Methods for teaching children a targeted life skill in a soft contained play center. Embodiments include selecting an athletic game, wherein success in playing the selected athletic game is predetermined to be linked to exhibiting one or more predefined aspects of the particular life skill; wherein the selected athletic game is designed to be played in a soft contained play center including inflatable play areas; explaining to the children the rules of the selected athletic game; explaining to the children the one or more predefined aspects of the targeted life skill linked to success in playing the selected athletic game; administering the playing of the selected athletic game by the children in a soft contained play center; and rewarding each child for each of the predefined aspects of the particular life skill exhibited while playing the selected athletic game.