If you've got a toddler, this bright board book is your entry point. It introduces basic tennis vocabulary—racket, court, serve—in a tactile, chewable format. Does your 2-year-old care about Grand Slams? No. But they'll love pointing at the colorful illustrations and saying "ball!" over and over. It's a gentle introduction that plants the seed early, and honestly, it's a nice break from reading The Very Hungry Caterpillar for the 400th time.

Once your kid can sit through a story with a narrative arc, bring in the heroes. Playing To Win: How Althea Gibson Broke Barriers and Changed Tennis Forever and Serena Williams: A Champion's Story are picture books that showcase trailblazing Black tennis icons with vivid illustrations and simple prose. These aren't just tennis books—they're stories about perseverance, breaking rules, and showing up even when the world says you don't belong. Kids this age are obsessed with fairness and justice, so these books hit hard in the best way.

This one's a sleeper hit. It's full of mazes, word searches, and mini-drills that blend learning with play. Perfect for long car rides, rainy afternoons, or when you need 20 minutes of quiet. It keeps tennis on their radar without requiring a court or even a ball. Plus, it's a great way to sneak in some educational screen-free time when you're trying to hit that 4.2-hour average daily screen time that most families are clocking (yep, that's the community data talking).

When your tween or teen is ready for real-life grit, hand them Open: An Autobiography by Andre Agassi. It's candid, raw, and surprisingly readable for younger audiences. Agassi doesn't sugarcoat the pressure, the burnout, or the complicated relationship with his father. Rafa: My Story by Rafael Nadal and The Master: A Biography of Roger Federer give insight into the mental toughness and discipline behind elite performance. These books teach focus and resilience—the kind of life lessons you actually want your kid absorbing, whether they ever pick up a racket or not.

About 40% of families in our community use Netflix for kids' content regularly, and another 40% use it occasionally. If your family is already streaming, you might as well make it count.

Netflix's Tudum article (updated August 2025) curates eight family-friendly tennis titles that range from documentary-style looks at Grand Slam legends to light-hearted dramas. The list emphasizes age-appropriate options with parental-guide ratings, so you can pick something that matches your comfort level. It's a solid starting point for family movie night, especially if you're looking for content that's more inspiring than brain rot.

This short-form TV series breaks down basic skills, sportsmanship, and the history of tennis in an engaging, age-appropriate format. Common Sense Media gave it a "good for kids" rating in July 2024 for its educational content and low-risk viewing. It's the kind of show that feels like learning without the lecture—perfect for kids who need to see the sport in action before they're willing to try it themselves.

If your kid is already hitting that 4-hour weekday average (or the 5-hour weekend average), you're not alone—that's the norm in our community. But if tennis is becoming a genuine interest, consider trading some passive screen time for active play. Watching Serena dominate Wimbledon is cool; trying to mimic her serve in the backyard is cooler.

You don't need a court, a net, or even a racket to start building the hand-eye coordination and movement patterns that make tennis fun. The i9Sports blog outlines seven simple games designed for ages 5-12 that require minimal setup.

No rackets needed. Kids toss a tennis ball, let it bounce once, then catch it. It's all about hand-eye coordination and tracking the ball's movement. Start here if your kid has never held a racket before.

Add a counting chant to keep players focused on the ball's rhythm. It's weirdly addictive and helps kids develop timing—which is basically the whole game.

Not the board game. This version mixes rallying with silly commands: "hit with your left hand," "both feet on the ground," "spin before you hit." It builds flexibility, humor, and the ability to adapt mid-game. Plus, it's hilarious to watch.

This one encourages movement around the court (or driveway, or backyard). Kids take turns hitting and then running to the back of the line. It's great for building teamwork, friendly competition, and the kind of agility that makes tennis feel less like work and more like play.

These games are designed to reinforce the same balance, agility, and concentration that formal tennis lessons develop—without the pressure of "getting it right." If your kid is already into active games, this is an easy add.

Ages 0-4: Start with board books and simple ball games. The goal is exposure, not expertise.

Ages 5-7: Picture book biographies and backyard games. Let them hero-worship Serena or Althea while building basic skills.

Ages 8-12: Activity books, Netflix picks, and more structured backyard drills. This is the sweet spot for sparking genuine interest.

Ages 13+: Memoirs, documentaries, and real lessons. If they're still interested, they're ready to dig into the mental game.

Tennis isn't just about the sport—it's about teaching kids to focus, fail, get back up, and try again. Books give them heroes to root for. Movies and shows make the sport feel accessible and exciting. Backyard games turn abstract concepts into muscle memory. Together, they create a foundation that goes way beyond the court.

You don't need to be a tennis parent to make this work. You just need to meet your kid where they are, give them the right mix of inspiration and play, and let their curiosity do the rest. And if they end up loving tennis? Great. If they just learn to stick with something hard? Even better.

Next Steps: Pick one book, one screen time option, and one backyard game. Start this weekend. See what sticks. And if you need more ideas, check out sports books for kids or active outdoor games for more ways to keep them moving.