SMARTSTART: Building Strong Foundations Through Movement

On March 10, 2026, the SMARTSTART project officially kicked off its first practical workshop at the gymnasium of the Piran Stadium, marking an important step toward rethinking early childhood education through movement.

The workshop brought together educators from municipal kindergartens to experience first-hand how innovative motor-cognitive activities can support both physical and cognitive development in preschool children. Through dynamic demonstrations led by the No Brain, No Gain team, participants explored practical tools that can be seamlessly integrated into everyday educational practice. The session was enriched by the enthusiastic participation of children from Mornarček Kindergarten in Piran, showcasing the approach in a real-life  educational setting.

Beyond the local impact, the initiative also gained national visibility. The project, the workshop, and its broader importance for child development were presented on Slovenian national television RTV Slovenija, highlighting the relevance of integrating movement into early education and raising awareness among the wider public. The full coverage is available here: https://www.rtvslo.si/rtv365/arhiv/175207788?s=tv

SMARTSTART is more than a project, it is a shared European effort to place movement at the heart of early childhood development. Coordinated by the Municipality of Piran, and implemented in collaboration with No Brain No Gain and the sports association BOR, the project aims to enhance the quality of physical and educational activities in kindergartens while fostering lifelong healthy habits from the earliest years.

Co-funded by the European Union through the Erasmus+ Sport programme, SMARTSTART reflects a common vision: investing in children’s movement means investing in healthier, more resilient future generations.