Photo Courtesy of Flickr user - By Cube, squared away

I didn’t think my kids were really interested in high risk activities, until I caught a glimpse of a stunt my son pulled. As I looked out the front door of my home, all I could do was shake my head.

I saw my son rolling down the driveway sitting on his armless, backless desk chair as his brother recorded the scene. His stunt caused me to compare it to participating in extreme sports.

Extreme sports have become popular over the past 20 years. I read an article that indicated that the best way to describe extreme sports is that they “push the limits of sports." (www.joincombo.org)Some of the sports in this category include skateboarding, BMX bike racing and motorcross.

Has your child show an interest in extreme sports?

Often a sport is considered extreme because of an element added to it. In biking, the extreme element could be a rugged terrain or adding a jump.

As parents we often worry about the safety of our children as they participate in sports. It has been said that extreme sports push the boundaries of safety and “have a high level of risk involved.” So why do kids like extreme sports?

Some kids like the thrill of extreme sports and being able to do tricks that impress their friends. Other kids just enjoy extreme sports over more traditional sports such as soccer or football. Often kids join extreme sports because the only person they are playing against is themselves.

In the article, Kids and extreme sports, it was indicated that kids in extreme sports are, “expressive, highly skilled athletes.” The article said that “sports such as rock climbing, skateboarding and inline skating, require significant technical ability as well as strength and endurance.” These type sports are said to help kids develop positive qualities such as discipline, persistence and determination.

Whether your child likes extreme sports or something more traditional, it’s important to encourage him to express himself physically. Both team and individual sports can build self-confidence, relieve stress and promote physical fitness.

What is your view on kids participating in extreme sports?

Angela Verges is a writer and mother of two. She can be reached at awritersdream41@yahoo.com.