Sports Program

Learning Outcomes

According to The Early Years Learning Framework for Australia, there are 5 learning outcomes for children between birth to 5 years. They are:

OUTCOME 1: Children have a strong sense of identity.

OUTCOME 2: Children are connected with and contribute to their world.

OUTCOME 3: Children have a strong sense of wellbeing.

OUTCOME 4: Children are confident and involved learners.

OUTCOME 5: Children are effective communicators.

Our Focus

Little Montessori Sports focuses on mental and physical development in early childhood with the utilisation of Montessori philosophy. Our sport program is designed to be delivered within childcare settings, so we can bring all our special equipment and coaches to you. Our program is suitable for children between the age of 2 – 6 years old.

The delivery of our program follows a fun, supportive and collaborative approach. Our lessons are structured and aim to deliver skill development and retention. This is achieved through key stages of our lesson plans.

We always start the program with warm up activities. Warmups are great to get the body moving and the muscles active.

We then follow-up with a discussion of the lesson and where needed, examples of the actions required to complete the activity. This allows the children to retain information through verbal and visual instruction.

From there we begin our activities. We have many different activities in our lesson plan. From practising and playing a variation of sports including soccer, basketball and hockey to activities inspired by athletics and obstacle courses. The main activities aim to not only promote physical development but also key values of critical thinking, leadership, and teamwork.

Once our main activities are complete, we always ensure to practise cooling down activities.

Once this is done the lesson is over! And we can revisit the following week to provide another exciting program.

Age Group

The program is separated into three age groups: 2-3 years old, 3-4 years old and kinder aged (4 years and over). For children aged above 3, the program also provides theoretical classes about sports and physical activity for the children.

We separate the children according to their age so we can accommodate their individual needs and abilities, as children develop rapidly within their early years.

Children aged 2-3 years play games which revolve around basic skills that require minimal cognitive use, as they are only just beginning their physical development and hence their fine and gross motor skills are still developing.

Children aged 3-4 years and over engage with activities which work to stimulate their cognitive abilities and work to develop their skills in analysis and precontemplation as their physical skills are more developed and hence, they can use both physical and mental skills.

Sports Program Activities

Animal Play

This game works to encourage imagination and creativity within the children, as well as teaching the children to identify and understand different animals.

Caterpillar

This game works to encourage spatial perception and awareness, as well as motor skills for the children. The reduced space of the tunnel also encourages children to be familiar with smaller spaces and consider the most effective way to move through a confined space.

Hula Hoops

This activity teaches the children how to use the hoops, which involves movement of the hips and abdomen. It works to improve range of motion and mobility. When the children jump between hoops, they are able to improve accuracy and aim, as well as the overall motion of jumping.

Parachute

The underlying purpose of this game is to encourage teamwork within the children. The children must work together to ensure the balls are not lost. This game also requires the children to use coordination and analysis of where particular movements.

Spoon and Egg

This game encourages coordination and determination for the children. They are required to be precise and coordinated while multitasking with the spoon held, as well as walking to the finish.

Tactile Mats

Within this game, the children are required to feel and describe the texture of the mat they are standing on. This encourages children to use their sense of touch primarily, but also encourages the children's language skills in describing what they are feeling.

Potato Sack Race

This activity functions to encourage children to think about how they can move around effectively when they are physically restricted. The children must contemplate how to manoeuvre around safely and effectively. The children are also encouraged to support and cheer for one another, encouraging respect for one another.

Running Around Zig Zag Cones

The game encourages children to concentrate and coordinate their movement so they can get through the cones in sufficient time. If they are timed, they are encouraged to do their personal best and race to the best of their ability. This encourages persistence and determination to improve and do their best.

Sport Simulation

This activity requires the children to develop a sense of accuracy and precision in where they aim and roll, kick, hit or throw the ball. It requires them to be strategic and plan their actions so the required task is achieved.

Targeting

This game functions to enable the children to understand aim and targeting their throws in a certain direction. It also involves teamwork, in which the children understand they cannot try their turn until the child before them has succeeded, meaning they are encouraged to support one another.

Ring Toss

This game works to aid children in developing their hand-eye coordination, as they must aim for the peg and throw the ring accordingly. The children must also be able to manipulate the speed and force at which they throw the ring so that it both thrown far enough, but also not thrown too far.

Mini Olympics

While all of the previous activities are completed weekly throughout the year, at the end of each year a competition takes place in which the children can demonstrate their refined skills. The event has a duration of around 1 and half hours and works to get the parents involved in order to practise all the skills they have learnt throughout the year for their family. The Olympics also give the children an ultimate goal throughout the year, as they can demonstrate their skills to their loved ones. The mini Olympics is also a great opportunity for an excursion, as the children walk to the nearest sporting ground to participate in the activities. This allows for the children to experience big sporting ground whilst also being encouraged by parents, guests, and staff.