Anytime Summertime Kids' Camps Coming in May!
Forget the bug spray and the week-long commitment. Anytime Summertime Kids’ Camps at The Little Gym of Colorado Springs are as great as youʼd imagine and begin May 28th. Our camps provide kids with giggle-filled relief from the summer heat. Our specially developed camp curriculum combines physical activity, gymnastics, and games with arts, crafts, and special events. Each week offers an interactive learning theme and each day brings a different, creative lesson plan. Your child and their friends will love to go on a new adventure each time they attend camp! Plus, flexible scheduling options allow you to sign up for several weeks, a single week, or even just a day at a time. You can customize your child’s camp days to fit your summer schedule. It’s the perfect break for kids (and parents) during the long summer months. Sound like fun? Of course it is! This is The Little Gym, after all. View our schedule on our website: http://www.thelittlegym.com/ColoradoSpringsCO/Pages/camp-schedules.aspx
No batteries required: powered by imagination
Ever read the Robert Fulghum book and title essay All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten? If not, you might want to get it and read it. I love it. In it Fulghum provided us with a list of all the simple life lessons learned in Kindergarten. Well in that spirit, for this blog, I’d like to start a series of an undetermined number (determined of course when I exhaust the topic) of lessons learned in The Little Gym that apply to life.
 
The Little Gym is an enchanted, colorful place where magic happens everyday. And in that spirit, I’m going to start with the power behind the magic: imagination. If you look through the windows into the gym you might only see plain old gymnastics equipment and kids exercising and having fun. What the kids see and feel however is something quite different. Each week their teachers guide them through obstacles of all sorts using just their imaginations.
 
Take the balance beam for example. Some weeks it is a bridge from one land to another. Some weeks it is a dragon’s back. And we all know you should tip-toe carefully if walking across a dragon’s back. Although Miss Erica reports that one 4-year-old assured her that “it was a friendly dragon, so it won’t eat us!” And for manner’s week it was a “burping beam” so the kids burped at the end of the beam then jumped off and said excuse me.
 
Some weeks it is not the beam that is changed, but the kids walking across that are transformed. Last week they were butterflies on the beam. And the kids really get into the spirit of things too. On Friday, Miss Kristin told her students the magic word (word to signal time to go-changes at every station every week) was “butterflies.” One of the 3-year-old girls said, “no. It is gonna be butterfly Mickey Mouse wings sparkle toes!” And so it was. And one day when the beam was a dragon, one of Miss Julie’s 5-year-old students went across yelling “yeehaw!” like she was riding it. How much fun does that sound?!? And that’s my point really. The lesson I’d like to focus on for this entry: even what is essentially a long board you walk across can be transformed into something magical and cool powered by imagination.
 
And we can all engage our children in the world around them this way a little more. Turn off the toys that talk and blink and buzz. Put up the battery powered games and turn off the TV. At least occasionally. Cause I suspect that when we exercise our minds finding fun things to call simple objects, we are preparing pathways in our brain for more complex problem solving later. After all, thinking outside the box, is all about imagination.
 
So go boost brain power by being creative: yours and theirs. And find a dragon of your own to ride or perhaps even tickle. -Angel Hundley
Attending a Birthday Party? Print & fill out a waiver before you come to save some time!
Click here to print a waiver for birthday party attendees!
Did Your Child Throw a Fit?!?
Your heart is beating fast. You start to sweat. You can’t concentrate on anything around you. It’s like you have tunnel vision. Don’t worry; you are not having a heart attack. You are simply a loving parent watching your child behave in a way you find totally inappropriate. And you are sure everyone in the room is watching your child and horrified. This magnifies your anxiety, and you just want to run. Fight or flight your body is saying. Scoop up that child and flee! And on your way out, you are thinking, apologize to anyone listening…
 
I can’t tell you how many times a parent has approached me after a class at The Little Gym to apologize for their child “having a fit.” My response is almost always the same, “did your child have a fit? I really hadn’t noticed.” And I’m not saying that to be nice. Anyone who knows me will tell you I am direct and honest sometimes to a fault. Ask my staff…
 
But anyway, back to you and your experience. When your child acts age appropriate in a child centered, nurturing place like The Little Gym, it is barely registered by anyone but you. Even when they do the cutest thing in the world, guess what? No one likely saw that either. They were watching their own future star. And ‘fits’ are appropriate too my friend. Children have bad days. And unless they are bullying, biting, pushing or in any other way acting inappropriate, if another parent or the teacher notices the ‘fit’ at all, the emotion felt is more likely empathy for you the parent than horror at your child’s behavior. 9 times out of 10 the other adult is having their own post traumatic flash back to when their child embarrassed them nearly to death in public!
 
