What is the Best Sport for a Highly Sensitive Child?

What is the best sport for a highly sensitive child? That’s a common question parents of highly sensitive children (HSC) ask. Why? Because some sports simply don’t match highly sensitive characteristics.

Why Highly Sensitive Children, In Theory, Don’t Enjoy Some Sports

One trait of being highly sensitive is not enjoying being in the spotlight.

Your highly sensitive child may well not perform well under pressure – and that includes group pressure. In fact, a highly sensitive child may well feel overwhelmed playing in a sports team. Having to perform, particularly in front of a crowd, is just too much pressure for many highly sensitive children.

The competitive nature of some sports simply doesn’t tally with the needs of some highly sensitive children.

Some highly sensitive child struggle immensely with contact sports, finding them too physical, rough and aggressive. These are elements that feel uncomfortable for many highly sensitives.

Noise may also be a negative element for some children. If you think about how sound bounces around in a swimming pool or a gym hall then it’s easy to see why these environments may be uncomfortable for your child.

Your child may love swimming, just not in a busy pool.

Your child may love football (soccer to those of you in the USA) but not during the winter break when training moves inside to a gym (ask me how I know this….) because it’s a more intense experience.

These are some of the reasons why, IN THEORY, a highly sensitive child many not enjoy particular sports or activities. However, each HSC is different. Each child responds differently to different situations. Some HSCs thrive in a competitive team environment. Others prefer more solitary activities. Some kids, like one of my sons, enjoys both!

Many Factors Play a Part in Choosing the Right Sport for a Highly Sensitive Child

How your highly sensitive child takes to a sport can also come down to the trainer of a particular team or activity. If winning is the trainer’s only motivator then it’s likely to be the wrong team for your HSC. A strict trainer who shouts may not go down well with a HSC. It doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s the wrong sport for your child.

Right Sport, Wrong Team

My son changed his football team because of the team dynamics. The culture within the team and the failure of the trainers to tackle bickering and teasing meant that my son stopped enjoying football altogether. He switched teams and was back on track from the first training session with his new team.

Right Environment

One of my sons wouldn’t even consider joining a football team until we moved to a village and the one local youth team comprised classmates and his brother. The team was then a safe environment for him. So he joined the team and is now playing his third season. He is now with a bigger club, playing with boys he didn’t previously know. However, that initial step into football gave him the confidence and the boost to give a new sport a go.

Age

A child’s age plays a role in the best sports for them at any particular time. As a child gets older and understands themselves better they are more easily able to identify what it is about a particular sport they don’t enjoy.

A younger child may meltdown if you try any new activity at all. We tried judo with my son when he was five and it was a complete disaster. He screamed and cried from the moment he entered the changing room.

The same activity introduced months or years later may turn out to be the best sport for your highly sensitive child after all.

What Sport is Best Sport for a Highly Sensitive Child?

The answer is simple; a sport that your HSC enjoys and is interested in. The best sport for a highly sensitive child is one he or she feels safe doing.

Taking part in a sport or activity should never damage your child’s self-esteem.

As long as your child’s experience is positive then it is the best sport for them. And that, of course, differs per child.

It’s important that a child does some kind of physical activity. It may be a trial and error process to find the right activity. But that’s okay. Take your time.

If your child doesn’t enjoy team sports then encourage an individual activity. My eldest does archery. It’s not a sport that anyone else we know does but it is perfect for him – as long as he is allowed to do it for himself and he’s not forced into doing competitions.

There are many other individual sports to consider:

• hiking
• cycling
• swimming
• horse riding
• golf
• (free) running
• fencing
• self-defense class (great for confidence)
• yoga
• dance

Tips to Help a Highly Sensitive Child Take up a Sport

• Give a HSC time to warm up to a new activity. Let them watch the first lesson or training session. Or the first few. Let them get used to a trainer or teacher and the new environment. Don’t give up too early.

• Follow your child’s interests, not your own. You may love tennis but it doesn’t mean your child will. Let your highly sensitive child’s interests guide you as to the best sport for them.

• Steer your child away from choosing a sport because that is what is expected by peers. This is particularly relevant for sensitive boys and sports that are seen as ‘proof of masculinity’. Choosing a sport for this reason will have a negative impact on your child in the long run.

• Don’t cram your child’s agenda full of activities. A highly sensitive child needs lots of down time, particularly after a school day. Scheduling too many sports or activities will overwhelm your HSC and they may end up hating all sports! One of my sons turned out to be really good at korfball so we looked into him joining a local club. He is already doing football three times a week. We ultimately decided adding another sport would be too much for him. Sometimes you have to choose!

Over to You

What sports work best for your highly sensitive child? How have you decided which sports to try and which to give up on? I would love to hear your success stories – and your learnings along the ways!