, elite athletes, many of them were two-sport or three-sport athletes as kids, like Patrick Mahomes, who is considered one of the best quarterbacks; he played football and baseball in high school.”
While youth sports have benefits, injuries are possible—especially overuse injuries from repetitive motions. “That can be really difficult on a growing skeleton as many of our muscles are attached to our skeleton through growing growth plates. When we go through these repetitive motions, it can put stress on those tendons where they plug into these growth plates. This can cause chronic injury that can lead to potentially long-term problems with those joints,” Rosenfeld explained.
Research indicates that limiting repetitive activity helps prevent injuries and long-term issues such as joint problems. For example, some centers recommend pitch count limits for young baseball players and suggest taking breaks from certain movements each year. Families should learn about common injuries related to specific sports and seek medical advice if their child experiences pain or difficulty during activity.
“Make sure that kids are at low risk for injury so they can perform at their highest level,” Rosenfeld said.
