Holding a scarf while skipping over cones just might win some local children an Olympic medal.
Toddlers and preschoolers at People Understanding Special Handicaps (PUSH) childhood development center are preparing for Special Olympics thanks to a new "Young Athletes Program."
Mary Dee Boemker, field services director for Special Olympics Kentucky, said the program just began in the state two weeks ago, but has been in some states, such as New Jersey, for almost two years. PUSH is the first location in Frankfort to participate, Boemker said.
"We're just starting the Young Athletes Program," Boemker said. "We thought PUSH would be a good fit for the program."
Boemker said the program is for ages 2-7 and was developed through the Special Olympics organization at the request of parents who wanted some sort of exercise for children too young to meet the Special Olympics' age requirement of being at least 8 years old.
"Young Athletes is really structured," Boemker said. "Some activities lead up to Special Olympics sports."
Willye Elliott, who does public relations for PUSH and is an intern at the center through Kentucky State University's social work program, is leading the Young Athletes program.
The preschool class stretches, skips, hops and plays a variety of games as part of the program.
She said the free half-hour program will be a regular fixture Tuesdays at PUSH. Toddlers and preschoolers will learn gross motor and cognitive skills through the activities, Elliott said.
"I want them to learn self-sufficiency and how to work with others," Elliott said. "It's an excellent opportunity to help a child develop. It's actually fun."
Last Tuesday, the first day of the program, preschoolers paired up with third-graders from Regina Roseberry's class at Good Shepherd School to play the games and complete exercises.
Roseberry said each GSS class participates in a service-learning project. She said one of the parents in her class suggested the third-graders mentor children at PUSH.
Third-graders helped preschoolers participate in the exercises during the Young Athletes Program. They showed them how to skip and jump over small hurdles.
Roseberry said the partnership with PUSH is good for her students because it teaches them about tolerance, acceptance and respect, because some of the children at PUSH have physical or mental disabilities.
"They get to see kids in a different setting," Roseberry said. "We want to serve them."
Elliott said she was pleased for the first run-through of the program.
"I think it went pretty good," she said. "I think having the older children helps them (preschoolers) stay focused."
Boemker said the games and exercises in the Young Athletes program can translate into the home or be done at church or school.
"It's great for the parent and child and sibling to spend some time together," Boemker said. "It's a wonderful program to get children active, involved and socializing."