PARENT/CHILD CLASSES

BUGS

“Partner Log Roll Practice”

This week for our POP, practice hugging log rolls at home with your Bugs! Hold them tummy to tummy and log roll sideways. Remember to roll on your elbows and knees when you roll over your Bug. This is not only a great way to spend some quality loving time with your Bug, but log rolls are great for spatial awareness, improving the Bugs proprioceptive and vestibular sense and body control! Have fun with these at home!

BIRDS

“SPF”

In your activities this week, try to find something different to crow about every day! Tomorrow, it might be “I love the way you hold my hand when we walk outside”. If you use it several times, you might find them automatically reaching for your hand as you go out the door! The next day it might by “I really like seeing how you put your shoes next to the door when we come inside” or some other task. If you praise it enough, the desired behavior becomes ingrained. And your child’s confidence grows as they realize they’re doing something you really like!

BEASTS AND SUPER BEASTS

“Praise Them to Pump Them Up!”

Very similar to last week you will continue to praise your child on a daily basis this week, but this time focus on some of the specific activities or skills they do at the gym. Have them practice some of the body positions we learned today, a jump forward roll or even the beam routine. WATCH them carefully and be proud of all little accomplishments. WATCH their confidence soar and they’ll want to do it over and over again. Next week is show week! For this age group, we manage our expectations by considering Show Week to be an “opportunity” for the kids to show their skills and what they have learned. We all know they may have their own idea of what they want to do – and this is wonderful, too! The key is to not make them feel pressured to perform – and to just have fun. And you never know – you’d be surprised at what we see!

PRE-K CLASSES

FUNNY BUGS

We have asked the kids to pick a skill from one of their routines that they can practice at home. Also, we asked them to let you know one person they would like to invite to the show next week!

GIGGLE WORMS AND GOOD FRIENDS

“Combo Practice”

The kids have a tumbling skill combo they will be performing in the show next week. We have asked them to practice that combo at home this week. Encourage them!

GRADE SCHOOL CLASSES

“Relax, Visualize and Prepare”

At home this week, right before bed, we asked your kids to close their eyes, relax and picture themselves doing their routines!! This will help them prepare, memorize, and relax! They might be a little bit nervous, and that’s okay, but this will help to ease their nerves!

PRE-K DANCE

JAZZY BUGS, GIGGLE TOES AND GOOD LEAPS

“Ballet Dance Rehearsal”

Parents, every night after you eat dinner, take a few minutes to help your child practice the group ballet dance. If your child seems apprehensive about the show, keep it light and fun. Let them know how proud of them you are for all their hard work this season at The Little Gym and that it is ok to feel a little nervous about performing!!

SPORTS SKILLS

MINI JACKS AND CRACKER JACKS

“Invite Guests to the Show”

This week we want your child to help you invite any other family members or friends that might be able to come to the show.

KARATE

CHOPSTICKS

“Invite Guests to the Show”

This week we want your child to help you invite any other family members or friends that might be able to come to the show.

SUMMER CAMPS!

Have you signed up for camp yet? Summer is about to start and our "Anytime Summertime Camp" is as flexible as possible. CALL today to sign up. 952-924-0083

Online enrollments for camps is not available yet so when you are ready to enroll give us a call.

POPS Week 37

PARENT/CHILD CLASSES

BUGS

“Virginia Satir Hug Challenge”

The POP this week is to see if you can give your Bugs 12 hugs a day! In the beginning of class, we discussed Virginia Satir, the family therapist, who said that children need 12 hugs a day for growth! Find as many opportunities as you can throughout the day to give your Bug a hug! Not only does it benefit your child’s emotional growth, but yours, too, parents!

BIRDS

“I FEEL”

In the next few months, you may find yourself becoming less of a cuddler to your child and more of a disciplinarian. As your Bird exercises their growing independence, they’ll constantly find new ways to test you. Make sure you don’t let your frustration spill over into your overall expressions of love and acceptance for your child! Try for 12 HUGS a day! And sometimes these new feelings of independence can by scary for your child, as well. Try helping your Bird give names to their emotions. Say “do you feel excited right now?” or “scared” or “nervous” or “shy”? By providing names for what they’re feeling, you’re helping your child understand and control these new emotions!

BEASTS AND SUPER BEASTS

“Praise an Action a Day”

Practice praising your child’s actions all week! Start with just one on the first day and then up it to two and then three. There are SO many things you can praise your child for! Try to make it a daily habit in your life to do so and make sure other important people (dads, grandparents, caregivers) are doing the same! They say it takes 28 days to create a new habit, let’s start today with the first seven!

