Team sports are immensely popular, and most youngsters are introduced to them at about age eight. Team sports teach teamwork and self-discipline and help to keep your tween physically fit. They promote improved balance, coordination, and body awareness. Being able to play with other children in a supervised group can be especially important for children with poor social skills as well as for youngsters who lack peer contact outside of school.

However, because organized sports place so much emphasis on following rules and winning, it may be better to wait until your youngster is ten years old to begin. Since most children under age twelve get quite upset about losing, it is usually better to downplay the competitive aspects of being on a team. Instead, help your tween understand the benefits of practicing and playing as opposed to winning.