'I feel much better about myself': Beverly's Jumping Juniors skip to success with Double Dutch jump rope
CHICAGO (CBS) -- A world class sport has now come to the Beverly neighborhood.
A group of 100 girls are not only keeping active through the art of Double Dutch jump rope, but they're also exercising their mental health as well. CBS 2's Shardaa Gray shows us how.
One foot at a time, young ladies are learning how to Double Dutch. Paulette Jones and Lolita Scott started Jumping Juniors in the spring of 2020, aiming to get their kids active during the peak of the pandemic.
"The summer of 2020, we just decided to bring out some double dutch rope. We didn't even have a location because everything was closed down," Jones said.
"Me and her was jumping every weekend. And these kids did not know how to jump. We was outside having a ball every weekend with 40+ Double Dutch. And I'm like, my daughter doesn't know how to jump. Her grandkids didn't know how to jump and it was in the mist of the pandemic," Scott said.
Through word of mouth, the program spread to four locations: Tuley Park, Palmer Park, Woodlawn and most recently Beverly.
"It's really fun. You get to, like, move around. And you get to try something new," said 10-year-old Jayla Thomas.
The program teaches girls and boys between the ages of 5 and 18 how to jump double dutch. Jones said Double Dutching is a sport. In June of this year, they took the girls to D.C. for a competition, where they won three first place trophies.
"We didn't envision that this would go any further. So they went to Washington and they actually brought back some trophies," Jones said.
Double Dutching is not only a sport, but it also teaches self-esteem.
"Sometimes I just used to be like, 'I'm so fat. I'm so ugly. I don't like myself,' but ever since I joined the Jumping Juniors with those little group sessions, I feel much better about myself," said 10-year Taylor McKinney.
Thirteen-year-old Siara Willie said now she has another family.
"I've gained sisters and I've gained mothers and mentors that can help me throughout life."
The girls are aiming for another competition called Afro Jump. That'll be held at Brainerd Park next February.