PRE-K CLASSES

FUNNY BUGS, GIGGLE WORMS AND GOOD FRIENDS

“Simon Says”

Play a game of Simon Says with your child this week. It’s a fun way to work on listening skills and following directions! They may even show you some of the skills we practiced today!

GRADE SCHOOL CLASSES

“Finish with Pride”

For this week’s POP, we’ve asked your kids to “Finish with Pride”! They’ll do their Finish position in front of a mirror each night before bed! This will allow them to see themselves and feel pride! When they look in the mirror, they can watch for straight arms, feet together, body tall and chin high!!! Most importantly, I want them to stand there and feel proud! Look at themselves and then think about how great they really are, and how hard they’ve been working on their gymnastics!! Anything you can do parents, to encourage the above would be fabulous!!!

PRE-K DANCE

JAZZY BUGS, GIGGLE TOES AND GOOD LEAPS

“Tap Dance Rehearsal”

Every night after the kids eat dinner, encourage them to take a few minutes to practice their group tap dance.

.SPORTS SKILLS

MINI JACKS AND CRACKER JACKS

“Sport Course Practice”

This week we would like the kids to practice their favorite part or parts of

any or all of their sport courses.

KARATE

CHOPSTICKS

“I Know I Can Jam”

We’ve asked them to everyday this week try to say “I Know I Can” before they do something they have never done before. But also to make sure they won’t get in trouble for shouting!

POPS WEEK 36

PARENT/CHILD CLASSES

BUGS

“Counting Books & Songs”

This week for our POP, find a counting book to read to your Bug each day or night, and sing a counting song. Choose books and songs that involve numbers and counting; adding or subtracting, etc.!

BIRDS, BEASTS AND SUPER BEASTS

“Conservation in Action”

Kids LOVE to knock down towers of blocks you’ve worked so hard to build up. This week, count a pile of blocks or Legos, by separating the counted from the uncounted and build a tower with the counted ones. After they have all been counted and piled high, let the child destroy the tower and count them again. Is the number the same?

PRE-K CLASSES

FUNNY BUGS, GIGGLE WORMS AND GOOD FRIENDS

Play Cheerio-Oh-Oh as many times as you can! A handout of how to play was given to you during class this week!

GRADE SCHOOL CLASSES

“Memory Lane Brain Challenge!”

For this week’s personal outside practice, we’ve asked the kids to “take a trip down memory lane” from class today! We’re handed out routine sheets that they can practice at home. These are great for looking at and then practicing from (if you have space). Or they can just study them, think about them and practice memorization. Have them study the best way for their learning!! See if you can challenge your kids to recite their routines! See how many skills they can recite to you from memory! Or have them show you their routines! This can be a great activity to test their memory!

PRE-K DANCE

JAZZY BUGS, GIGGLE TOES AND GOOD LEAPS

Play Cheerio-Oh-Oh as many times as you can! A handout of how to play was given to you during class this week!

.SPORTS SKILLS

MINI JACKS AND CRACKER JACKS

“Add and Subtract Your Toys”

When playing with their toys at home this week, we want you to work on addition and subtraction with your child. Here’s how you do it – every time they take out a toy, create an addition equation with them like, “zero toys plus one toy equals one toy”. Now every time they put a toy away, you have to create a subtraction equation with them.

KARATE

CHOPSTICKS

Play Cheerio-Oh-Oh as many times as you can! A handout of how to play was given to you during class this week!

FAll Season now available for all online!

The 2012-2103 Season of class times are available for everyone to enroll online. Call us if you hav any questions.

952-924-0083

POPS Week 34

PARENT/CHILD CLASSES

BUGS

“Sing Counting Songs”

This week for our POP, we ask you to sing counting songs at home to your Bugs! Let’s try and create a multisensory experience while singing these counting songs. You can touch the different body parts you sing about, so the Bugs can FEEL or SEE the body parts, as they HEAR you sing about the numbers or try clapping while singing some of these number songs. Here are a couple songs you could sing…

- “One Little Finger”

- “One Little Toe”

- “One Big Hug”

- “This Old Man”

- “Five Little Monkeys Jumping On the Bed”

- “Five Little Monkeys Swinging In a Tree”

BIRDS

“Number Names & Counting”

Find lots of opportunities to say, sing, shout and whisper the sequence one through ten. Remember, these are foreign words to your Birds! Unlike “ball” or “bubble”, they have no tangible object to associate with “one.” So say the words slowly and clearly, whether you’re just chanting them, or singing them. As you count objects, make sure you and your child use the “partitioning” concept – physically move an object from one “to be counted” pile to another ‘already counted’ pile. Slowly count each object, using only one number name as you do. This clearly illustrates the tagging concept and will help your child eventually understand the concept that each number name equals one object being counted.

