Teddy Padel began as an idea in 2002. The two founders, Richard and Stephen, both passionate about tennis, noticed a gap – there wasn’t a fun, effective way for very young children to learn the basics of the game. But they knew that young kids, around two and a half and up, are at the perfect age to build strong habits, muscle memory, and foundational skills. So they set out to create a programme that would be perfect for that age group.
They asked themselves, “What do little kids love?” and came up with stories, games, music, and activities. Piece by piece, they built a programme around these elements, creating teddy bear characters, fun games, and music with rhythms to match the activities. It was a gradual process, and each element they introduced had to pass one very important test: “Do kids love it?”
This approach, which engages kids visually, audibly, and kinaesthetically, means that every child can learn in their own way. The founders wanted Teddy Padel to be accessible to all young learners, helping each child develop a love for tennis. Such was the success of Teddy Padel that the founders created even more sports programmes following the same model – you can see Teddy Soccer, Teddy Padel, and more on our Teddy Sports World site.
Today, Richard and Stephen feel deeply grateful to the thousands of “Cub Cadets” and their parents who’ve helped evolve Teddy Padel into what it is now. And of course, they’re always learning, growing, and improving the programmes – but only once each new idea passes that all-important kid test!
