Words from our President January 2025

Jen Evans • January 16, 2025

WELCOME TO 2025! 


While I do love the holiday season, I am incredibly excited to dive into a new year filled with possibility and growth. I’m coming up on a birthday this month, and it has occurred to me that I am now in about the last 35% of my life (yikes!). So, in light of that terrifying reality, I’ve committed myself to 'controlling the weather' around me this year by spreading gratitude, solutions, and growth wherever possible. Seems my first step in 2025 was to jump feet first into understanding today’s child and how the digital landscape has impacted them.


CHILD DEVELOPMENT AND THE DIGITAL AGE


Recently, I've been deeply inspired by Jonathan Haidt's groundbreaking book, The Anxious Generation, which has me contemplating how childhood has transformed over the past 15 years…And boy he has shared some truths that have hit home for me. Haidt highlights how we've been so intent on protecting children in the physical world that we have (generally speaking) under-protected them in the virtual world. For many children, gone are the days of monkey bars, tree climbing, neighborhood play time until dinner was ready; all for reasons we understand, but true nonetheless. By focusing too much on protecting children from perceived physical dangers while neglecting the risks of the digital world, parents are inadvertently contributing to what Haidt calls "The Great Rewiring" of childhood. He believes it is causing an epidemic of mental health diagnoses among young people.


A SHIFT WE CAN’T IGNORE


Haidt's research is not only about the technological shift, but it also highlights a critical shift since 2010 from a play-based childhood to a phone-based experience that it is fundamentally reshaping how our children learn and play. This shift also impacts how they develop resilience, social skills, and independence (and so much more). 


Recently, I’ve been spending my weekends at my son’s high school wrestling tournaments. This past weekend, I saw a young child wearing a shirt that said “Be Respectful. Be Responsible. Be Safe.” Although the message was well intended, my immediate thought was what if we instead encouraged “Be Respectful. Be Responsible. Be Courageous.” 


Can more courage in the physical world (with appropriate oversight of course) and more caution in the virtual world lead to more opportunities for discovery, problem solving, and confident decision making in childhood?


KIDS FIRST’S COMMITMENT TO YOUR CHILD


We do things intentionally different at Kids First. Giving kids the life long tools to help them develop into happy, healthy responsible adults is our primary goal. 


Kids First is committed to bridging the gap between the play-based childhood that existed prior to 2010 and today's phone-based childhood. We are deliberate in our instruction. We engage with children through physical activity. We create learning opportunities that allow children to build confidence in their decision making, learn risk assessment, develop physical literacy, and connect with others in meaningful face-to-face interactions. 


AN INVITATION TO CONNECT


As we look forward to 2025, Kids First remains committed to providing an environment that counteracts the isolation and anxiety many young people experience in the digital world. We will work daily to support your child's growth - physically, emotionally, and socially. While we may not solve the problems Haidt shares, we can make a profound difference in the lives of the children and families we serve; one child, one lesson, one moment of connection at a time. We may not change the world, but we absolutely can change the world of each child who walks through our doors.


PLEASE JOIN US


I invite you to read The Anxious Generation, and join us for a discussion and education series. We hope to bring together parents, teachers, coaches, or anyone who may be interested in diving deeper into this overwhelming phenomenon. Looking back, I wish this book had been available to me prior to the first moment I opened up the digital world to my children.

If you’d like to be a part of a discussion group, or would be interested in spearheading one, please follow this link. 

I know this was a lengthy email. Thank you for your time, and most especially, thank you for choosing Kids First.


Gratefully,

Jen


---

JENNIFER EVANS
President
Kids First Sports Center
7900 E Kemper Rd | Cincinnati, OH 45249


WE WOULD LOVE TO HEAR YOUR THOUGHTS...

SHARE THE LOVE...

THERE'S MORE FROM KIDS FIRST...

A young boy is kicking a soccer ball on a field.

How Gym Jam and Tumble Bees Classes Can Make Your Child A Better Athlete

By A Strong • July 1, 2025
Gymnastics and Tumbling classes can significantly benefit your child's performance in other sports by improving their core physical abilities like flexibility, balance, coordination, agility, and body awareness. These ability are are crucial for performing well in a wide range of athletic activities, allowing them to move more freely and potentially reducing the risk of injury. The skills developed in gymnastics and tumbling essentially act as a foundational training program for various sports. Key benefits of tumbling for other sports: Enhanced Flexibility: Tumbling exercises like splits, stretches, and back bends improve overall flexibility, which can be beneficial for quick movements, absorbing impact, and preventing muscle pulls in other sports like soccer, basketball, or gymnastics. Improved Coordination and Balance: Skills like cartwheels, handstands, and somersaults helps children develop better spatial awareness and control over their body movements, leading to better coordination on the field or court. Increased Agility: The dynamic movements we practiced in Gym Jam and Tumble Bees train the body to quickly shift direction and change posture, which is crucial for agility in sports like tennis, hockey, and field hockey. Strength Development: Every class engages various muscle groups, building core strength and stability, which is essential for power and endurance in most sports. Mental Focus and Discipline: Learning tumbling skills often requires concentration and practice, which can translate to improved focus and mental discipline during other athletic activities. Examples of how tumbling can benefit specific sports: Soccer: Improved agility to quickly change direction while dribbling, better balance to maintain control of the ball. Basketball: Enhanced jumping ability and coordination for dunking and rebounding, better body control for quick changes in direction. Volleyball: Improved jumping and landing techniques for powerful spikes and better reaction time to the ball. Track and Field: Increased flexibility for improved running form and better ability to recover from falls.
Children are sitting on the floor and doing exercises at Tumble Bees at Kids First Sports

Is Your Child Strong Enough For School?

