Primary school children can join in free skipping workshops by the Heart Foundation.
On Saturday 26 August, good vibrations will be felt across the ACT, as the inaugural Skipping for Healthy Hearts program kicks off in the Inner City, Belconnen, Gungahlin, Woden and Tuggeranong.
These fun, free, and accessible skipping workshops are one of multiple sports programs that will receive funding over the next three years to get kids in the ACT moving again.
Skipping for Healthy Hearts will run every Saturday afternoon across all five regions.
“Research shows that even prior to COVID-19 lockdowns, kids in the ACT were not meeting recommendations for daily physical activity,” says program coordinator Clare Sullivan.
“The aim of the program is to make physical activity a normal part of their daily lives again.
“Screen time, especially during the pandemic, has become a challenge for many families to manage. We want to get kids back in touch with their bodies and feeling confident to participate in sport.
“A huge goal is to make our program as accessible as possible. One of the great things about skipping is that it’s a low barrier to entry sport.”
The program is free to enter, and every child will be given a skipping rope so that they can practice at home between Saturdays.
“All they need to do is show up with comfortable shoes on,” Ms Sullivan said.
As well as being a fantastic way to build coordination, skipping is often a social activity for young kids, which is why the Heart Foundation has a longstanding relationship with it. Their Jump Rope for Heart fundraiser has raised much needed funds for the charity over the past 42 years!
Unlike Jump Rope for Heart, no donation is required to participate in Skipping for Healthy Hearts. Each program will run for six weeks, four times a year .
Parents are encouraged to stick around and supervise. Each workshop will be led by two qualified coaches, trained by none other than World Record holder and Australia’s Got Talent alumnus, Luke Boon.
Spots are limited and filling up fast. For registration forms and FAQs, visit www.heartfoundation.org.au/skipping-for-healthy-hearts
