With a little encouragement, children will leave the TV, the X-Box, and Wii behind for busy playgrounds and ball fields. Instead of chips and cookies, they'll reach for basketballs, footballs, rollerblades, and bicycles.

Many parents may be wondering just how much structure to give to the afterschool activities. While numerous studies have shown that too much structured activity is not good for young children, that doesn't mean a little planning can't be beneficial.

What better way is there to keep your kids out of the house and away from television and computer games than enrolling them in organized group activities—particularly sports? It has been estimated that 22 million children and youth, ages 6 to 18, are involved in organized sports outside of school.

Research indicates that participation in sports can promote healthy development in young children. Being active in youth sports can help build a foundation for cooperative play, teamwork, and good sportsmanship while helping to refine gross motor skills in children's rapidly developing bodies.

According to an article published by the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP), "sports help children develop physical skills, get exercise, make friends, have fun, learn to play as a member of a team, learn to play fair, and improve self-esteem."

Studies have also examined how sports contribute to the development of social competence—the ability to get along with and be accepted by peers, family members, teachers, and coaches; and, self-esteem—the extent to which an individual believes him/herself to be capable, significant, successful, and worthy (Ewing, 1997).