BEASTS AND SUPER BEASTS

“Counting, Counting Everywhere”

Work on reciting numbers and touching the objects as you say the numbers. This is called coordinating. If your child can already do that, have them separate items into piles as they count and tell you which one has more, without counting them. Try it with cookies - I bet they'll figure it out right away. Use your signs too!

PRE-K CLASSES

FUNNY BUGS, GIGGLE WORMS AND GOOD FRIENDS

“How Many of This? How Many of That?”

One of the most important number and counting concepts to learn is “amounts”. When counting in this manner, we are not just counting for the sake of counting; we are counting to find the “amount” of something. We told the kids we would be asking you to challenge them throughout the week – asking your child to find the amounts of different things in the house! Like, “how many green beans do you see on your dinner plate?”; “how many chairs do you see at the table?”; “how many toys did you leave out on the living room floor?”! Have fun and let us know how it goes!

GRADE SCHOOL CLASSES

“Balance, Bounce & Balance” (or the “B, B & B!”)

Parents, every night after the kids brush their teeth, encourage them to balance on one foot for the count of 10, then do 10 stretch jumps, then balance on the other foot for the count of 10!

PRE-K DANCE

JAZZY BUGS, GIGGLE TOES AND GOOD LEAPS

“How Many of This? How Many of That?”

One of the most important number and counting concepts to learn is “amounts”. When counting in this manner, we are not just counting for the sake of counting; we are counting to find the “amount” of something. We told the kids we would be asking you to challenge them throughout the week – asking your child to find the amounts of different things in the house! Like, “how many green beans do you see on your dinner plate?”; “how many chairs do you see at the table?”; “how many toys did you leave out on the living room floor?”! Have fun and let us know how it goes!

.SPORTS SKILLS

MINI JACKS AND CRACKER JACKS

“Make Reciting Exciting at Home”

“This week we want your child to count as much as possible at home. However, we told them to remember to make it exciting. Work together with them to come up with fun counting exercises like, count how many stop lights you see in the car on the way home or how many chocolate chips you put into a cookie they helped you bake. Be ready to share what and how you counted next week!”

KARATE

CHOPSTICKS

“How Many of This? How Many of That?”

One of the most important number and counting concepts to learn is “amounts”. When counting in this manner, we are not just counting for the sake of counting; we are counting to find the “amount” of something. We told the kids we would be asking you to challenge them throughout the week – asking your child to find the amounts of different things in the house! Like, “how many green beans do you see on your dinner plate?”; “how many chairs do you see at the table?”; “how many toys did you leave out on the living room floor?”! Have fun and let us know how it goes!

The new schedule of classes that start in the FALL are on the website!

Parent Child DANCE CLASS Starts this FALL. It is called Jazzy Beasts, look for it! It is for children aged 2-3 and promises to be a great addition to our class schedule.

POPS week 33

PARENT/CHILD CLASSES

BUGS

“Long Sitting and Straddle Stands”

For younger Bugs, try to do some long sitting at home. Place your Bug in a seated position on the floor with a wide straddle position. Place a toy in front of them they have to reach forward to get. This will lengthen their hamstring muscles! For older Bugs, have them sit in a wide straddle position on the floor facing you. Take them from their bent elbows and slowly pull them forward until they are standing in a wide straddle stand. Then slowly lower them back down. As they get steadier, see if they will balance on their feet for a second or two. These are both great exercises to practice at home with your Bugs!

BIRDS

“Your Little Helper”

This week as you’re doing your household chores, enlist your Bird’s help. Your child will love being part of the action and will learn from the job, even if it’s something as simple as dropping socks into a basket or wiping her high chair with a rag. After she has completed the task, make sure to say “Thank You”! (Avoid saying “good girl” or “good boy”). They’ll learn to feel appreciated for the things they do for others. By praising the action, they’ll want to continue to try to earn your thanks!

BEASTS AND SUPER BEASTS

“Mom’s/Dad’s Little Helper”

Ask them to help you and LET them help you. Buy them a little broom so they can sweep too - give them a cloth so they can dust with you - empowering them with ‘adult jobs’ is a great way to make them feel like an important member of the family unit. They might not be the greatest ‘sweeper’ but that's ok; it's the feeling that comes with it that counts. Praise their efforts and actions and you will see them want to help you more and more!

