Team sports provide many benefits for children. They teach children to collaborate by working together towards a common goal, as team members must accept each other's strengths and weaknesses. This prepares them for working in teams as adults. Team sports also motivate children to get fit to help the team succeed, which can help address New Zealand's high childhood obesity rates. Additionally, playing team sports satisfies children's need to belong to a social group by celebrating wins and commiserating losses together. Overall, participating in team sports during childhood provides opportunities to learn collaboration, fitness, and a sense of belonging that are important for life.

1. Exposition Term 2
WALT: Write an exposition
‘Children should be participating in team sports.’
Team sports, worthwhile or pointless? Worthwhile, in my opinion. There is often
debates over whether it is better for children to participate in a team sport or not. The
way I see it, participating in a team sport has huge benefits over other activities. Below
are the reasons why I think participating in team sports should be a high priority in
childhood.
Firstly, being able to work collaboratively with others is a huge part of team sport. What
do you think you see on a rugby pitch? Yes, it’s more than men in shorts running
around, it’s people working as a team; they are ‘Collaborating’. Learning to collaborate
as a youngster prepares an individual for working as a team in later life. The main
aspects of collaboration are working together, but also accepting others strengths and
weaknesses as well as your own. On a netball court, the centre as well as the other
midcourters, have to work together to get the ball down to the shooters in order to
score a goal. It’s the same with anything, CEO’s work with their staff, teachers work
together in their syndicates.
If you ask me, playing a team sport teaches kids to work together, to collaborate, and in
some ways, prepares them for life.
Secondly, fitness is a high priority in life. I think playing a team sport gives children a
reason to get fit. Their team mates will also rely on them to be fit in order for the team
to succeed. I’m sure any child would hate it if they knew their team was against them
because they were too unfit to play the sport properly.
How many times have you seen a child walking down the street that is extremely
overweight? It’s something that makes you shudder, but you don’t think much of it.
However, 1 in 5 children within New Zealand are overweight which is an extremely high
rate. I reckon, that if every child in New Zealand played a team sport, that statistic
would not be so high. Obviously any active sport would keep you fit, but I think playing
a team sport has a far better effect on you because your team mates are there to
motivate and encourage you.
Lastly, and most importantly, playing a team sport makes you feel like you belong.
There is always your team mates to celebrate a great win with or commiserate with
after losing. Humans are a social species and their need to belong to a group is very
great. Playing a team sport will help you satisfy that need because you feel you belong
and you know that your input contributes largely to the team’s ambitions.
Overall, I firmly believe that it is very important for children to play a team sport during
their childhood. Playing a team sport is something that will teach your child to
collaborate, keep them fit and give them a sense of belonging. If your child isn’t playing
a team sport, they are missing out on a lifetime of opportunities.