By A Strong • July 1, 2025
Did you know that core strength is the foundation for typical movement patterns and achievement of age-appropriate gross motor milestones for all children? The progression of your child's motor skills from simple tasks to ones that are more complex relies heavily on their core strength! Weak core muscles can present in your child in a variety of different ways. In infancy, tasks such as tolerating tummy time, rolling, crawling on hands and knees, sitting up unsupported, pulling to stand, and independently cruising and walking, all would be challenging for those with weak core muscles. As your child's caregiver, it is important to look out for and address any weakness or muscular imbalance to avoid potential delays in your child's gross motor development and to prevent any atypical movement patterns from developing. But what is your core and what does "core strength" mean? The word "core," as it relates to the body, refers not only to one's superficial abdominal muscles but also the muscles found in the back, shoulders, obliques, and deep core muscles including in the pelvic floor. Good core strength creates a stable base in the body improving balance, body awareness, and coordination. When children are given the tools to build proper core strength they have the foundation needed to develop complex gross motor skills like climbing stairs, skipping, jumping with two feet off the floor, and navigating obstacles. So, if lack of core strength can affect a child's gross motor development from a very young age, what does this mean for them as it pertains to fine motor skill development and school readiness? Children who lack of core strength may struggle to keep their bodies stable and upright while in a seated position (in a chair or on the floor). Children who lack the strength to sit for a period of time will also miss out on the development of their fine motor skills like picking up and manipulating small objects (eating, playing with blocks or puzzles), coloring and writing letters and numbers with control and accuracy or even cutting on a line with scissors. A child who is too weak to sit must direct their focus on keeping their body upright and still instead of on fine motor skill they should be practicing. The best way children build core strength is by participating in unstructured, spontaneous play. These days, kids are more likely to spend the majority of their day in front of a screen rather than getting out and participating in unstructured, spontaneous play. This lack of activity and movement leads to bodies and brains that don't receive the stimulation and input that physical play provides. Caregivers can also provide opportunities for their children to participate in classes like Tumble Bees. Group classes can be a fun way to introduce your child to a wide variety of physical challenges that can help them to not only build the physical strength and endurance they will need to be ready for school but also provides age appropriate social and emotional development (which also contribute to school readiness!) The more diverse and varied the movements are, the better a child can gain the strength needed for everyday tasks!

Words from our President, May 2025

By Jen Evans • May 30, 2025
Dear Kids First Families, I hope you’re all surviving the end of school year hustle, field days, graduations, and vacation planning! As a parent myself-I often reflect on the journeys our children take, both the easy stretches and the more challenging ones. I want to take a moment to share some thoughts with you, not just as a leader of this organization, but as someone who truly understands the hopes, dreams, and worries that come with raising a child. Every week, I have the privilege of seeing your children walk through our doors-sometimes with big smiles, sometimes with nervous glances, and sometimes with determination in their eyes. I see the way you encourage them, the way you celebrate their victories, and the way you stand by them when things get tough. These moments remind me daily that struggle is not something to be feared, but something to be embraced. Whether your child is learning a new skill, making new friends, or working through a setback, these experiences are shaping them into resilient, compassionate, and capable individuals. I know it’s not always easy to watch our children struggle. It’s natural to want to step in and smooth the path for them. But every challenge they face-and every time they get back up-helps them build confidence and character that will last a lifetime. At Kids First, we are honored to walk alongside your family in these crucial developmental years. Our coaches and staff are here not only to teach skills, but to nurture perseverance and a love for learning. We celebrate every effort, every small step forward, and every lesson learned-because we know these are the moments that matter most. Thank you for trusting us with your child’s growth and for being such an important part of our Kids First community. If you ever want to share your child’s story, have questions, or just need a little encouragement, please know we are always here to listen, to talk, and to elevate your family’s Kids First experience. We are in this together, and together, we can help our kids become the very best versions of themselves, and give them the tools to develop into happy, healthy, responsible adults. Here at KF, we love hearing about your children’s journeys-please feel free to reply to this email or stop me (or any Kids First employee) in the hallway to share your stories or feedback! Gratefully, Jen --- JENNIFER EVANS President Kids First Sports Center 7900 E Kemper Rd | Cincinnati, OH 45249
The logo for cincinnati 's best first job at Kids First Sports Center

Cincinnati's Best First Job

By Jen Evans • February 12, 2025
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.
A blue and black logo for ninja connect

Join Ninja Connect 2025

By Corey Tucker • February 7, 2025
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.
A Day in the Life at Kids First Academy

A Day in the Life at Kids First Academy

By Angela Chin • November 25, 2024
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!
More Posts