Finals fever reaches AFL’s youngest fans

BEFORE the Geelong Cats went head-to-head with the Brisbane Lions on the weekend, Busy Bees day care centre in Torquay hosted an AFL-themed day for some of the sport’s littlest fans.

Busy Bees, which runs an integrated year-round sports program, decorated the centre in AFL team colours and gave the children a chance to learn the fundamentals of the game and enjoy the Grand Final season camaraderie.

 

 

Centre director Alison Townsend first noticed the children’s Grand Final excitement when she overheard them singing team anthems in the playground. It was this, she said, that inspired the AFL-themed sports day.

“There was so much excitement around the finals from the children — apart from a few disappointed Collingwood fans — but children at the centre have been so enthusiastic about getting involved in the game,” she said.

“From an educator’s point of view, it is so wonderful to see the improvements in confidence and cooperation that come from these sessions teaching children to work as a team.”

The sporting sessions were run by Little Sports Heroes, the centre’s athletics program partner.

Dylan Galofaro, Little Sports Heroes Geelong regional manager, said introducing children to sport at a young age offers benefits beyond physical development, with educators noting significant improvements in behaviour and emotional wellbeing after the sessions.

“A major part of what we do is reinforcing the basic fundamental concepts of manners, sharing, and working as a team, all the while promoting active and energised play.”

 

 

Adding to the excitement of the day, children and educators at the centre dressed up in their AFL team colours, sang the theme songs, and shared a football-themed lunch.

“I’m a big believer in team sports and getting children outside, but beyond the physical benefits, it is so fantastic to introduce children to the rich sense of community and comraderie in Geelong when it comes to football,” Townsend said.

The Busy Bees day care centre’s year-round sports program gives young children a chance to try many sports, including basketball, soccer, tennis and cricket.

“It is really fantastic to see children progressing their skills each week, and getting the confidence to try new activities and experience that sense of accomplishment that they’ve learnt something new,” Galofaro said.