Almost 50 fathers and grandfathers, along with their children, attended a ?Daddy Olympics? Saturday at the Marion Aquatic Center and Sports Complex.
The Olympic games were a coordinated effort between Marion Head Start and Parents as Teachers, using grant money from the Kansas Health Foundation.
The purpose of this event, said Lori Soo Hoo, Parents as Teachers organizer, was to celebrate fathers and the important role they play in their children?s lives.
Coordinators said they were pleased by the reciprocal comments and expressions evident on the faces of both fathers and children.
?I try to do as much as I can with my children,? one father said.
Another dad, busy chasing balls in the mezzanine area, said the event was a great idea.
One young boy enjoyed showing off his swimming skills in the ball pit, while another little girl played hide-and-seek with her father.
In addition to spending quality time together, Soo Hoo said, the games help children under 5 with their gross motor skills.
Games included skating, soccer, the ball pit, slopes, swimming, basketball and more.
The Olympics, snacks, gifts and door prizes were all free and provided through the grant.
?Daddy Olympics also provided the opportunity to make families aware of the excellent facilities and resources available to them,? she said.
