At Fit For Kids Co, we’re always on the lookout for fun, engaging and inclusive ways to get kids moving,  and when it comes to all-round development, badminton is one of the most underrated sports in Australia!

That’s why we’re thrilled to support and help deliver Shuttle Smash, Badminton Australia’s official junior program designed specifically for primary school-aged children.

What is Shuttle Smash?

Shuttle Smash is a beginner-friendly badminton program created by Badminton Australia, tailored for children aged 5–12. It's designed to introduce the sport in a fun, safe, and supportive environment, whether it's in schools, after-school programs, or community settings.

The sessions are filled with modified games, skill-building challenges, and plenty of laughter. Coaches use smaller courts, lighter racquets, and slower shuttlecocks to help kids build confidence and success from day one.

Why It’s Great for Kids

1. Builds Coordination & Motor Skills

Badminton is a dynamic sport that enhances hand-eye coordination, footwork, balance, and reaction time. Kids improve their fine and gross motor skills in every rally.

2. Inclusive and Accessible

Shuttle Smash is non-contact, adaptable to all skill levels, and can be played by children of all abilities and backgrounds. It’s a great equaliser — and perfect for kids who may not enjoy high-contact team sports.

3. Boosts Focus and Mental Agility

The fast-paced nature of badminton keeps kids mentally sharp and engaged. Tracking a flying shuttle requires concentration, timing, and strategic thinking, all great for brain development.

4. Encourages Teamwork and Sportsmanship

Whether it’s doubles play, rotation drills or team games, Shuttle Smash reinforces the values of respect, cooperation, and resilience, on and off the court.

5. It’s Seriously Fun

Above all, Shuttle Smash brings energy, music, challenge, and playfulness into every session. Kids walk away sweaty, smiling, and asking, “Can we play again next week?”

How Schools Can Get Involved

Fit For Kids Co is proud to partner with Badminton Australia to bring Shuttle Smash to more schools across the state.

We provide:

• Qualified and energetic child-safe coaches

• All equipment included

• Full lesson plans aligned with curriculum

• Options for PE lessons, after-school clubs or incursions

Schools can start with a free trial session to experience the program firsthand.

Final Smash

Badminton might not always be top of mind when it comes to school sport, but that’s exactly why it’s so valuable.

Shuttle Smash offers something fresh, fast, and full of opportunity for growth. It’s a brilliant way to help kids develop lifelong movement habits, all while having an absolute blast.

If you’re ready to bring something new to your school or centre, we want to chat!

Email us at info@fitforkidsco.com.au to organise a trial Shuttle Smash session today.

Fit For Kids Co.

Winter mornings can be tough, cold air, foggy windows, and the lure of that warm doona make getting up a difficult endevour for all of us! 

But for kids, starting the day with a Run Club or an activity in general can be the perfect way to shake off the chill and energise both body and mind.

At Fit For Kids Co, we believe winter is the best time to build healthy movement habits and here’s why:

1. Movement Beats the Winter Blues

Colder months can lead to more screen time and lower moods, especially with reduced sunlight. A morning Run Club provides natural mood boosters like endorphins and fresh air, helping children feel more alert, focused, and positive throughout the school day.

2. Builds Mental Resilience

Getting out of bed early in winter to run takes discipline, and that’s exactly what we want to help kids build.

Run Club teaches children the value of consistency, effort, and pushing through discomfort, which are powerful life skills far beyond the sports field.

3. Cold Weather = Ideal Running Conditions

Believe it or not, cooler weather can be the most comfortable for running. Less overheating, lower dehydration risk, and fewer bugs or allergens. Winter is ideal for safe, fun outdoor activity.

4. Sets the Tone for a Focused Day

Multiple studies show that physical activity before school improves concentration, learning outcomes, and classroom behaviour. Kids arrive at their desks more settled, having burned off extra energy and built confidence in themselves.

5. Encourages Healthy Routines

Run Clubs make winter mornings purposeful and active, helping establish a structured routine. Parents love it too as it’s one less screen battle and one more positive daily habit.

What Our Run Clubs Include:

•  

• - Age-appropriate warm-ups

• - Running games and challenges

• - Personal improvement tracking

• - Encouragement over competition

• - High-energy, supportive coaches

Fit For Kids Co Run Clubs are inclusive, non-competitive, and designed for children of all fitness levels. Whether your child wants to beat their personal best or simply enjoy moving in a fun and safe space, we’ve got them covered.

Want to bring Run Club to your school this winter?

We’d love to help your students start their day with a skip in their step.

Email us to book a free trial session or to find out more:

info@fitforkidsco.com.au 

Fit For Kids Co.

When it comes to kids excelling in sport (and life), it’s not all about scoring goals or winning races. The real foundation is something far more basic and often overlooked: Fundamental Movement Skills (FMS).

At Fit For Kids Co, we believe every child deserves to master these essential building blocks to set them up for confidence, coordination, and a love of movement that lasts a lifetime.

What Are Fundamental Movement Skills?

FMS are the basic movement patterns kids need before they can learn sport-specific skills. These include:

• Locomotor skills: running, jumping, hopping, skipping

• Object control skills: catching, throwing, kicking, striking

• Stability skills: balancing, twisting, turning, dodging

Think of them as the ABCs of physical activity: if kids don’t learn them properly, everything built on top is shakier.

Why They Matter

1. Confidence to Try New Sports
   Kids who feel confident moving their bodies are more likely to participate in sport and physical activity as they grow.

2. Better Academic Performance
   Physical activity improves focus, memory, and behaviour are all linked to better learning outcomes.

3. Improved Social Skills
   Group games and movement-based play help children learn teamwork, sharing, and communication.

