It's never too soon to get your child interested in sports.

Description:
Girls love sports as much as boys. You can get your child prepared to participate in sports at an early age by teaching them the rudiments as soon as they can walk and run.

Let them watch different sports on television with you and, when at the park, be sure and watch the older children playing soccer, basketball, football, tennis, baseball, hockey, and swimming. If you gain their interest in watching and playing with you, you can then begin teaching them the basics.

Step by Step:

• Start out by tossing a ball back and forth and use different size balls.
• Buy a little baseball bat or golf club or just find a smooth stick and let your little one whack at a ball you toss or roll.
• Get an empty coffee can and encourage your little one to try and hit a ball into it.
• Go out in the yard and practice kicking the ball between the two of you.
• As you practice, over time your child will develop physical dexterity and finer motor skills.
• Check out your local youth baseball and soccer organizations and see if they have teams for four and five year-olds, because many do.
• Sign up your girl or boy, but don't expect much expertise until they get a bit older.
• Don't criticize how they play, but praise them on specifics, like how well they run.
• The whole point is to get them to love the exercise, the team camaraderie and the sport, so they will play sports for life and enjoy them.
  
  Materials:
  Different size balls
  Baseball bat, golf club or smooth stick
  Coffee can