Editor’s note: Taking Sides is a weekly column. This week Mark Kennedy and Karen Nazor Hill discuss children and sports. On Sunday, Ms. Hill’s daughter, Karah Nazor, swam across the English Channel.

Karen Nazor Hill: When I was a young mother, one of my goals as a parent was to introduce each of my children as many sports as I possibly could in hopes they would find one they love. My two boys swam, played soccer and baseball. My two girls swam, played soccer and took dance lessons. There were also some seasons of playing volleyball, basketball and, for one son, a season of football. Being an athlete teaches discipline, develops a competitive spirit and results in a strong healthy body. Now that I have an 18-month-old granddaughter, I’m thrilled to see that her mom (my daughter) is equally as serious about athletics.

Mark Kennedy: With two little boys at my house, ages 1 and 6, sports is always a front-burner activity. My 6-year-old has been playing team sports since he was 3. In retrospect, I think he was a little too young. Even after he was physically ready to play, there were times when he couldn’t handle the emotions of team play. He plays on a baseball team, but this summer he has had great fun playing pick-up baseball games at a local rec center. My toddler is beginning to pick up balls to mimic his older brother.

Karen: My oldest child, a girl, started dance lessons at 3. Besides helping her develop social and dance skills, the weekly class taught her discipline. Each week she had to memorize a new step (which, of course, I learned, too). She was diligent about practicing throughout the week — without my urging. I saw this discipline carry over to soccer, swimming and school work. Like your toddler, my second child, also a daughter, wanted to do everything her big sister did — and she did. My two sons came along, and they, too, loved sports.

Mark: I think the key thing for parents to remember is that sports are a way to teach kids teamwork and the joy of competition. I think too many parents today see sports as a ticket to college scholarships. I read recently that only 2 percent of high school athletes get any sort of sports-related scholarship, and among those who do, the grants are usually pretty modest. From a pure investment standpoint, parents would be much better off contributing to a college fund.

Karen: Too many parents push their kids. What I’ve seen in my 35 years of parenthood is that it’s the kids who are pushed who end up quitting. You’ll know if your child loves a sport because you won’t have to push. In fact, they’ll sometimes push you. Of course not every child is going to be a star athlete, but that doesn’t mean they can’t have fun. Competitive swimming is a sport I highly recommend to parents. Not only do children learn a skill that can save their lives, it’s an activity they can participate in for most of their lives, and it’s family oriented. All four of my children were swimmers. They practiced at the same time and competed at the same meet. Their skill levels varied, but each one contributed to the team — just as each child on a swim team does. And nobody cheered louder for a Nazor kid than did the other three Nazor kids. For me, it has been a highlight of being a parent.

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