Obama threw touchdowns and hit doubles with kids at an after-school program. Here are 9 adorable times Obama embraced his inner child

• On Wednesday, former President Obama surprised a group of local students attending the Washington Nationals Youth Baseball Academy's after-school program in Washington, DC.
• While visiting, he shared some encouraging words and even showed off some softball and football skills.
• "You're going to do something important," he told the kids. "You're going to make a real difference, and we're going to be proud of you."
• Here are nine other times Obama embraced his inner child.
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Throughout his presidency and now in his retirement, Barack Obama has spent a lot of time inspiring young people — and seemingly having fun while doing so.

He has been photographed visiting classrooms, interacting with kids on Halloween, and even participating in a game or two on the sports field. 

On Wednesday, former President Obama surprised a group of local students attending the Washington Nationals Youth Baseball Academy's after-school program in Washington, DC. While visiting, he shared some encouraging words and even showed off some softball and football skills. 

"If you work hard and listen to your coaches...I'm going be on the lookout for you," Obama told the kids, according to The Washington Post. "You're going to do something important. You're going to make a real difference, and we're going to be proud of you."

Here are nine memorable pictures of Obama embracing his inner child. 

SEE ALSO: 55 great pictures of President Obama discovering his inner child

SEE ALSO: That iconic photo of Obama bending over so a boy could feel his hair was taken just over 10 years ago. Here's the moving story behind it.

Barack Obama has visited classrooms across the country. In this photo he inspects the work of a group of pre-kindergarten children in Decatur, Georgia.

He's also spent time perfecting his signature fist-bump. Here he is in Shaker Heights, Ohio greeting a young guest after delivering a speech on the economy.

Despite a busy schedule, he still took moments to appreciate nature. Here he is in Martha's Vineyard blowing a dandelion.

When a 5-year-old Philadelphia boy wanted to know if his hair was just like the president's, Obama leaned over and let him feel for himself.

Here he is reading "Where the Wild Things Are" to a group of kids during the annual White House Easter Egg Roll on the South Lawn...

...and here he is keeping pace with children through the White House colonnade.

Here he helped spell the word "Ohio" with a group of Columbus residents.

The former president also loves sports and once filled in as a coach for his daughter Sasha's basketball game.

But possibly one of the most iconic shots of the former president embracing his inner kid is in this image of him posing with a mini Spider-Man. Obama said this was one of his favorite photographs taken during that year of his presidency.