Benefits of Bowling With Mr. Webster
Here Mr. Webster helps MileStone Academy students understand the benefits of bowling during our Spring 2022 School Year. He shares 10 benefits that can help teens grow. Bowling is a fun pastime that offers many unique benefits.
Here are 10 reasons to pack up the family and friends and head to your local bowling alley!
10 Benefits of Bowling
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#1. Enhances Gross Motor Development
No matter what size bowling ball you use, bowling helps build gross motor skills. Picking and rolling the ball down the lane helps build those large muscles in your arms and legs. Making those muscle groups helps kids improve other skills such as running, throwing, and playing on the local playground monkey bars.
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#2 Improves Motor Planning
Although some people make it look easy, bowling is not a simple sport/game. Bowling takes a great deal of motor planning. Players must use their arms and legs simultaneously, which is difficult for many. Using one hand for the ball and the opposite leg to step forward can also be tricky. This takes a lot of communication between your brain and body. Building motor planning skills helps kids succeed in school and sports.
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#3 Enhances Problem Solving Skills
Bowling is not simply rolling the ball down the lane. It involves so much more planning and problem solving than that. For each turn, you must release the ball at just the right time, at just the right angle. Then once several pins are down, you must figure out exactly where to roll the ball next to get the rest of the pins to fall. Bowling helps improve strategic thinking skills as well as encourages the use of trial and error.
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#4 Builds Confidence
Watching your child knock over their first pin or get their first strike is so much fun. With each game, they get stronger, building their confidence. Confidence leads to higher self-esteem, which leads to tremendous success.
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#5 Helps with Coordination
As stated above, under motor planning, bowling takes a lot of thought and the coordination of muscles. When kids start playing, they may lose balance or even fall over, but their coordination and balance improve as they practice. They learn to use their entire body to play and win.
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#6 Strengthens Math Skills
Have you ever tried to keep track of the score when bowling? It can get a little tricky. Bowling is a beautiful way to enhance math skills. Little ones can count the pins, while older kids can add up their score. Make it even more challenging by having them figure out how many more points they need to reach their score goal.
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#7 Builds Core Strength
Having a strong core helps with everything in your life! Kids need a solid core to sit at a desk, complete work, and engage in virtual learning. A substantial body also helps in every sport. It even helps with playing an instrument and performing in a play. Bowling helps build core muscles that improve their game and all aspects of their life.
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#8 Enhances Social Skills
Although bowling can appear to be an individual game, playing on a bowling team is a popular pastime all over the country. Many bowling alleys offer bowling leagues for kids that help build social skills. As kids play, they make new friends and learn to work together as a team. They also know to help each other out when needed.
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#9 Reduces Stress
For some, bowling is a profession or competition, but for many, it is a way to have fun and de-stress. I am not great at bowling. I always ask to use the bumpers. I don’t bowl to win; I bowl to have fun. For me, bowling helps reduce stress and anxiety. It allows me to have fun with friends and family and make great memories.
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#10 Fosters Family and Friends Bonding Time
Many families love bowling together! It is a fun way to spend genuine quality time together and bond as a family.
