Seattle HappyFeet’s coaching philosophy centers around our belief that through our soccer programs, children can develop social-emotional skills, a positive self-concept and gross motor skills. Our age-appropriate curriculum focuses on the whole child by utilizing our Move and Big Idea of the Month in fun and interactive ways.
Our soccer programs embody our philosophy by ensuring each child has a “Bob” at their feet to encourage engagement and participation while focusing on their developmental stages. Each class uses imaginative games and adventures that embrace the rapidly developing mind of 2-6 year olds.
BIG IDEA OF THE MONTH
Each month our adventures focus on a new life skill or “Big Idea.” These help our HappyFeeters develop Brave Creative Leadership skills. For example, one month may have the Big Idea of ‘problem solving’, while another month may be ‘helping others’. This allows our classes to help each child develop not only gross motor skills, but also social and emotional skills as they use their fun and exciting imagination to go to new places! During our leagues and neighborhood classes our coaches demonstrate our Big Ideas throughout each session in the way they lead and interact with our HappyFeeters.
MOVE OF THE MONTH
Each month our coaches focus their adventures and games on a new soccer move or “Move of the Month”. Each Move of the Month is broken down to the most basic steps for even our youngest HappyFeeters to learn. As they grow and progress we add additional steps to the move, use the move in different ways, or begin to combine moves together. Our leagues and neighborhood classes highlight one of the eight core Moves of the Month each week.
PROGRESSIVE CURRICULUM
Our curriculum progresses as our HappyFeeters grow. Our soccer programs encourage the development of our HappyFeeters based on their age and with the Washington State Early Learning and Development Guidelines in mind.
2-YEARS OLD
- Encourage expressive language by asking the children to pick their favorite colors, animals, etc.
- Provide each child their own “Bob” to encourage independence and refining balance and coordination
- Engage in pretend play and creativity by taking “Bob” on imaginative adventures
3-YEARS OLD
- Foster independence and problem-solving by asking the children for their input during adventures
- Create opportunities for cooperative play, to encourage teamwork and achieve common goals
- Use symbolic play to spark creativity and imagination by using soccer moves as an instrument throughout each adventure
4-YEARS OLD
- Provide situations for the children to make decisions surrounding the adventure or game to help foster independence
- Encourage curiosity while allowing the children to explore and empathize with the world around them
- Use active warm-ups to promote body and safety awareness
- Develop persistence by providing ample opportunities to attempt harder soccer moves
5-6 YEARS OLD
- Encourage children to self regulate by identifying and verbalizing emotions during game play
- Give children scenarios to practice abstract thinking through inventive and flexible solutions
- Introduce multi-step soccer moves that increase coordination and fine motor skills
“I learned all about life with a ball at my feet” -Ronaldinho
At Seattle HappyFeet
Immigrants and Refugees are Welcome, Disabilities are Respected, Black Lives Matter,
Women are in Charge of Their Bodies, All Religions are Embraced, LGBTQI+ Rights are Human Rights, People and Planet are Valued Over Profit, Diversity is Celebrated,
and KINDNESS is EVERYTHING.