Promoting
healthy activity
for kids who
shy away from
organized sports
BY COURTNEY MCGEE
I n an era where family schedules are
jam-packed, there is so much busyness
in the name of being active. Why do
parents sometimes feel as though a child
who isn’t on a sports team is missing
out on an experience compared to their
peers? Not all kids enjoy organized sports,
and that’s OK!
Some kids find participating in team
sports to be a source of anxiety and
intimidation. “Competition and comparison
of themselves to peers can contribute to
anxiety and fear of failure,” says Maria
Kanakos, Psy.D., clinical psychologist and
co-founder of FamilyFirst Psychological
Services in Vienna, Virginia. What’s most
important is finding the right outlet for
healthy movement.

“Regular physical activity is proven to
have tremendous benefits for children and
teens. It activates natural endorphins that
decrease stress and negative emotions,
and it strengthens immunity,” adds Kelly
Theis, Ph.D., also a clinical psychologist
and co-founder at FamilyFirst. “It develops
persistence, frustration tolerance and
self-esteem.” Building habits for a lifetime
“Adults actually learn fitness from their
activity base as youth,” explains Ryan
Gadow, senior vice president of
membership experience for
The Y in Central Maryland.

“If they haven’t engrained
a sense of activity at a young
age, it becomes harder as
they become older to keep
up with that fitness level.”
He stresses connecting
kids with something
they can maintain
over their lifetimes.

Moving BEYOND THE
22 Washington FAMILY APRIL 2022
TEAM



“Regular physical activity is proven
to have tremendous benefits for
children and teens. It activates
natural endorphins that decrease
stress and negative emotions, and it
strengthens immunity.”
KELLY THEIS
co-founder, FamilyFirst Psychological Services
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