WAURIKA -- (Note: Area youngsters are about to hit the diamonds for summer baseball and softball. Good time to repeat this piece about what kids' say they hope to get out of the experience.)

One of the neat things about young kids is that they'll usually tell you what they want and what's important to them.

Granted, some things youngsters think are vital to their lives are things adults know from experience are unnecessary, counter-productive and/or dangerous. But when the topic is what children hope to get from organized sports, if adults will listen, the kids will tell us.

Three years ago, Baylor University's Health, Human Performance and Recreation Department released results from a survey of 6,000 youngsters in the lowest levels of youth sports, kids 6 to 8 years of age, who were involved in baseball, softball, football and soccer.

Asked why they play sports, the overwhelming response from the young'uns was: f-u-n. In fact, 62 percent of the children surveyed said "To have fun" was their main reason for participating.

Read on...

Jeff Kaley

April 17, 2009

Waurika News-Democrat