THE INFLUENCE OF CHILDREN’S SPORTS ACTIVITIES ON THEIR FAMILIES IN THE UNITED STATES

Abstract

Children’s sports have become so high significance in society that there are reasons to consider it one of the main types of human activity. However, there is practically no scientific reflection on the influence of children’s sports on the members of the families of the participant of the sports movement in Ukraine. It is very important for us to study this problem in the USA, where about 75% of families have at least one child engaged in organized sports. The purpose of the work is to analyze the scientific works of US scientists about the negative impact of sports activities of students on their families. In the course of the study the following methods were used: theoretical, retrospective analysis, comparison and generalization of data of scientific-methodical literature and official documents. As a result of the analysis of literary sources it has been proven that paternal adherence to youth sports is a key factor in engaging young people in the United States in sport. By encouraging and creating opportunities for their continued participation, developing parents’ value orientations related to participation in sports, parents influence their children and promote their socialization. It has been found that in many US families sports have become an inalienable feature that gives families a sense of identity. Although it is obvious that membership in sports clubs and sections is an effective tool for family reunification and affects mostly positively, however, unfortunately, it can also have a negative impact. It has been found that children’s active sports activities, often at the professional level, require significant time and financial investments by parents, which cause a deterioration in the physical and mental health of family members, non-compliance with a healthy lifestyle, the emergence of inconsistencies in family relations between parents, aggravated feelings of jealousy and offense between brothers/sisters, etc.