It’s extremely important for children to engage in physical activity from an early age. And when they participate in sports with their peers, it’s not only fun but also boosts their sense of belonging and helps them grow more confident. But sports even have a positive effect on the development of less outgoing children who prefer to play alone. When children practise their motor skills – whether in a team sport or an individual sport – it benefits their physical and mental development in equal measure. So as a parent, you should think twice before trying to protect your child from exertion just because they have a disability. You can discuss the advantages and disadvantages with specialist doctors and therapists.
What are the child’s abilities? Which sport does he or she enjoy? Which clubs or groups organise suitable opportunities for physical activities? Sports scientists say that children are best able to learn and train motor skills before they reach the age of twelve. But even after that, it’s not too late to develop a joy of movement that will last a lifetime.
Help your child find a suitable sports programme in a sports club and see whether they can receive special help at school to train their motor skills and benefit their mental development.
Schools can offer a world of sports for children with disabilities
Movement, games and sports should be an everyday part of school life for children and adolescents with disabilities. But in order to help children develop on all levels – individually and as part of a group – teachers will need to take different factors into account, depending on the respective disability. Schools should have special sports equipment and facilities that are accessible to those with disabilities. Parents – perhaps with the support of their local sports club – can explain to the school just how important exercise, games and sports are for children’s personal development. Children with disabilities should not only be able to join in with normal PE lessons but also participate in school sports days, competitions and events. If this isn’t the case, parents should contact their local sports association and school authorities and remind them how important it is for the school to create an inclusive environment.
Sports clubs for children with disabilities
If your child has a disability, you can contact your local sports clubs to find opportunities for your child to engage in a sport outside of school hours at a location near you. Many sports clubs already offer programmes and events where children with and without disabilities can train and play together. This is because inclusion is becoming an increasingly important issue, including in clubs. Even if your local sports club does not have a sports programme that is explicitly inclusive, you could still talk to the coach or trainer and ask about integrating children with disabilities.
Suitable treatment for children and adolescents with disabilities
We offer a large selection of top-quality devices with the goal of providing children with disabilities with the best possible treatment for their respective level of development. Find out more about our devices designed for children. They promote mobility and motor skills, for example, by helping children to adopt a correct and more stable posture, stand at an early age and walk with a physiological gait. Your child will gain new freedom of movement and grow more independent in their everyday life and free time while benefiting from a high level of safety.
Children who are receiving treatment with a prosthesis but want to train more intensively may also benefit from our special combinations of sports prostheses. Consisting of a sports knee joint for children and a dynamic prosthetic sports foot, the Runner junior, they open up new prospects for a future in sports for very active children in particular.