Bowling and your Child
Are you a bowling junky?  Does the sheer idea of going bowling have you running to the car with your ball and shoes in tow?  Parents who love to bowl typically have kids who love to bowl.  They enjoy copying their parents while they are younger, and pick up on the game and start playing themselves, as they get older.  Once a league is available, the kids are able to sprout on their own and enjoy themselves without their parents playing alongside them  

There are approximately 18,000 bowling leagues across the United States, which makes plenty of competition and lots of people to learn from.  Kids who play bowling typically enjoy increases in strength, endurance, and balance.  They also have a great hand-eye coordination, as well as accuracy.  Bowling is a sport that anyone of any size can master, from big to small it is possible to bowl successfully.

 

The key to being a successful bowler is learning how to execute the same bowling stroke, over and over again.  Kids who are successful at bowling also tend to be highly analytical, a bit introverted, and often highly self-disciplined.  Bowling allows kids to start at one of the youngest ages, and continually grow and improve their skills.

 

Children as young as 3 years old are able to start bowling; they begin by using the bumper guards on the lanes, and very small 6-pound balls they pick up with both hands.  Bowling lessons typically start at approximately 8 years of age to help teach proper form and positions.  Do not push your child to stop using the bumper guards, once they are ready they will push for that themselves, you want your child to be excited about getting the pins, not upset about the ball always ending up in the gutter. 

 

The costs and expenses associated with bowling, especially in the beginning are very small.  Shoes can be rented for a few dollars a day, which only need to be rented when they are being used, and balls are free at the bowling centers for the use there.  Once your child gets heavily involved you may want to consider buying their own shoes, which range in cost from approximately $15 up to $40, however as children do, they will outgrow these just as quickly as their regular shoes.

 

A bowling ball can also be purchased, however these range greatly in price depending upon color, size, weight, and if the holes must be custom drilled.  If you purchase a ball, it is also recommended to buy a bag to protect the ball when it is not being used so it is not damaged while in transport, or by an accident.  Bowling can be a great sport and quite enjoyable for kids. 

 
 
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