What does every child want? The chance to kick a ball, to throw it well, to share that success with family members. What does every child with intellectual disabilities want? The exact same thing.
A Head Start
Special Olympics Young Athletes is a sport and play program for children with and without intellectual disabilities (ID), ages 2 to 7 years old. Young Athletes introduces basic sport skills, like running, kicking and throwing. Young Athletes offers families, teachers, caregivers and people from the community the chance to share the joy of sports with all children.
Children of all abilities take part, and they all benefit.
Children learn how to play with others and develop important skills for learning. Children also learn to share, take turns and follow directions. These skills help children in family, community and school activities.
Young Athletes is a fun way for children to get fit. It is important to teach children healthy habits while they are young. This can set the stage for a life of physical activity, friendships and learning.
Through Young Athletes, all children, their families and people in the community can be a part of an inclusive team.
Young Athletes welcomes children and their families into the world of Special Olympics.
- Motor skills. Children with ID who took part in Young Athletes developed motor skills more than twice as fast as others who did not take part.
- Social, emotional and learning skills. Parents and teachers of children who took part in the Young Athletes curriculum said the children learned skills that they will use in pre-primary school.
- Expectations. Family members say that Young Athletes raised their hopes for their child’s future.
- Sport readiness. Young Athletes helps children get ready to take part in sports when they are older.
- Acceptance. Inclusive play helps children without a disability to better understand and accept others.
Support and Inspiration
Young Athletes supports children all around the world in schools, communities and at home. Young Athletes helps lead children into a bright new world of sports and social skills, pride and possibility.
Play Activities
The Special Olympics Play Activities Program is for children 6 and 7 years old who do not yet compete in Special Olympics. These play activities increase young children’s strength and coordination for sports, and introduce children to group play and the cooperation and awareness of rules that is requires.