Young Athletes is a unique sport and play program for children with and without intellectual disabilities. The focus is on fun activities that are important to mental and physical growth. Children aged 2 to 7 enjoy games and activities that develop motor skills and hand-eye coordination.
Young Athletes is an early introduction to sports and to the world of Special Olympics. The children learn new things, play and have lots of fun. The skills developed using the Young Athletes curriculum prepare children to transition to Special Olympics sports teams and competition settings once they reach the age of 8. The Young Athletes program is flexible and can be offered in a school or community setting as well as by parents at home.
Young Athletes Resources
Young Athletes at Home – A one-stop shop for all Young Athletes Resources available in six different languages (English, French, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, and Russian).
Young Athletes Family Flashcards – Fun and engaging flashcards featuring individual activities and at-home equipment modifications for families.
Young Athletes Videos – Follow along with Special Olympics coaches as they teach basic sports skills- throwing, catching, jumping, and more!
Unified Young Reader’s Club – Complement your Young Athletes play with storytime. Check out this list of inclusive books and accompanying activities.
Program Benefits
Development of motor skills and eye-hand coordination at the athletes’ skill and ability level
Inclusive interactions that leads to friendships based on respect and acceptance
Provides families a vehicle to empower one another to see their children’s potential
Need More Information?
If you are interested in our Young Athletes program and have questions, please message us and let us know!
