Darts is a sport that appeals to all age groups . This is precisely why the sport continues to enjoy great popularity , making it a great choice for children as well.
Parents often ask themselves whether darts are suitable for their children and whether a darts club makes sense for children.
The short and sweet answer: Yes! Darts promotes several cognitive skills that can benefit your children, even in school. In this article, we'll explain why this is the case and what you should still pay attention to.
Children want to emulate their parents in darts
Children usually take their cues from their parents' behavior. If you're already a parent of a child and you play darts or watch darts on TV , sooner or later the question will arise as to what you're doing.
Your child will want to try it out for themselves and throw darts at the board. Before you allow your children to play darts, however, there are a few things you should consider .
Darts is often offered as an entertainment game at children's birthday parties. Often, this game is played with magnetic dartboards and accompanying darts .
There's also a Velcro version of darts for children. These usually involve children throwing blindly at the board, aiming for the center as the best target at a young age.
At first glance, this has little to do with the actual sport of darts , but what is important is that the little ones have fun .
Darts for children – steel darts are not recommended
Parents should avoid the steel-tipped darts variant for now if they want to allow their children to play. However, we wouldn't recommend a specific age limit here either.
As is often the case in parenting , this depends on the child's individual development . It's entirely possible that some children will be able to handle steel darts from the age of eight or nine, while others will only be able to do so at a later age.
However, you shouldn't give your children steel darts beforehand. The risk of injury from the sharp steel dart tips is too high. When the steel darts bounce off the board , they often get stuck in the ground.
Depending on how the throw is executed, the darts can bounce back particularly far or fly sideways.
Are there special darts for children?
There are actually special darts for children , as manufacturers are looking to make big money in these areas. However, you don't actually need special children's darts for your child, as retailers offer a wide selection of lightweight darts .
You can, of course, also find these in our shop . Of course, you can also buy special darts for children if you'd like. However, these are usually overpriced , as the manufacturers know that children are willing to spend money on them.
If your child is already taking darts training for children, you can also do them a favor when it's time to get new darts. Darts records are always interesting for young dart players, and almost every top darts player has their own darts on the market.
We are convinced that your dwarf also annoys you about getting arrows from this or that record holder.
Not only the game equipment, but also the rules should be adapted
Due to their size and lower strength and coordination, children initially have great difficulty throwing the darts onto the board.
For this reason, you should also adjust the throwing distance and height of the dartboard for your little ones. As they get older, you can then ensure that your child gradually gets used to the regular height and throwing distance.
After all, darts for children should be fun, not frustrating. Especially with children's darts, the frustration threshold is very low .
How high should a dartboard for children hang?
Naturally, you're asking yourself, how high should a dartboard be for children?! It's recommended that the distance for children under 10 be reduced by about one-third of the tournament distance , and that kids should be about 1.60 meters from the dartboard .
The height should also be adjusted accordingly. The bullseye should therefore be at a height of approximately 1.15 meters . Keep in mind that your children don't always want a supervisor around and will want to pull the arrows out of the target themselves .
Kids 10 years and older can transition to standard sizes . Keep in mind, however, that every child is different, and you should always take this into account.
You should also pay attention to the weight of the darts . Even for an experienced dart player, it makes a big difference whether they throw darts weighing 14 grams or 24 grams , for example.
This is even more extreme for children. Moreover, children lack the strength to throw darts over such a long distance . Therefore, it's worth choosing a few soft darts with a relatively low weight.
If you then realize they're too easy, you can always react. Ultimately, darts should simply be fun for children , and the development into a serious darts player will happen naturally.
Reasons to let children play darts at an early age
Hand-eye coordination: There are many reasons for children to start darts at an early age. One of these is certainly the ability to connect the eye with the execution of a task . Therefore, when we aim at something and adjust our movements accordingly, our overall body coordination is trained .
Arithmetic skills : This can earn children many points, even in physical education classes at school. But that's not all. As soon as possible, it also makes sense to let children add up the points at the oche themselves . Of course, this can take some time, especially in the beginning. Nevertheless, and we've noticed this even as adults, this is an extremely good way to practice mental arithmetic .
Concentration : Darts is largely a mental sport , requiring players to be highly concentrated to succeed. The positive aspect of darts is that children often find this concentration fun rather than stressful —unlike at school, for example. And over time, there's the positive side effect that playing darts together brings parents and children closer together, and they share a passion .
Sporting ambition : Darts also fosters ambition in kids – at least in most of them. They will then have as role models players who are on the PDC Order of Merit , sweep the championships, and hold records. This ensures that the younger generation also wants to become really good at darts.
Digital timeout : Perhaps the biggest advantage is that you can lure your child away from the tablet, TV, or cell phone. Digital timeout is good for children and shows them that life doesn't just take place online, but that real life can be fun too.
What options are there for children to play darts?
Overall, darts is still a relatively unknown sport in Germany. It's not as easy as simply sending a child to the local darts club, as it is with soccer, since these are rare. Nevertheless, there are various ways to start playing darts at an early age.
Check the official associations' websites for information about clubs in your area. They also sometimes offer courses to encourage young talent.
If your child is already a teenager, youth clubs and pubs are also popular places to try out the oche.
And if none of these options are available, take the initiative yourself . Organize regular darts evenings for children and introduce your friends' kids to the sport.
You can also simply start a darts club with a few friends. It's not difficult at all and practically anyone can do it.
The argument that mental arithmetic is immensely encouraged usually wins in the end. So have fun, and here's to our contribution to fostering Germany's next top star in a few years.
Conclusion
As you can see, darts for children are not that uncommon and if your children also enjoy throwing darts, you don't have to do much to make darts a possibility for children .
Of course, the board should be hung at the appropriate height , and the distance should n't be too great . If your child wants to play darts, you have numerous options to make their dream come true.
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