Transcript of our interview with Hannah, Overtime Athletics Halton: Parent Interview with Hannah Fowler

How did you know Overtime Athletics Halton was the right fit?

We wanted something where the kids were moving, being really active, and Overtime Athletics gave us that. In a lot of after-school programs, you sit and colour or sometimes use screens, and we definitely wanted them to come home really tired, as it was my first year back at work after mat leave. So it was a huge adjustment for us as well. It was post-COVID, and we were inside for a long time and not doing our usual activities with the kids and stuff.

So we wanted something that was sports-focused and movement-focused. That was definitely the biggest selling point for us, and the convenience, obviously.

What is unique about Overtime Athletics?

We love the fact that Overtime Athletics feels like a second home for us. I like the size. Our kids, you know, they talk about their coaches, Coach Sharice, Coach Andrea, Coach Emily, Coach James, all the time at home. And it feels like we never think twice about sending them there. We just know they're safe, they're happy and healthy, and that's the biggest thing for us.

Was there any personal growth you saw in your child?

They've definitely gravitated towards specific sports that they like. They're trying all these different types of sports and, as they've grown up, they've picked different ones that they're better at and that they enjoy the most.

They really put a big focus on listening and sharing and teamwork there. So we've noticed that at home as well.

What would you tell other parents about the value of sending kids to Overtime Athletics Halton?

Movement is one of the most important things for physical health, obviously. Staying off the screens is also a huge thing. You know, after spending a full six or seven hours at school, they need an outlet. Our kids need time to run around, space to move around, let all that energy out and be a little bit silly and crazy.

I think that having them come home after two hours of that has made a difference in our home. Just the calmness, the ease of bedtime—they go right to sleep, they eat their dinner. It's really been great for that.

And then for us, because it is right in the school, we don't have to think twice about them being transported somewhere else in a car or someone else's car. We love that they just go right from school down to the gym and then let all that energy out. And it's just been a huge convenience factor for us.

What does your child say about Overtime Athletics?

They love the coaches, Sharice, Andrea, James, Emily. All they talk about is, "Oh, you know, so-and-so brought this today," or, "They taught me this new skill today," or they did something silly. And they talk about them like they're friends.

They have their friends that are Overtime Athletics friends instead of school friends, so that gives them a break from the kids at school as well. So it is nice to have a little bit of variety in their life too, socially.

And then the different sports that they like, they talk about. You know, my oldest really has taken to a love for basketball, so she loves basketball day. And then they do fun theme days like Carnival Day or Superhero Day or stuff like that. So when it's something special like that, they talk about it for days after.

How can a parent best support their child at Overtime Athletics?

I think bringing the concepts of Overtime Athletics to the home as well. So encouraging them, you know, empowering them to do things for themselves first before helping them. You know, "Zip up your own coat. You can do it. Try." You know, encouragement.

The listening is definitely a big one. We have three kids and it can get very chaotic, and so the listening is a huge thing. And supporting them to listen better at home will help the transition to Overtime Athletics for sure.

We've been really happy there. It made our transition out of COVID and back to work—for me, back into the office—so much easier than we could have imagined because we know our kids are safe, they're happy, they're having fun, they're making friends. And, you know, we can't even put a price on that. We would pay anything to go there.

Plus, you know, in the summer too, Overtime Athletics is convenient, it's close to our home. But we just know they're not just going to be sitting on a screen or sitting on the ground all day or whatever. They're up and they're moving, they're having fun, they're getting fresh air. And I think those are just the basics that kids really need in life right now. We are so lucky to have found them.

Any final thoughts on Overtime Athletics?

Everything just clicked once we found the after-school programming because school, you know, it ends early and most people's workdays don't end when the school day ends. Finding solid after-school care that's both reliable and the kids are doing something valuable with their life and their time as well—they're not just being supervised or babysat. So that's been key for us.