KAYDEN

The pandemic affected kids’ ability to meaningfully socialize with their peers. Like so many others, Kayden Ferrar, now a third-grade student at Thornecliffe Elementary, found himself somewhat isolated.

"My initial reasoning was just because I wanted him to be in a more social setting, learn to socialize with other kids,” says Kayden’s father, Richard Kay. “He's kind of been on his own."

Kayden and Richard learnt about Free Play through Thorncliffe, and since signing Kayden up, Richard has seen Kayden develop through much-needed socialization with his teammates.  

"He is learning more about sports and how to work as a team, which I think he was lacking in previous years.”

"For me, because I'm a single parent, timing-wise being able to finish work and then being able to pick him up afterwards, it's easy, because I don't have to leave twice in one day."

Richard’s work as a legal assistant also meant that making sure Kayden got home from school often meant leaving work to pick him up, only to come back later. With Kayden at Free Play, that’s one less thing for Richard to worry about.

"I think it's a great program,” Richard says. “One, because he's able to learn to play sports that he wouldn't have played in his regular gym classes. Thursday he gets to go out to the soccer centre and do the tournaments, which he really loves."

Read more about Free to Play HERE: https://freeplayforkids.com/free-to-play

Written by Stefan Salegio