Little Kicks® classes & parties

Little Kicks is now in Stirling!!

Andrew Henderson, a local dad, has set up the Little Kicks franchise in the Stirling and Falkirk area. After speaking to some of the other 70 franchisees who spoke about the success of the programme, and how the children love the Little Kicks experience in the rest of the UK, Andrew realised there was huge demand for this type of activity in Stirling.

Having two children of his own, Andrew found that although there were pre-school activities for children to attend, there was nothing that measured up to the innovative structure and concepts of the Little Kicks classes.

Childhood obesity in the UK

After a meeting with the owners of Little Kicks, Andrew not only saw the immense success of the programme, but he also agreed with the health-conscious founders that there was a need to do something to respond to the epidemic proportions childhood obesity has reached in the UK. Children in the UK are getting fatter – it’s a fact! Did you know that in Scotland nearly 1 in 5 18% boys and over 1 in 10 14% girls aged 2-15 are obese.*

Providing children with a positive introduction to sport can help nip this problem in the bud. Studies have shown that children who adopt healthy eating and physical activity patterns are substantially less likely to become overweight adults: it is much easier to prevent children from becoming overweight than to correct the problem at a later date.

The Health Education Authority recommends that children should try to participate in moderate activity for one hour a day. Studies have shown that less than half of all three year olds fulfil this aim. If things are allowed to continue along this current trajectory, it is forecast that the numbers of obese children in the UK will have increased by a further 17% by 2010. Therefore, the need to provide children of this age group with a positive introduction to sport has never been greater.

* Scottish Public Health Observatory

Little Kicks classes

Little Kicks runs the UK’s most popular pre-school football and activity programme, which is attended by over 10,000 children per week. Little Kicks classes help both boys and girls discover the rewards of regular structured exercise, laying the foundations for fit and healthy lives. Developed and regularly enhanced by FA qualified coaches and nursery school teachers, with ongoing input from child health specialists, Little Kicks introduces real football skills through exciting group play activities. Valuable concepts such as sharing, taking turns, teamwork and listening are incorporated into the activities. The classes also enable the children to develop agility, co-ordination and balance with early learning concepts such as colours and numbers gently introduced through play at a very young age.

The Little Kicks programme works on the basis that children are much more likely to learn if their imaginations are engaged and skills are introduced through play, rather than formal drills. The company’s motto “play not push” reflects this. Little Kicks has formed multiple alliances with clubs offering classes for older children so that once a child turns 7 they can continue to enjoy the beautiful game in a more formal environment. League toppers such as Chelsea FC, Spurs, Reading and Manchester City all enjoy close links with Little Kicks.

For further information about classes operating in your area, please contact

Andrew on 01786 842973 or visit www.littlekicks.co.uk.

 

 

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