This program teaches kids confidence, belief in their abilities and social skills early in life
KidStrong Collegeville
- Owner: Dale and Lindsey Brooks
- Located in: Collegeville Shopping Center, 222 E Main St, Collegeville (map it)
- Phone: (610) 487-0260
- Website | Facebook | Instagram
Helping Kids Win at Life
Remember back to when you were a kid. Was there something that you were afraid of? Did you believe that you weren’t good or smart enough? Were you afraid of failing? Of sports? Speaking in public? Not making friends?
If the KidStrong programs had existed back then, you might not have gone through some of that agonizing fear and self-doubt. Through the KidStrong program, you could have developed self-confidence, belief in your abilities and social skills much earlier in your young life.
Owner Dale Brooks bought his first KidStrong franchise in Allentown in March 2023. Then when the Collegeville KidStrong came on the market in March, 2024, he bought that too. Why? “Because seeing the kids develop confidence, social skills, and friends is fulfilling,” Dale says. “It makes all the work of managing the businesses worthwhile.”
“The mission of KidStrong is to ‘help kids win at life,‘” Dale explains. “KidStrong offers a valuable experience for children, particularly in developing confidence and social skills. The KidStrong program takes a holistic approach to child wellness. The program targets the character, physical, and cognitive development of children, with the goal of making them well-rounded individuals prepared for future challenges. All the skills KidStrong promotes helps the child later in life.”
But maybe the most important thing from a parent’s point of view is that the kids truly have fun at KidStrong and enjoy going. “We want the kids’ 45-minute experience at KidStrong to be the highlight of their week,” says Dale.
KidStrong was started in 2015 by Matt and Megin Sharp from Louisville, KY, because they wanted a program like it for their 18-month-old daughter. But such a program didn’t exist, so they built a prototype in the back of a Cross-Fit Gym. The program quickly gained traction with other parents, and now there are over 150 KidStrong centers operating across the country.
KidStrong teaches specific skills through 10-week challenge programs. There are 14 to 16 children in each KidStrong class. Classes are led by two hands-on coaches. The content of the KidStrong programs is designed by credentialed child development experts, and are geared to improving the kids’ emotional, physical, and mental skills.
Kids can enroll as early as walking age up through age 11. The toddler classes are parent-based, and are mostly focused on socialization, making new friends and becoming more confident.
From ages 4 and up the kids can be in 45-minute independent classes once a week.
A Typical KidStrong Class
In a typical class, the kids first participate in an affirmation, stating: “I am strong. I am brave. I can do this.” This mantra has been shown to help them develop character, resilience, and a positive mindset. They also participate in social greetings, learning to make eye contact and shaking hands or doing fist bumps. Additionally, the kids learn public speaking skills as young as two years old.
“I’ve heard stories of kids who have used the affirmation from KidStrong to give them courage before they visit the dentist, and when they are worried about something at school,” Dale says.
The kids typically first have a warm up and run an obstacle course, based on that week’s programming. They then take a break, drink water, and work on brain exercises, and then go back to the next course or competition. The last five minutes of each program is the award ceremony. First, there is a Coaches Award given to the child who showed the best character, was a good teammate, or showed bravery in conquering an obstacle they were nervous to try. The program focuses on progression, so the more the kids “show up,” the more they progress through the ranks. Each rank brings a new jersey color, and leadership responsibilities, such as helping the coaches with affirmation, social greetings or resetting the floor for the next round of obstacles.
Throughout the weekly programs, the kids experience success. For kids without exposure to a lot of physical activity, they gain athletic confidence. The program also exposes them to teamwork and competition, and helps them form life-long foundational skills.
The 45-minute sessions are held on weekday afternoons starting at 4:15 p.m. and on Saturday and Sunday mornings.
KidStrong also hosts birthday parties and runs day camps when school is out during teacher workshops.
“Kids are enrolled in KidStrong Collegeville from as far away as Reading, Lansdale, and Norristown,” says Dale. “Our data show that 96 percent of kids see an increase in self-confidence, 88 percent of parents notice social skills improvement, and 85 percent of kids say it’s more fun than other programs,” Dale says.
If you would like to check out the KidStrong Collegeville program, you can sign up for a trial at Collegeville.kidstrong.com or call/text the team at (610) 487-0260 to book an appointment.
