Programs
Parents ‘n Toddler Sports
Parent n Toddler Sports sessions are conducted for children between the ages of 2-5 years and their parents. They are conducted by qualified Early Childhood Teachers, provide great play ideas for parents, and enhance the parent/child relationship.
Children in the Early Childhood years are learning where their body is in space and how it works. We believe it is important for young children to feel success and freedom to explore their capabilities, without fear of failure. That’s why all Parent n Toddler Sports activities have been especially designed to be fun, supportive, cooperative and non-competitive. We believe that ALL children should have the opportunity to engage in physical activity, no matter what their ability level. “Having fun and puffing” is the overarching theme, so children are kept active throughout the session.
An essential part of the Parent n Toddler Sports’ success is the direct involvement of parents/grandparents/carers, and also, respect for the social and cultural diversity of families. We encourage the adults to be as involved as possible.
Part of the model for Parent n Toddler Sports is to help parents feel a sense of ‘connectedness’ to their community. For some parents, being new to the community, being busy in a frantic world, or being at home with young ones on their own, makes them feel isolated from their local community. Helping them to feel connected to others and also to the park environment is important in Parents ‘n Toddler Sports!
Kids Sports for Primary Schoolers
For children who are still gaining important coordination and social skills, we believe it is important that they feel a sense of success in their physical activities without fear of getting teased, as well as being able to fully participate, puff, and have fun!! The popularity of the program can be attributed to Kids Sports’ basic philosophy of; “Enabling children to have fun whilst puffing at the same time.” Kids Sports sessions are essentially fun physical activity circuits with a difference.
Developed and conducted by experienced Physical Education Teachers, every activity is designed to make all participants puff and have fun - no matter what the skill level of the participant!
No skill level is required to participate in any Kids Sports session! Each week, new activities are included, maintaining the novelty aspect of each session.
A child’s level of ability and skill is not important for enjoyment and satisfaction in any Kids Sports session; everyone can participate!
Active Parents/Walk n Talk Groups
'Walk n Talk Groups' for parents, grandparents, aunties, uncles, mums with prams etc are conducted (FREE) concurrently with some Council Kids Sports sessions (check the timetables in your area to find a session closest to you!) These walking groups not only improve your own fitness, but also provide positive role models for your children! Experienced Walk Facilitators conduct all walks and are able to accommodate you... no matter what your fitness level. Many parents have already taken advantage of getting out, talking to other parents, having fun and being active in the park!
"I love being able to do some physical activity at the same time as my kids. What a wonderful idea!"- Parent, Forest Lake
The Walking School Bus
A Walking School Bus is a relatively new trend. It consists of a group of
children walking along a set route, escorted by adult Walk Leaders and Supervisors, to a local park for a Kids Sports play session. All children using the ‘bus’ are registered to the program and all the adults undergo training and police checks.
Why is there a need for children to walk from school to the park?
Many parents are working and can’t transport their children from school to the local park or other physically vigorous activities. Walking is an easy way for kids to keep fit and it slots into their daily schedule. It doesn’t require special skills, it’s safe, and social.
As a bonus, the Walking School Bus is good for the environment; it helps to reduce pollution and traffic congestion around schools, and reduces the amount of time, stress, and petrol in the car for parents! Children’s self esteem improves, they learn road safety and road rules.
Children discover their local environment as they walk, relieve stress, and make new friends! All Walking School Bus routes are carefully planned and approved by the appropriate Council, Qld Transport, the school, and Kids Sports. All Walk Leaders and Supervisors have a blue card and have been well-trained in looking after children’s safety along the route. Walk Leaders and Supervisors wear Qld Transport fluro vests and children wear safety “seat belts” for easy recognition and visibility. Leaders carry whistles, ID badges, stop and go signs, a mobile phone, parent’s contact phone numbers and first aid kits.
Children carry their own sunscreen, water bottle and raincoat, and must wear a sun safe hat and proper shoes.
Event Management Programs
Kite-Making Family Days
Kite making sessions are a whole family event. It is a fun day, promotes cooperation, and is non-competitive. The colour and movement of the day builds the excitement so that everyone is keen to participate. The instructors make the kite-building easy and enjoyable so that alongside the task, relationships within the family are forming. Over the course of the day people have built trust with other families and thus community building begins. This is truly an experience where everyone can join in, and age/ability is no barrier.
The intergenerational aspect builds the knowledge that young and old can help each other, and have fun doing it. It has been noted that many families, after having experienced the kite-making activity, have had the confidence to follow up on their next visit to the park, flying their kites, making new kites, running, and playing together.
Family Fun Days
Family Fun Days are a great way for community groups, community centres, P&C’s, councils etc.. to enhance their community building capacities. Kids Sports is recognized for delivering quality family fun days with intergenerational fun games, picnics, plus a variety of events tailored to the needs of individual communities.
Year Four "Active Kids Fun Days"
Kids Sports currently event manages the annual Moreton Bay Regional Council Year 4 Active Kids Fun Days. These are a series of five fun days, run at different venues throughout the Shire. The days bring together local sporting clubs and local schools so that Year 4 students can come and try out sports available in the local area. This connection works to assist children in establishing active patterns that they find enjoyable and can be sustained throughout the whole of life.
A ‘Rotational’ model where every child rotates through every activity throughout the day, giving them the opportunity to experience all activities, is used. Activities may include basketball, netball, rugby league, rugby union, AFL, soccer, multi-sports, hockey, cricket, beach volleyball, baseball, gymnastics, Tae Kwon Do, golf, athletics, and so on. All schools are sent a timetable detailing the times and the space utilized for all activities.
All children stay in their class groups and rotate through all activities under the supervision of their classroom teacher. This model ensures all children are supervised at all times (and by someone who knows them). It also assists Sports Activity Providers in conducting their activity smoothly.
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