During a game last season, I had a parent ask me; Is baseball good for kids? 
It just so happened that her child had unfortunately just been hit by a pitch and was crying.
So I told her that while this kind of incident does happen from time to time, the benefits of playing baseball are indeed numerous.
After we got her kid to calm down some and the crying stopped, the boy told his Mom that he was just fine. When we asked him if he wanted to sit out for the rest of the game, he said; “No way! It’s fine!”
I suppose that the point of this article will be that you can get hurt doing just about anything, so do something you love!
So, is baseball good for kids?
First of all, let me begin by telling you that I have 2 kids who still play baseball, 1 who has moved on to softball and 1 who has grown up and moved out, but who is still involved with everything that we do as a baseball family.
I have been around the game my entire life and have coached kids on a regular basis for 20+ years.
While a lot of what your kid will take away from their experience of playing will have a lot to do with the kind of person their coach is, they will undoubtedly learn many lessons that they will carry with them throughout their lives.
Here in this post, I will go over some of the valuable things they will gain, and hopefully answer the question; Is baseball good for kids?
Why I believe baseball is good for kids, and you too!
Family
If you have gotten to know me a little bit through this website, you will know that I put a very high value on family.
One of the greatest things about baseball is that it is a sport that allows the whole family to be involved.
From the initial purchase of their first glove, baseball becomes a love affair that is easily shared with each other. Showing your kid how to break in a baseball glove is an experience that I love to share with my kids.
And then there’s that first time they actually catch a ball, or the first time they throw it all the way to you. These are moments that create a bond between you and your kid that lasts a lifetime.
Then comes the first time they actually get a hit! The smile on their face is irreplaceable. And the first home run, just awesome!
Baseball lovingly becomes a family affair that never goes away and it is something that your family holds in common forever.
Character
While some kids are what I like to call “Naturals,” for the rest of us it takes a lot of practice.
I remember how much some kids struggled to hit a ball. But when they finally get it, there is a feeling of pride and accomplishment that a kid feels that is unmatched.
They are learning that if they put in the effort through learning and practice, they can accomplish anything in life.
Going back to the kid who got hit by a pitch last season; while he had some fear of being hit by the ball for a few games, after learning how to move out of the way and turning away from the ball properly, he overcame his fear and went on to be one of the best hitters on the team.
Failing over and over, and then becoming successful through perseverance is a great character builder gained through playing baseball.
Teamwork
As kids progress through different levels, they will become more and more aware of the importance of teamwork.
They will quickly realize that no matter how good they think they might be, without teammates, success will be difficult to find.
Without a first basemen, where will the shortstop throw the ball. Without someone covering second, how will you turn a double play?
Baseball will teach kids that at some point, you will have to rely on someone else’s help, and that this can be a good thing.
Without teammates, there is no team.
Friendship
Some of the best friendships of my life were developed on the baseball field.
My own children have been playing baseball nearly their whole lives and still have friendships with kids who they played with way back in T-Ball.
Learning how to win and lose baseball games together creates a bond between kids that is hard to break.
Even as your kids get older and some move on in different directions, they will always remember the friendships that were born on a baseball diamond.
Health
Yep, that’s right health.
Baseball is a great way for your kids to stay active and in good physical shape.
Even if being part of an organized baseball team turns out to not be your own kids thing, it can still be an enjoyable experience that you can share with each other. And it is most certainly a fun way of getting in some good exercise.
I won’t profess to be a health expert, but I can certainly tell you that after a good 2 hour practice session I usually feel like I lost a pound or 2!
Keeping the kids off the video games, and on the ball field is definitely a good way to stay fit year round.
Check out my article on Indoor Baseball Activities for some fun ways to stay baseball ready during the Winter months.
Fun!
Playing baseball is good for kids in countless ways, and besides building character, staying fit and spending time with family, there is just no activity in my opinion that lets kids and family have fun together quite like baseball.
So get out there, spend some valuable time together, and above all else…Have Some Fun!
Well, is baseball good for kids?
In this article, I have shared with you some of the main reasons why I think baseball is good for kids.
I could go on and on about this subject, but I would really like to hear some thoughts from you guys.
If you have a few minutes, please leave a comment below. I would really love to hear some of your opinions and stories.
Is baseball good for kids? In my humble opinion…YES!
Thanks for stopping by ~Jeremy
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If you need any help finding something, or would like my opinion on a certain product you’re thinking about, just let me know and I will be happy to help.