So the next time you find yourself sure that everyone wants you to take your child and leave, relax, take a deep breath, and laugh. Look around. Really look and see that it’s ok. This too shall pass.
 
And I know you want to teach your child the ‘right’ way to behave. But I promise you, if you are the kind of parent that notices these ‘fits’ then you are modeling the right behavior. And your child will get it.
 
And if you are at The Little Gym in a Parent/Child class during one of these ‘fits’ leave them sitting on the red mat, walk right over to the cheese mat and do a forward roll. Might shock your child enough to take them out of their fit, and at the very least your heart will then be pumping fast for a positive reason! So hands high touch the sky, hands down touch the ground, look at your belly and roll!
-Angel Hundley
Only 3 Days Until The Big Move!!!
We are very excited about our move to the Briargate Crossing Shopping Center, near Target at Powers & N. Union. We will be packing up the equipment and heading 5 miles north on Saturday afternoon and will re-open on Monday morning at 9:00am!
 
Our new address is 9625 Prominent Point, Suite 150, Colorado Springs, CO 80924. We are right next door to Sally Beauty Supply & Prominent Point Dental, just behind Carlos Miguels Mexican Restaurant.
The Little Gym of Colorado Springs is Moving!
On August 19th, we will be moving 5 miles north to the Briargate Crossing Shopping Center! Located near the Target at Powers Blvd & N Union Blvd, next door to Sally Beauty Supply and behind Carlos Miguels Mexican Restaurant, our brand new state-of-the-art facility will feature:
  • Full glass walls (floor to 7') in lobby, gym & dance room
  • Tiffin ecoSport flooring in the gym
  • Brand new color scheme & finishes
Follow the build-out progress on our Facebook page (The Little Gym of Colorado Springs) and here on our blog!
 
Cold and Flu Myths: Sorting Fact from Fiction

It starts with a sniffle -- next thing you know, the whole household is sneezing, coughing, and passing tissues.  Before long, the common cold, or worse, seasonal flu, is upon you.

 

According to the CDC, up to 20% of the population gets the flu each year. The Mayo Clinic cites the common cold as the number one culprit of stay-home-sick-from-school days in children.

 

While you can't completely germ-proof your child, you can separate fact from fiction to keep your family healthier, and save time, money, and frustration. Start by putting some of the more common myths and misunderstandings to rest by reading about the top 3 cold and flu related myths.

 

Myth #1: The flu vaccine causes the flu

Truth: Getting a flu shot may cause symptoms that feel like the flu, but the viruses contained in the flu shots have been killed, or "inactivated." which means they can't cause infection. While there may be some achy side effects that can sometimes follow the flu shot, it just means your immune system is responding and processing the vaccine.

 

Myth #2: You're more likely to get sick if you're cold

Truth: Despite mom's warnings that you should bundle up, being cold does not cause a cold. According to the US Department of Health and Human Services, infections prevail in winter months because they are spread when more people stay indoors for longer periods of time and are in closer contact with each other.

 

Myth #3: Hugging and kissing are great ways to spread cold and flu germs.

Truth: Cold and flu viruses like to enter the body through the nose or eyes, so a hug or a peck on the cheek isn't likely to be dangerous. Don't be afraid to give your sick child plenty of affection, and don't worry that a kiss or hug will spread your germs to him (or vice- versa).

 

Many parents recognize The Little Gym locations as safe and clean gyms for children. We work hard to ensure each and every visit lives up to your expectations. Daily and weekly cleaning and sanitation helps keep our environment sparkly and keeps the germs away. 

 

Here’s where you can help. As with any other illness, we ask that you do not come to class if your child is coughing, sneezing, or has had a fever within the last 24 hours. Our generous make-up policy allows you to attend a make-up class by simply calling us prior to the absence. We even allow siblings to make up classes in their own age group!
"Parenting Resolutions" for the New Year!
Each new Year is a new opportunity to focus on making positive changes in your life. While this is a great habit for everyone, it’s especially important for parents. Why? Because the choices that you make not only benefit you, they have a direct effect on your child’s health, too!
 
Here are 3 parenting resolutions to consider for 2012:
 
1. Instill a love for physical activitiy. Physical activity provides countless benefits. So, it’s important to help your child develop healthy habits at an early age. In addition to gymnastics, The Little Gym has several physical activities for kids, such as Sports Skills, Karate and Dance, which can help your child develop a love for an active lifestyle.
 
2. Establish healthy eating habits. Keep healthy, yummy snacks on hand and set an example for your child with your own food choices. Plan low fat meals that follow the government's MyPlate guidelines and involve your children in meal planning and shopping. This allows you to reinforce your child’s healthy meal options and helps children discover new foods and flavors.
 