4. Reduced Risk of Injury
   Learning to move well reduces awkward, uncoordinated movements that often lead to sprains or falls.

How Fit For Kids Co Builds FMS Through Play

We don’t just teach kids to catch a ball, we build the foundations first.

Our sessions for early learning centres, primary schools, and out-of-school care programs include:

• - Age-appropriate activities that focus on one or two movement skills at a time

• - Games that are fun first, so kids don’t even realise they’re learning

• - Progression pathways so kids grow in skill as they grow in age

Want to Boost FMS in Your School or Centre?

Fit For Kids Co can bring structured, engaging FMS programming to:

• Kindergartens & ELCs 

• Primary schools (weekly sessions, PE support)

• OSHC providers (active afternoon sessions)

We tailor our programs to fit your needs, group sizes, and available space.

Let’s Build Strong Movers, Not Just Fast Ones

Fundamental Movement Skills are the silent superpowers behind confident kids. Let’s make sure every child gets the chance to move, grow, and shine.

Contact us to learn more about our FMS-based programs or to book a trial session at your centre.

Fit For Kids Co
info@fitforkidsco.com.au

At Fit For Kids Co, we believe the best memories are made under the sun, not behind a screen. In a world full of digital distractions, it's more important than ever to inspire kids to put down the device and step outside.

The Screen Time Struggle

Let’s face it, screens are everywhere. From tablets and TVs to gaming consoles and smartphones, kids today are growing up in a digital first world. According to research from the Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne, 2 in 3 Australian children exceed the recommended screen time guidelines, often at the expense of physical activity and outdoor play.

But here’s the good news: swapping screens for sunshine has incredible benefits for a child’s body, brain, and wellbeing. 

5 Reasons to Choose Sunshine Over Screens

1. Boosts Physical Health

Running, jumping, climbing and playing in the fresh air helps improve cardiovascular fitness, coordination, and strength. Even 30 minutes a day can make a big difference!

2. Builds Better Brains

Outdoor play encourages problem-solving, imagination, and social interaction, skills that aren’t developed by passively watching a screen.

3. Supports Mental Wellbeing

Time in nature lowers stress and boosts mood. It helps kids reset and recharge in ways that screen time can’t.

4. Encourages Real-Life Connections

Group games and team-based activities build friendships, communication, and emotional intelligence. Plus, it’s just more fun to laugh and move with friends.

5. Sparks a Lifelong Love of Movement

Getting active at an early age sets the foundation for lifelong healthy habits.

What We're Doing at Fit For Kids Co

We’re on a mission to make movement fun again. Our before and after-school sports programs, holiday clinics, and active incursions are designed to make kids want to leave their screens behind.

Whether it’s learning to rally in Shuttle Smash badminton, scoring epic goals in soccer, or zooming through agility cones at one of our Kids Run Clubs in Melbourne, we combine structured skill development with playful fun.

3 Easy Ways to Encourage More Outdoor Play at Home

1. Create a “Screen-Free Hour” each day and go for a walk, ride, or nature treasure hunt.

2. Join a local kids’ sports class (like ours!) to build routine out of the house and ensure it's a non negotiable each week.

3. Make your backyard a play zone: A few cones, balls, or chalk can go a long way to creating a fun and exciting outdoor environment for children. Try to tap into their imagination and let them become part of the process here too!

4.  

Let’s Raise a Generation That Chooses Sunshine Over Screens 

At Fit For Kids Co, we believe every child deserves the chance to move, play, and grow. Let's help them put down the screens and step into the sunshine, because that’s where friendships are formed, healthy habits are created and it's where kids thrive!

Fit For Kids Co.

When it comes to helping kids do well at school, most of us think of tutoring, homework routines, or extra reading time. But what if the real game-changer happens before the bell rings?

At Fit For Kids Co, we see the link between movement and every day learning, whether it’s in a before-school fitness session, a mid-morning sport break, or an after-school active training session. And science backs us up: physical activity is one of the most effective (and underrated) tools for boosting kids’ academic performance.

 Move First, Think Better

Recent research shows that kids who engage in moderate physical activity before or during school:

•  

• Have better memory retention

• Show improved concentration

• Are more likely to participate in class

• Experience reduced behavioural issues

This doesn’t mean running laps before algebra. It means structured, social movement—like a warm-up game, a skills circuit, or a team-based challenge.

“When children move, they prime their brains for learning. It’s that simple and powerful.”
— Australian Council for Health, Physical Education and Recreation (ACHPER)

 

What It Looks Like In Action

In our Melbourne-based programs, we often hear teachers and carers say:

• “The kids are calmer after your sessions.”

• “That one student who usually finds it hard to focus? She was engaged all morning.”

• “We saw a noticeable lift in class participation after sport.”

We believe in making physical activity:

• Fun – kids should laugh and love it

• Inclusive – every child, every ability

• Purposeful – designed with developmental goals in mind

Our trained coaches know how to blend sport skills, teamwork, and cognitive boosts within  30–45 minutes.

When to Fit It In

Not every school or centre has the same schedule, but our programs work well:

• Before school (to energise kids for the day)

• Lunchtime Class (as a brain break between lessons)

• After school (to help regulate energy and support social play)

We also offer holiday sessions for families looking to keep their kids engaged and active when school’s out.

Ready to Activate Your Learning Routine?

If you’re an educator, principal, or parent looking to:

• - Add physical activity into your child’s or school’s routine

• - Boost wellbeing and focus without screens or sugar

• - Work with a local Melbourne team who understands the needs of  kids

Let’s chat about how Fit For Kids Co can support your school, ELC, or holiday program.

Contact us at  www.fitforkidsco.com.au or info@fitforkidsco.com.au

Fit For Kids Co.