SPORTS DAY

Sports are an exciting part of most people’s childhoods. They are memorable
for how they kept us active and allowed us to bond with our peers. They were even
better when organized into sports days at school. The rush, excitement,
competitiveness and teamwork are all things that we remember and hold dear when
reminiscing about our childhood games. Iconic games like relay, kati and the potato
race hold a cherished spot in our memories, along with the racing against our peers
to get to the finish line. Play was a central part of every child’s upbringing, running
in the fields, running up and down the hills, climbing trees and building makeshift
safari rally cars. The creativity unleashed in our games was unmatched. Losing

taught us resilience, built patience and pushed the limits of competitiveness.

At BTK, we understand the importance of getting children involved at sports
from a young age. Children are encouraged to go outside and play since it helps
balance their sky to screen ratio instead of staying in the house, glued to their
screens. In a journal titled ‘Effects of Excessive Screen Time on Child
Development: An Updated Review and Strategies for Management,’ the authors
explore the negative effects of too much screen time. They mention how it
reduces the amount and quality of interactions between children and their
caregivers, their environment and the profound effects on their language
development and negative impact on their academic performance.

Sports and outdoor play on the other hand develop the children’s’ attention
span, socializing skills and their enjoyment of rough and tumble play necessary for
their physical and mental development. The latter happens through the sense of
belonging and development of self-esteem brought about by participating in games,
building and working in teams. They also help reduce stress and anxiety in the
learners. Moreover, the games played during sports day help develop the learners’
fine and gross motor muscles since they all use a unique mix of movement skills.
These movement skills help in their physical development, allowing them to avoid
obesity and the health issues that come with it. Brain development also happens
during this time, due to the stimulating and engaging activities the learners

participate in.

Additionally, the day is a time for the children to bond with their parents
through games requiring them to work together or need one to support the other.
It helps develop a competitive spirit in the learners, since they are typically racing
against their peers from other teams. It also teaches them critical thinking and
problem solving skills along with how to lose and accept loss gracefully, a critical
skill needed in our competitive and unforgiving world.

The BTK team truly understands the need for this day, and parents are
encouraged to show up and shout out for their children. They will witness them
develop their problem solving, communication, memory and leadership skills. The
memory will also hold a special place in their hearts, which is why it is an annual
tradition. We look forward to seeing you this Saturday, July 12th for our sports
day.