Sure they'll be fitter and stronger, but there are heaps more amazing benefits in store for your sports-mad girl.
From increased confidence to less stress - here are eight reasons to support your daughter as she gets active:
1. Sporty girls are happier: It's true. According to the latest
research by Lidl, girls who play sports are 80 percent more likely to have positive mental well being. This may be because they also tend to feel 50 percent more supported in life and 70 percent more likely to feel happy.
2. Being part of a team leads to better grades: Girls who play team sports do better in the classroom. Studies show that not only are those weekly training sessions fun, they also improve concentration and boost memory and focus, resulting in an advantage come exam time.
3. Playing sports is good for your health: While girls who play sports are naturally fitter and less likely to be obese, there are also some long-term health benefits to consider. For instance, girls who play sports at school are more likely to shun smoking, making them less likely to suffer from osteoporosis when they are older.
4. It fosters independence and self-esteem: According to Lidl research, seven out of ten young women who play sport cope better with peer pressure. That means they'll be more likely to make the right choice when faced with alcohol or cigarettes or a run-in with the school bully.
5. Girls who play sports have better body confidence: While most young girls tend to look up to celebrities such as Kendall Jenner and Emma Watson, girls who play sport are less likely to feel that they need to emulate their idols.
6. Team players build lasting friendships: Secondary school can be a lonely time if you find it hard to make friends. If that sounds like someone you know, encourage her to join a sports team. 61 percent of girls who play sport say it helped them to form lifelong friendships.
7. The benefits last a lifetime: Women who play sport are 70 percent more likely to believe that they are capable of reaching their full potential. This feeling lasts long after a player has left the dressing room and could be what propels her directly into the board room.
FOLLOW THE STORY:
By the age of 13, one in two young women drop out of sport. They are three times more likely to drop out than boys.
Lidl want more Irish women to stay in sport. That's why they have invested €2.5m to date in women's sport. Continue reading here.
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