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HappyFeet Soccer Partners with St. John’s UMC Preschool
SHAWNEE, KS — HappyFeet Kansas City is proud to announce an official partnership with St. John’s UMC Preschool to provide exclusive on-site soccer enrichment for enrolled families at the 6900 Ward Parkway campus. The program brings professional youth soccer instruction directly to the school during school hours — eliminating extra driving for busy families throughout Ward Parkway, Brookside, Waldo, Waldo, and surrounding communities.
Partnership Highlights
The HappyFeet and St. John’s UMC Preschool partnership gives enrolled families access to professional on-site soccer at no extra logistical cost — classes happen during school hours, a ball is provided, and the program costs $50/month.
What This Means for St. John’s UMC Preschool Families
- Exclusive access — On-site soccer is only for enrolled St. John’s UMC Preschool students
- Zero extra driving — Classes happen during school hours on the Ward Parkway campus
- Same pickup time — Your daily routine doesn’t change at all
- Familiar environment — Children learn soccer with classmates they already know
- Everything included — Ball provided and professional instruction for $50/month
- Ages 2-6 — Age-appropriate curriculum at every developmental stage
- Pathway to more — Direct connection to KC Legends Soccer Club (ages 6-18)
Character Development On and Off the Field
St. John’s UMC Preschool builds character through faith, community, and structured learning. HappyFeet soccer complements this by teaching teamwork, perseverance, and sportsmanship in a supportive group setting. Our coaches emphasize encouragement over competition — every child gets equal attention, every child succeeds. For families at St. John’s UMC Preschool, on-site soccer means their children develop physically and socially in the same values-driven environment they experience in the classroom.
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Frog Street Curriculum Meets HappyFeet: A Natural Fit
St. John’s UMC Preschool’s Frog Street Curriculum and HappyFeet’s play-based soccer model are philosophically aligned — both are grounded in research showing that children develop best through purposeful play, active engagement, and joyful exploration.
The partnership brings together two organizations whose educational philosophies were built from the same foundational insight: that children learn best when they’re engaged, active, and having fun.
St. John’s UMC Preschool’s Frog Street Curriculum is a nationally recognized, research-based approach. It balances structured academic development with purposeful play — nurturing intellectual, social, emotional, and physical growth simultaneously. The result: enrolled students consistently show strong kindergarten readiness outcomes.
HappyFeet’s play-based soccer curriculum applies the same principle to physical development. Instead of drills and lines, HappyFeet coaches use storytelling, imagination, and creative games to keep children moving, touching the ball, and building genuine skills. Children get approximately 150 ball touches per session — far above industry averages — in an environment that feels like play rather than practice.
Where the Two Philosophies Align
Purposeful Play
Both the Frog Street Curriculum and HappyFeet treat play as the primary vehicle for learning — not a break from it.
Whole-Child Development
Both programs develop social, emotional, and physical skills simultaneously alongside academic and motor foundations.
Research-Backed Methods
St. John’s UMC Preschool’s Frog Street Curriculum and HappyFeet’s curriculum are both grounded in child development research, not tradition alone.
Confidence Through Competence
Both programs build real skills — academic readiness or ball skills — that give children genuine confidence, not just participation trophies.
“We know that busy parents in Kansas City and Waldo don’t need another place to drive. By bringing HappyFeet directly to St. John’s UMC Preschool, we’re giving families professional soccer instruction without adding anything to their schedules. That’s what a real partnership looks like — more value, not more logistics.”
Two organizations, one shared philosophy — purposeful play.
Program Details
HappyFeet at St. John’s UMC Preschool runs weekly sessions during school hours at the Ward Parkway campus, serving enrolled children ages 2-6 for $50 per month all-inclusive.
Location
6900 Ward Parkway
Kansas City, MO 64113
Ages Served
2–6 years old
Schedule
Weekly during school hours
Monthly Investment
$50 (all-inclusive)
What’s Included
Soccer ball provided, professional instruction
Pathway
KC Legends Soccer Club (age 6+)
What Kansas City Families Are Saying
Enrolled families at St. John’s UMC Preschool consistently describe the on-site soccer as one of the most meaningful quality-of-life improvements in their week — not just for their children’s development, but for family schedule sanity.
About St. John’s UMC Preschool
St. John’s UMC Preschool has served the Kansas City area families since opening. Located at 6900 Ward Parkway in Kansas City, MO 64113, the school is owned and operated by local ownership and is open Monday through Friday.
St. John’s UMC Preschool offers programs for Infants, Toddlers, Preschool, Pre-K, Kindergarten, and After School care — all built on the Frog Street Curriculum, a research-based approach that blends purposeful play with structured academic preparation.Learn more at stjohnsumc.org/parents-day-out-preschool/about-pdops or call (816) 523-6788.
About HappyFeet Kansas City
Since 2003, HappyFeet has introduced thousands of Kansas City toddlers to soccer through imaginative, play-based learning. The program’s unique curriculum uses storytelling and creative games to develop coordination, confidence, and a genuine love for physical activity in children ages 2-6. Children receive approximately 150 ball touches per 40-minute session — one of the highest in the industry.
HappyFeet is the official feeder program for KC Legends Soccer Club, providing a seamless pathway from first touches (ages 2-6) to competitive youth soccer (ages 6-18). HappyFeet partners with quality childcare centers across the Kansas City metro to bring soccer directly to families. Learn more at happyfeetkc.com.
Interested in Learning More?
Discover why Kansas City families choose St. John’s UMC Preschool for education and HappyFeet for soccer development.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about the HappyFeet and St. John’s UMC Preschool partnership from families in Kansas City, Waldo, and the Kansas City area.