Having a routine is important for each and every one of us but especially so for children. A child who has activities planned and combined in a structured manner benefits both mentally and physically from their pre-planned and established routine.
Nothing has shown this to be the case more clearly than the Covid-19 pandemic. When the spring lockdown of 2020 was put in place and children lost the routine that going to school brings, mental health conditions increased from 10.8 percent in 2017 to 16 percent according to England’s Mental Health of Children and Young People Survey.
The school day only forms part of a child’s routine. What happens after school can be equally important in terms of creating consistency. Building regular physical activity into a routine is one way in which a healthier lifestyle can be created.
This is what We Make Footballers provides to children across the United Kingdom through weekly after-school coaching sessions.
A child knows that they will finish school at 3pm. They go home and have their dinner. Then make their way to WMF for evening football.
At WMF, they will get the physical activity they need under the watchful eye of FA Qualified coaches. They socialise with other children whom they share a common footballing interest with and they let out energy in a positive way.
Having spent their evening exercising, the child then returns home before going to bed. They are more relaxed having gone through their football playing routine and get a better night sleep as a result of running all the stress and tension of the day out of them.
There are other benefits towards including WMF in a child’s daily routine. One of the most underappreciated positives that come from routines is that it offers something to look forward to.
If a child knows that Thursday night is football night, then in the hours and days leading up to it they become excited about the prospect of kicking a ball around with their friends.
People often struggle more when it comes to motivation for doing work or chores when there is nothing enjoyable on the horizon as a sort of pay-off. Children are no different.
Having an activity like WMF which they love doing clearly defined in their weekly schedule can improve focus and discipline in other areas, such as at school.
The mental benefits of exercise are well-established and these too justify having a regular footballing slot in a child’s schedule. Just playing football is enough to provide a lift to self-esteem and confidence.
When a child succeeds at mastering a new skill such as shooting with their weaker foot or scoring a headed goal, the boost they receive can last for days.
By including WMF in a child’s routine, you are giving them something to look forward to and ensuring that every week they are partaking in physical activity with far-reaching benefits across many areas of their life.
