Every summer, district leaders face the same challenge: How do you keep students engaged, active, and developing while school doors are closed and staff resources are stretched thin? At the same time, parents are seeking affordable, safe, and meaningful programs that align with their child’s developmental needs. Increasingly, school administrators are finding a strategic solution in Kidokinetics—a turnkey, movement-based summer program designed to strengthen physical literacy, support social-emotional learning, and deliver measurable benefits without adding to staff workload.

Founded by Terri Braun, Kidokinetics partners with schools to bring structured, multi-sport enrichment rooted in research and built around one core belief: active children are better learners, better leaders, and more confident human beings. “We exist to help children fall in love with movement for life,” Braun often says. “Summer is one of the most powerful times to shape that relationship, because schools finally have time, space, and flexibility to focus on the whole child.”

The Summer Opportunity Schools Can’t Ignore

A growing body of research shows that summer is a critical period for child development. According to the National Summer Learning Association, students can lose up to two months of academic progress during the break—particularly in literacy and math. But studies also show that consistent physical activity boosts cognitive performance, confidence, memory, and emotional regulation. Meanwhile, the CDC notes that children who participate in regular, moderate-to-vigorous physical activity demonstrate improved attention, classroom behavior, and academic performance during the school year.

In other words: movement is not a “nice-to-have” in summer learning—it’s a developmental tool. Kidokinetics is built around this exact philosophy. Its curriculum combines physical skill-building with structured play designed to reinforce focus, teamwork, motor skills, decision-making, and resilience—all essential SEL competencies.

A Turnkey Solution in a Time of Staffing Shortages

For district and school leaders, one of summer’s biggest barriers isn’t programming—it’s staffing. Teachers need rest. Budgets need guarding. And supervision requirements don’t disappear just because the school year ends.

This is where Kidokinetics becomes a compelling value-add. The program provides:

• Fully trained and certified coaches
  
  
• Background-checked staff
  
  
• All equipment and curriculum
  
  
• Flexible scheduling that aligns with campus hours
  
  
• No additional burden on teachers or administrators
  

Schools simply provide space; Kidokinetics handles the rest.

“Schools want impact without added strain,” Braun explains. “Our model eliminates the staffing challenge. We bring the people, the materials, and the structure, so schools can expand opportunity without expanding workload.”

Movement as an Extension of Whole-Child Learning

Kidokinetics is not a typical sports camp. Rather than focusing on competition or a single sport, its multi-activity model emphasizes progression, confidence, and exposure. Children rotate through a wide range of sports and movement experiences—everything from soccer and track basics to pickleball, parachute games, reaction drills, and balance training.

This approach supports:

• Physical literacy (balance, coordination, agility, spatial awareness)
  
  
• SEL skills (self-regulation, collaboration, resilience)
  
  
• Cognitive development (pattern recognition, strategic thinking, memory)
  
  
• Health and wellness habits that carry into the school year
  

Because there are no “benchwarmers” and no emphasis on winning, students of every skill level and personality are included—an important alignment with MTSS, SEL frameworks, and Whole Child initiatives many districts are prioritizing.

A Win for Families—and a Boost to Community Trust

As workforce demands grow, parents are seeking extended-day and summer options that are safe, developmental, and convenient. When schools host Kidokinetics, parents benefit from:

• On-site programs (no extra travel or logistics)
  
  
• Consistent supervision in a familiar environment
  
  
• Enrichment that feels purposeful—not passive
  
  
• A healthy alternative to screen-heavy summers
  

Schools that offer meaningful summer and extended-day programs experience higher family trust, stronger parent satisfaction scores, and increased community engagement—metrics many districts now track.

Flexible for Any Campus, Any Summer Structure

Kidokinetics integrates easily into:

• Full-day or half-day summer camps
  
  
• 21st Century / ESSER / Title IV extended learning programs
  
  
• Parks & Rec partnerships
  
  
• PTA- or district-sponsored summer offerings
  
  
• Athletics and wellness initiatives
  

The program scales for Pre-K through 5th grade, and works both indoors and outdoors, allowing schools to adapt based on weather, facilities, or camp themes.

Why More Administrators Are Saying “Yes”

School leaders cite four primary reasons they expand with Kidokinetics after their first summer:

1. Turnkey operations and staffing relief
   
   
2. Clear alignment with whole-child learning priorities
   
   
3. Visible child enthusiasm and parent satisfaction
   
   
4. A safer, more engaging alternative to passive care
   
   

As Braun puts it, “The ultimate measure of success is simple: when students are excited to return, when teachers see a difference in confidence, and when parents say, ‘thank you, this helped our child grow.’ That’s why schools keep calling us back.”

The Bottom Line

Summer is no longer viewed as downtime—it is a strategic window for enrichment, wellness, and student development. Kidokinetics enables schools to meet those goals while reducing operational pressure, supporting families, and strengthening the connection between movement and learning.

For districts seeking a proven partner in whole-child summer programming, Kidokinetics offers a solution that is research-aligned, turnkey, child-centered, and built for real-world school environments.