Parents

Kids & Sports

Kids & Sports

Help your child stay active and have fun.

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Getting Started

Whether kids want to do sports, need some encouragement, or prefer non-team activities, here are some things to know:

Signing kids up for sports

Getting kids to be active

The benefits of strength training
The Mental Game

There's a lot more to sports than exercise. Young athletes should also know how to:

Be a good sport

Stay cool during competition
Taking Care of Your Athlete

Staying strong is the name of the game. Help kids:

Get a sports physical

Eat well

Stay hydrated

Build strong bones

Concussions

Learn about concussions and how to prevent them.

What's a concussion?

Preventing concussions

Concussions factsheet for teachers
Knee Injuries

Ligaments connect bones to each other. But sometimes the ligaments can tear.

ACL tears

MCL tears
The Risks of Steroids, Supplements & Sports Drinks

Read what our experts have to say.

Steroids

Sports supplements

Sports drinks & energy drinks

How Broken Bones Heal

Repetitive Stress (Overuse) Injuries

Repetitive stress injuries (RSIs) happen when movements are repeated over and over.

Repetitive Stress Injuries

Learn how RSIs happen and how doctors treat them.

Repetitive stress injuries
Running & Jumping Injuries

Doing the same movements over and over can stress the knees. Read about 2 common knee injuries in teens.

Jumper's knee

Runner's knee
Stress Fractures

A stress fracture is a tiny crack in a bone. It usually happens from repeating the same movement over and over.

Stress fractures
Other Common RSIs

There are many kinds of RSIs. Here are some that can happen in young athletes.

Osgood-Schlatter disease

Sever's disease

Shin splints

Safety Tips for Popular Sports

Frequently Asked Questions

There are 3 keys to motivate your kids.

Read about them
You have other options to boost fitness. It can take several tries before kids find an activity that feels like the right fit.

Get ideas
Find out why they want to quit and decide what to do as a family. This can be an important life lesson.

Learn more
Sports-related concussions are becoming more common in kids and teens. Find out how to keep your child safe.

Words to Know

A KidsHealth Education Partner Note: All information is for educational purposes only. For specific medical advice, diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor.