Bruce Dias 
Sports have long been recognized as providing more than just physical activity. Whether you opt for a solo venture or the support of a team, sports can provide a platform for personal growth and emotional resilience in a community setting.
Children who face trauma can end up with a lot of physical and emotional aftereffects. This could be caused by neglect, a serious accident, loss of loved ones, and even natural disasters. Enrolling traumatized children in sports may be able to aid in their recovery. Some sporting clubs do require a financial output, so speak to professionals to see if there is any helpย you may be entitled to.
Psychological Benefits Of Sports Participation
One of the hardest parts of trauma to tackle in children is the physiological effects. Depending on the child, they may be experiencing PTSD, anxiety, depression, or other complex emotions.
Taking part in sports can allow children to express themselves in a safe environment. For example, a child who is feeling trauma-related rage may enjoy a more physical sport, such as martial arts or boxing, which allows a physical release as well as a sense of control.
Forming social connections is another benefit of sports that may not be obvious. Creating friendships with like-minded people can help kids feel a sense of support and community that is separate from their trauma.
Physiological Effects
Sometimes trauma can be physical, so needing rehabilitation is common. Whilst you will likely work with a physiotherapist, they may be able to suggest specific sports that can complement their treatment plan. Swimming, for example, is low-impact and good for moving joints that have been damaged.
There are cases where children have physical symptoms of mental disorders caused by trauma. Participating in sports has been proven to helpย reduce these symptoms, which helps lead to a calmer mind and time to process.
Building Resilience And Coping Skills
Taking part in sports offers lifelong lessons such as resilience, perseverance, and problem-solving. You may find your child wants to keep practicing long after the session is over or takes time to strategize new moves or plays in their free time. By focusing on their performance and challenging themselves, they will learn how to apply these skills in later life.
Working with mental health professionals will help traumatized children apply their newfound resilience to any triggers they may experience. This allows them to cope with difficult situations a lot easier and without getting overwhelmed.
Creating A Safe And Supportive Environment
Sporting environments should be a safe and supportive place for all participants, regardless of trauma. When looking at enrolling your little one into sports, consider the coaching team. Ideally, you will want someone who is well-versed in trauma-informed coaching.
You should also consider the physical abilities of your child. If they have physical limitations then you need to think about any adaptations they may need. Again, this may cost a bit of money if you need specialist equipment so make sure you have all the funding you are entitled to.
