The children of Mission Place Kindergarten are getting a head start in the basics of rugby, netball, football and bat-and-ball styled games thanks to a programme which was developed through a collaboration from a local kindergarten, organisation, and sporting advocate.
The Far North REAP funded-initiative is being delivered by Peter Barnett, perhaps more well known in the town for his work developing the code of cricket over the past five years. Every Tuesday and Thursday morning, Barnett arrives at Mission Place Kindergarten with some mini-cricket and softball bats, balls of all shapes and sizes, and a Crazy Catch rebound spring, and treats the kids to a one-hour session of sport-related instruction and activity.
"The kids all seem to really enjoy it," said Barnett, adding that the children's skills had improved a great deal since he began the programme.
Far North REAP spokesman Peter Visser noted one aspect of the programme was that it showed what could be done with very little equipment to help develop basic motor skills such as throwing, catching, kicking and hitting.
"It's also about offering something different," Visser said, noting Barnett appeared to be a natural at working with children and they, in turn, certainly appeared to be responding enthusiastically to the concept.
