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Inactive Kids Reflect Poorly On Parents, Says New Sports Study

Parents Enroll Kids In Sport Because Inactive Children Reflects Poorly On Them
Boy lying on tennis court
Image Source via Getty Images
Boy lying on tennis court

Parents are avoiding the judgement that comes with having a lazy child by enrolling them in sport.

That's one of the inferences from new research by the Australian Sports Commission, which found a "significant driver" for mums and dads considering sport was the fact that having inactive children may reflect negatively on them as parents.

Director of Sport Marketing Insights Cecilia Hemana said the quantitative study found it was one of a range of reasons why mums and dads spent their time facilitating kids' sport.

"When parents recognise the benefits of physical activity, they also have a sense of wanting to do the right thing," Hemana said.

"It's a sense of guilt that I think all parents have and, for some, that's the motivation to get their kids involved."

The study also found the vast majority of Australian parents agreed physical activity was good for their child.

"It's good to see that the message has been conveyed," Hemana said.

"Parents see the benefit of sport not just for physical activity but for team building, making friends, learning how to negotiate, the ability to win and loose and resilience."

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