How playing football can help children's development

How football supports your child's development

Research has shown there are many benefits of teaching football to children from the age of 3. Children develop fundamental movement skills between the ages of three and six, including skills such as; running, kicking, leaping, balancing, catching etc, which all play a vital part of their physical development. Teaching the children football provides them with the opportunity to develop these movements and skills, as well as supporting other areas of their development.

Playing football and learning the skills needed in the game enables children to communicate with others on a deeper level than they may normally. Many research projects show progression in children’s Personal, Social and Emotional Development and Communication and Language when learning how to play football. They are invited to develop their skills, support each other through-out each session, work as part of a team, play together, use their experiences, abilities and skills to work out how they can be the most effective as a collective unit, as well as participating in more involved conversations with others. Participating in a sports session such as football promotes children’s self-esteem, often giving them a sense of belonging and encourages them to think of others needs, feelings and thoughts. Giving children the opportunity to play and compete with others can have a huge impact on their confidence, even at a very young age. Football provides several opportunities to boost the children’s confidence by encouraging them to cheer for each other, clap for their friends, take on a responsibility (for example, being a goalkeeper in a penalty shootout) and by giving their teammates and the opposition team high-fives, all whilst having lots of fun.We hope to see the children's enthusiasm continue during these football sessions.