How to Use March Madness to Inspire a Love of Basketball in Kids

It’s that time of year again! With March Madness right around the corner, parents may be thinking about how to get their kids interested in this fun annual event. March Madness can present a great opportunity to inspire a love of basketball in kids or encourage their existing interest in the game. There are plenty of fun activities that you can do with your child during March Madness to celebrate the game of basketball while creating lasting memories together. Here are some of our top suggestions:

Fill Out Brackets

One of the most classic March Madness activities is filling out brackets, and for good reason. It can be lots of fun to watch your bracket play out over the course of the tournament, and there are plenty of fun alternatives to the classic bracket format. For instance, younger kids might enjoy picking teams based on their mascots! You can also turn filling out brackets into a fun family competition by adding some small prizes. This is a great way to keep kids engaged and spend some quality time together.

Host Watch Parties

There’s nothing more exciting about March Madness than the games themselves, which is why hosting watch parties can be a great way to inspire a love of basketball in kids. By inviting others to come watch the game, you can share the excitement and make gameday an experience for the whole family. You can even supply some activities for kids watching the game, such as March Madness Bingo.

Learn About Basketball History

March Madness presents an excellent opportunity to teach your child about basketball history while learning about it yourself. Try talking to your child about various records, such as the most points scored by a player in a March Madness game, or the largest margin of victory in a tournament game. Kids often enjoy finding out about these types of interesting facts, and they help to provide context when watching the games.

Shoot Hoops Together

After watching lots of basketball during March Madness, why not grab a ball yourself and head outside with your child to shoot some hoops? There are balls and baskets designed for kids of all ages, making it easy to encourage children to get active after watching the games. Not only is this a great source of physical activity, it can also help to build on your child’s budding interest in the game. You can even try introducing a bit of friendly competition by playing a game like HORSE, which can also present opportunities to help your child improve their basketball shooting skills.

When you do some of these activities with your child during March Madness, you will be helping to inspire a love of basketball that can carry them far. And if you are looking to help them take their game to the next level with a youth tournament, there is nowhere better than our state-of-the-art sports complex here in the Smoky Mountains. We have everything you need for an exciting youth tournament, so check out our facilities today!