3. Focus on your child's positive behaviors. Like adults, children respond to favorable comments and adopt behaviors that gain them attention. Try to get in the habit of catching your children “at their best.” Providing encouragement for good behavior or for achievements in sports or other physical activities is a great way to motivate children to maintain good habits.
 
While you help your children develop healthy habits, don’t forget to make resolutions for your own health as well. In fact, consider resolving to get some well-deserved “me” time this year. Planning some time away from the kids should be considered a necessity rather than a luxury. Plus, brief separations are beneficial for kids as well. Time away helps foster a feeling of independence and builds bonds with other adults such as grandma, a favorite neighbor, or The Little Gym instructors. And if you need a parent’s night out, our Parents’ Survival Nights have got you covered!
 
As we start the New Year, we’re thrilled to have helped so many children in the Colorado Springs area develop an appreciation for fitness and fun with our kids gym classes.  We’re still taking enrollments for students that want to join for the second half of the 2011-2012 Season. For more information, or to schedule a free introductory class, please contact a team member at (719)447-9153 today!
Baby, it's cold outside - which makes it a perfect time to be inside at The Little Gym!

Teeth are chattering, jackets are zipping, and hot cocoas are pouring.

It‟s definitely getting colder out there, but here at The Little Gym of Colorado Springs, kids are staying toasty warm. Their bodies are in motion and their minds are too. Kids in The Little Gym Parent/Child classes are exploring their worlds, gaining independence and trying new skills. The structured lessons of our Pre-K gymnastics programs are helping kids with listening skills and following directions while also emphasizing balance and coordination. Our Kindergarten level gymnastics kids are learning to work in groups and cooperate because we know controlling emotions is as important as body control and agility.

All the Flips, Twisters, Aerials, Hot Shots and Flic Flacs of our Grade School Gymnastics programs are strengthening their bodies and getting a springboard (pun intended) of confidence. Plus, our Dance kids are twirling like snowflakes, Sports Skills kids are improving arm strength for throwing snowballs, and our Karate students are practically chopping firewood with their bare hands (okay, a slight exaggeration).

Don't forget - we also have great winter day camps Dec. 21st and 26th-30th. And if you want to plan a post-holiday date night, we'll be having another Parents' Survival Night on Saturday, January 21st from 6:00-9:00pm.

Finally, remember that giving someone some Serious Fun is an excellent gift. We have gift certificates available if you want to give the unique gift of skill building and Three-Dimensional Learning.

Til next time,

Your friends in fitness, fun and fundamentals at The Little Gym of Colorado Springs

Directions to The Little Gym
Heading north on Powers Blvd:
Take the Briargate Pkwy/N Union Blvd exit
Go straight through the light at Briargate Pkwy
Take the first right onto Prominent Pt
Take the first right to enter our center
(if you pass Prominent Pt, you can turn right onto N Union Blvd and take the first right - pass the Petco/Target center -
continue straight until you come to the roundabout -
turn right at the roundabout - take the first left into our center)
 
Heading south on Powers Blvd:
Take the Briargate Pkwy/N Union Blvd exit
Turn left at the light onto N Union Blvd
Go straight under Powers Blvd
Turn right into the Petco/Target center (first right after passing under Powers Blvd)
Continue straight until you come to the roundabout
Turn right at the roundabout
Take the first left into our center
 
From I-25
Take the Briargate Pkwy exit
Head east on Briargate Pkwy
Turn left onto Powers Blvd access road
Take the first right onto Prominent Pt
Take the first right to enter our center
(if you pass Prominent Pt, you can turn right onto N Union Blvd and take the first right - pass the Petco/Target center -
continue straight until you come to the roundabout -
turn right at the roundabout - take the first left into our center)
Well Child Agreement

To ensure a clean, and safe environment for your children The Little Gym of Colorado Springs promises to

  • provide hand sanitizer for use both before & after class
  • maintain a strict cleaning regimen
  • provide make-up classes if your child is unable to attend due to illness or a sibling's illness

We ask that you monitor your child's health and call (719)447-9153 for an excused absence (and to schedule a make up class) if they:

  • have had a fever within the last 24 hours
  • have a cough or runny nose
  • seem unable to participate fully in class due to not feeling well

If you have another child who is sick, please refrain from bringing them into the facility. We will be happy to assist your student to and from the car and can speak to you one-on-one about their successes in class that day. Please call the gym at 447-9153 if we can be of assistance in this way.

Thank you for doing your part to keep our The Little Gym a place where members can have SERIOUS FUN in a healthy environment!

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