It’s hard to say no when your child wants to join the team—especially when their friends are signing up and practices look like harmless fun. But when it comes to contact sports, there’s a very real line between fun and danger, especially for children with developing brains and bodies. Letting a child under 10 play contact sports might seem like a rite of passage, but it can lead to long-term consequences that most parents don’t hear about until it’s too late. Before you enroll your little one in tackle football, hockey, or any sport that involves regular hits or collisions, it’s worth understanding the hidden risks. Here are eight serious reasons to hold off on contact sports until kids are older and stronger.
