“What if my child isn’t an athlete?” It’s the first question many parents ask. And our answer is often the first thing to put them at ease.

The Athlos Athletic Curriculum is not about training budding professionals, nor does it measure student against student. It is a professionally developed plan of age-appropriate fitness goals that apply to every child at every athletic level. Athlos chooses Athletics as one third of our overall curriculum for these distinct advantages.

Research in the U.S. and throughout the world shows a clear link between physical activity and academic achievement. Kids who participate in a variety of physical activities perform better on standardized test as well as in creative exercises.* The Athlos Athletic Curriculum provides direct support to each student’s Academic studies.

A rise in childhood obesity has been garnering more attention and concern for the long-term wellbeing of young people. Besides affecting physical health, a lack of exercise has been shown to relate to depression and low self-esteem.** Not only do regularly scheduled fitness activities increase a student’s health and self-confidence, they become an essential teaching vehicle to put the Athlos Character Curriculum into context.

Athlos Leadership Academy uses Athletics as a tool – not just to create good habits, improve skills, and promote healthy bodies – but as a vehicle for teaching Character. Our Athletics Curriculum outlines age-appropriate, individual fitness goals that teach grit, courage, focus and the virtues of competition. Turf instructors also mix in team sports to add fun, and also to give an opportunity to learn leadership, integrity, humility, and optimism. Since young children learn in a physical way, Athletics helps bridge play and lessons about these high-level concepts. And as any Athlos student knows, combining learning and Athletics is a great way to learn.

Learn more about our Character Curriculum

Read how physical fitness in school supports Prepared Minds and Healthy Bodies

* The Relationship Between Physical Activity and Cognition in Children: A Meta-Analysis, Pediatric Exercise Science, 2003, 15, 243-256

** Regular Exercise Reduces Depressive Symptoms, Improves Self-Esteem In Overweight Children, ScienceDaily, March 18, 2009