Healthy Habits for Girls

Everyone benefits from healthy habits. Watching my little nieces grow up has reinforced my belief that healthy habits are best taught at an early age. Encourage your girls to join in the fun. Teach your daughters the value of sports in lives of girls.

* Healthy head start. Girls should be encouraged to get involved in sports and physical activity because they can reduce the likelihood of developing a number of health-related conditions. In addition, sports help build important social skills such as determination, cooperation and problem solving.
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* Boost self-esteem. Exercise and sports participation offers girls positive feelings about body image, improved self-esteem, experiences of competency and success and increased self-confidence.
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* Benefit of mind and body. Exercise and sports participation can enhance the physical and mental health of adolescent females.


* Relieve stress and the blues. Physical activity can help reduce symptoms of stress and depression among girls.


* Higher education. Sports are educational assets. Many high school female athletes report higher grades and standardized test scores and lower dropout rates, and are more likely to go on to college than their non-athletic counterparts.


* Live longer and healthier. Regular physical activity in adolescence can reduce girls' risk for obesity, which can lower adult onset of heart disease, osteoporosis and certain cancers. Research proves physical activity can improve quality of life.

Ten Tips To Find The Right Sports Program In Your Area

Childhood and adolescence are the best times to lay the foundation for healthy habits and lifelong physical activity. Playing sports can significantly help girls through challenging periods and set the tone for a healthy adult life.

Unfortunately too many young people, especially girls, are not active enough. Here are some practical tips on steps you can take to get involved in your local community and encourage girls to reach their full potential:

1. Contact your local school. Take advantage of sports programs offered by your local school and sign up to play! School-based sports programming is a terrific way for girls to get involved in sports at an early age. If programs are limited, work with the school board or PTA to develop a program for the next season.

2. Research programs offered by your local park district. Park districts are a great resource for organized sports programs and activities. They offer a wide variety of classes that can augment involvement in school-based sports and keep girls active year-round.

3. Call local sports teams to learn about programs they offer. Many professional sports organizations host special clinics, camps and tournaments run by coaches and players. Contact local teams to learn about dates and times of these activities or check your local newspapers for ads and information.

4. Contact local YWCA/YMCA, Boys & Girls Clubs or other youth organizations. These community-focused organizations sponsor a number of competitive and recreational leagues. Often, these leagues are organized to meet the needs of s variety of skill and age levels.

5. Take a lesson. Individual and group lessons are an ideal way to learn the basics or improve skills. Consider enrolling the entire family in a group lesson as a way to integrate sports into family life.

6. Sign up for a summer camp. Contact summer camps specializing in a specific sport instruction. Camps are a great place to learn about teamwork Consider enrolling with friends to make it more fun.

7. Team up with parents coaches and teachers. Work together to inspire girls to participate in a wide range of activity and ensure your community offers sufficient programming. Networking is an effective way to identify opportunities to get involved.

8. Join a health club. Health club memberships offer the flexibility to engage in numerous physical activities such as aerobics and swimming. In addition, many clubs offer private instruction.

9. Enroll in Girl Scouts or other similar organizations. These community-based, girl-focused organizations can play an important role in motivating girls to participate in health-related fitness activities that build motor skills for a lifetime of activity.

10. Check out books and videos from the library.

Libraries are home to thousands of books and videos on almost every sport. You can pick up books and videos on sports instruction, or even books that showcase the careers of players.

Encourage your girls to adopt healthy habits at an early age.