PEAK makes physical literacy fun for kids 8 to 12 (NAOMI PELKEY/University of Windsor)
By Kate Hargreaves
Registration is now open for the Faculty of Human Kinetics’s Physically Empowered and Active Kids (PEAK) program, aimed at children aged eight to 12.
PEAK is a free physical literacy initiative, focusing on building children’s fundamental motor skills, from running to throwing and catching.
UWindsor Kinesiology Master’s student Emily Chauvin launched the program in 2025 after a study abroad trip to Costa Rica during which she was inspired by a similar initiative.
“There is extensive research demonstrating the positive impact of physical activity on the physical, mental and psychosocial health of youth,” explains Chauvin.
“Many children in Windsor lack access to organized sports, which is where most kids typically engage in regular physical activity. The PEAK program helps address this gap by providing a free, accessible opportunity for all children to be active.”
To this end, the program has fostered partnerships with school boards and community organizations such as the Multicultural Council of Windsor and Essex County, Windsor Essex Community Housing Corporation and United Way.
Now in its fourth consecutive term, PEAK is made possible by HK undergraduate students who lead fun activities and exercises for kids for an hour each week.
HK students also bring the PEAK program on the road, visiting St. James Catholic Elementary School to facilitate activities once each month.
“Many HK undergraduates come from sport or physical activity backgrounds, and combined with their coursework, they are well-equipped to create engaging programs that support children’s physical literacy development,” explains Kinesiology PhD student Bailey Csabai.
Csabai handles registration and marketing for the program, working under Dr. Sarah Woodruff’s Community, Health, Environment & Wellness (CHEW) Lab.
“PEAK allows these students to apply their academic knowledge in a real-world setting, building session plans, interacting with youth and parents, adapting activities in real time and strengthening broader life and career skills,” Csabai says.
“They also have the opportunity to make a meaningful contribution to the community by supporting local children.”
Each PEAK session typically involves a short warm-up to get kids moving, followed by a rotation of activities focused on foundational skills such as running, jumping, catching, balancing and throwing.
Csabai stresses that the activities not only build skills and physical literacy but do so in a playful and non-competitive environment that is flexible enough to account for both learning and creativity.
“Kids are invited to try new movements, adapt activities and engage with peers in ways that feel fun and rewarding,” she says.
Through providing access to the opportunity to build fundamental skills in physical literacy, PEAK supports children in becoming active for life.
“Through learning and practicing fundamental movement skills, children build the foundation they need to participate comfortably in a wide range of activities,” says Csabai.
“These skills and the confidence that comes with them can be carried into recess, outdoor play and other parts of everyday life.”
PEAK sessions run 9:15 to 10:15 a.m. each Saturday (with no session Saturday, Feb. 7) at the Dennis Fairall Fieldhouse.
For more information or to register, visit the PEAK registration page or email Bailey Csabai at csabai@uwindsor.ca.