Because Childhood is special, let’s celebrate play

The 12 lessons learnt via childhood badminton games

Badminton is a sport that is extremely beginner friendly. It welcomes people of all ages and backgrounds irrespective of their skill or physical fitness level. Another important factor is that it doesn’t require a lot of equipment for a full set-up. Often, rackets and shuttles are shared between siblings and friends.

Many of us have grown up playing badminton either outside or in local courts. It can be a great sport to enjoy playing solely for fun with family and friends. Undeniably, reaching advanced levels requires a lot more silks, technique, training and practice. However, the universal accessibility of the sport has made it one of the most popular sports in the world.

Here are some incredible reasons why badminton takes the #1 spot for kids.

1. A good way to inculcate an enjoyable physical activity. Kids get the benefits of playtime along with fitness to enhance good health.
2. A great outlet for energy that’s also safe. Badminton is not an excessively aggressive sport. It involves high-intensity activities like running & jumping yet demands smartness & tactics with refinement and poise.
3. Badminton is an indoor sport. Irrespective of the weather or season, it can be played all year round.
4. Badminton equipment is simple and affordable. All you need is a racket and a shuttlecock to get started.
5. The child has to be alert to keep par with the opponent(s), have an understanding of the rules and count shots to keep score. This improves mental understanding, coordination and basic maths skills.
6. It improves hand-eye coordination which in turn develops motor & cognitive thinking skills. It helps them to develop balance and speed while running and returning shots.
7. It improves their presence of mind as they must make the momentous decision of what to do and what not to do to score.
8. Children will be able to learn at a young age that wins and losses are subjective and never final. Even after missing a shot, they have to continue the game. Even if they fail in the first round, they can still win the second. It prepares them for the ups and downs in life.
9. Honesty and fair play are integral parts of sports and life. These early lessons and the open communication involved here plays an important role in the child’s long-term character development.
10. It gives them a glimpse into the competitive world of sports. While wins can lead to an adrenaline rush of happiness, losses inspire more hard work. Discipline is learned through these experiences of training and games.
11. There is a community formed through the social interactions that happen on the court. With other players or coaches, kids develop friendships and get mentors. This helps foster their social lives.
12. The love of movement, the achievement of tougher goals, the group wins, shared laughs, and memories created through games are often the most cherished moments. It gives them something to look forward to.

It is evident why kids love badminton. What are some reasons you love playing badminton?