Dream Big. Embrace the Challenge.

Cincinnati's Best First Job For over 50 years, Kids First has been a trusted name in providing exceptional care and development for children in Cincinnati and surrounding communities. We also take pride in offering young adults a fantastic first job experience. Each year, we employ over 300 individuals, many of whom are new to the workforce, and help them grow through valuable leadership, communication, and child development skills. Join us as we continue to positively impact both the kids we serve and the future leaders we develop.

Level up your skills with NinjaConnect's 2025! The Ninja Conference for owners, staff and leaders to connect and build up The Ninja Community. Get ready to take your business to the next level.

Dear Kids First families, Happy Fall! I want to take a moment to simply express our gratitude to you for the opportunity to serve your family at Kids First Sports Center. Your trust and support are vital to our mission, and we are honored to be part of your children's lives. For over 26 years, our mission at Kids First has been to do good things for kids; specifically to give kids the tools to develop into happy, healthy, responsible adults. We have remained steadfast in that commitment and strive daily to be the best we can be for all of ‘kids of Kids First' . My Kids First Story Unlike many of my friends in Cincinnati, I’m not a Cincinnati native. Originally from a small town in southern Oregon, I moved to Centerville, Ohio with the goal of learning enough about coaching the sport of women’s gymnastics that I could go 'home' to open a gym of my own. That was 1996. Fate had other plans. In 1998, at 25 years old (please don't do the math!), I stumbled across Kids First and its Founder, Jeff Metzger. That single happenstance changed my life. Not only did I find a place that allowed me to coach athletes with the greater goal of 'whole child development', but I also found a place I would raise my future children and call home. What you may not realize, is that not all youth sports centers function like Kids First. Here, we truly do put Kids First. We know there is a small window in the lives of kids where we can make an incredible impact on the way children view themselves, their value, and how they tackle challenge. Most importantly, through the activities we offer, we have become a place of development through play, a place where goal setting and achieving is taught, and a place where kids truly LOVE to learn. In the months ahead, I plan to share more about our Kids First story, our mission, and our grounding principals through an email series titled Words From Our President . As we kick off this school year, I want to thank you for being part of our Kids First family and for allowing us to create experiences that will stay with your child for years to come. Without your support, our mission to give kids the tools to develop into happy, healthy, responsible adults is impossible to achieve. Sadly, September is coming to a close. I hope you enjoy the last remnants of summer weather, the coming of cool mornings and falling leaves, and more pumpkin spice than any single person needs! Gratefully, Jen --- JENNIFER EVANS President, Kids First Sports Center

Kids First Academy - A Day in the Life Check out this short video showcasing the activities and enjoyment that students at Kids First Academy experience!

How This After School Program Made Parenting 10x Easier! Hear a parent share her thoughts on the before and after school program at Kids First Academy in her own words. Discover what sets it apart, what it offers, and why it’s the ideal choice for all families!