Participating in sports can have numerous benefits for children with special needs. Sports can help children with special needs develop social skills, build self-esteem, and improve self-confidence. Physical activity is also essential for overall health and well-being, and sports can provide a fun way for children with special needs to stay active. Furthermore, participating in sports can help children with special needs develop their coordination and motor skills, which can positively impact their daily lives.
Recently, KicksandGoals sponsored a soccer camp at AchieveKids School in Palo Alto, a non-profit school that specializes in working with children who have special needs. The camp provided an opportunity for selected children to participate in a scrimmage and enjoy healthy competition through sports. Bailey Reed, a development associate at AchieveKids, emphasized the significance of teamwork in the success of the AK program. She explained that every staff member, including teachers, paraprofessionals, behaviorists, mental health professionals, speech therapists, occupational therapists, transition associates, among others, collaborate and work together to create strategies to help every student be successful. Each of the students at AchieveKids has an individualized plan, and it is inspiring to see staff members share ideas, resources, and skills to create a supportive community.
Bailey Reed further expressed her love for working with the program and highlighted the bright, funny, and kind nature of the students at AchieveKids. She added that watching students grow and thrive is an absolute privilege, and staff members get to see them become more independent and more confident in themselves. AchieveKids has created a culture of support that makes it easy for staff members to enjoy coming to work.
In conclusion, sports can have many positive effects on children with special needs. They can improve their social skills, build self-esteem, improve self-confidence, and enhance coordination and motor skills. The recent soccer camp sponsored by KicksandGoals at AchieveKids School in Palo Alto highlights the benefits of sports for children with special needs, and the supportive community at AchieveKids makes it an ideal place for children with special needs to thrive.