PRE-K CLASSES

FUNNY BUGS AND GIGGLE WORMS

We have asked the kids to work with you this week to come up with a team cheer! It could be a simple saying you all do together each morning to start the day off together. We encouraged the kids to write it down on a poster or paper with your help and hang it on the wall. We hope it will reinforce the ideas of teamwork and cooperation.

GOOD FRIENDS

“Go TEAM!”

We have asked the kids to work with you this week to come up with a team cheer! It could be a simple saying that you all do together each morning to start the day off together. We encouraged the kids to write it down on a poster or paper with your help and hang it on the wall.

GRADE SCHOOL CLASSES

“Prep For Game Day!!”

Our POP for the week will be what we’d like to call a “Prep for Game Day”! You might already know, but all this preparation we’ve been talking about it for a fantastic show we’ll be putting on for you during the second to last week of our season! This will be the day we perform all of our routines and skills learned! You’ll want to be sure and invite everyone you know for this. It will be the week of _________. The week after the show will be our “Game Day”!!! This will be the last class of our season and we’d like it to be a celebration of all we’ve learned, all the fun we’ve had and all of our favorite things will be included. This week, we’re hoping the kids can go home and write down some of their favorite games, activities, challenges, drills and skills. We’ll collect these in class next week, so be sure to have the kids bring them back! Thanks again for all of your help and encouragement with the Personal Outside Practice!

PRE-K DANCE

JAZZY BUGS, GIGGLE TOES AND GOOD LEAPS

“Team Cheer”

Can you work together with your parents or family to create a team cheer? Maybe a fun saying that will encourage you to get something done around the house - or maybe just to start your morning off right each day this week. Write it down on some poster board or paper and put it up on the wall at home!

.SPORTS SKILLS

MINI JACKS AND CRACKER JACKS

“Play Defense Around the House”

This week at home we want the kids to play defense around the house. Parents, at any time you can say, ‘D-fense! (Clap, Clap)’, immediately your child should get into a defensive stance. Next, tell them what object they can play defense on - the television, refrigerator, dog, etc. Be creative!

KARATE

CHOPSTICKS

“Family Team Clean”

We asked the kids to organize a “Family Team Clean” session at home; maybe this weekend! The idea is that your family will decide on a room or section of your home to work together and clean as a “Team”. We told the kids that “You may be surprised at how quickly the work gets done – and what a difference it makes when people and families work together!” Maybe you can even take a “before” and “after” picture to see the difference when you’re done!

POPs Week 32

PARENT/CHILD CLASSES

BUGS

“Leg Exercises and Kneeling Workout”

This week for our POP, for younger Bugs practice the leg exercises we did today in class at home! This is a great way to continue building strength and flexibility in the major muscles of the legs! For older Bugs, when they are pulling into the kneel position, put a toy next to them so they have to reach down to one side and pick up the toy. Try this on both sides! This is a great core strengthener and improves balance.

BIRDS

“Parallel Play”

This week for practice, try engaging in parallel play with your Bird. As they are playing with their toys, quietly just sit down next to them and pick up something nearby. Try to imitate what they are doing without interacting with them or directing them in any way. You may see them stealing glances at you at maybe even trying to copy some new ideas you come up with. That’s the idea! They’re discovering they can learn new ideas from other people by watching them play!

BEASTS AND SUPER BEASTS

“Follow Me”

Similar to last week's POP - this week if you want your child to try something, YOU do it first and see how they react! For example, a fun thing to do is pretend to put THEIR shoes or coat on yourself incorrectly in a funny way (putting their shoes on your hands, etc.) - and watch them smile as they take it away from you so THEY can show you how it's done: “flipping the coat over the head” trick is a fun one!

PRE-K CLASSES

FUNNY BUGS, GIGGLE WORMS AND GOOD FRIENDS

Parents, we have asked the kids to perform a cooperative activity with you this week. Can you include the children in an ‘assembly line’ next to the washer or dryer to get the laundry done! Everyone can pass the clothes down to the washer or from the washer to the dryer. Celebrate a job well done!

GRADE SCHOOL CLASSES

“Sit-ups for a High 5!”

Parents, we’re hoping this week you’ll help out with this POP! If you (or dad, sister or brother) would help hold your child’s feet and “High 5” them when they do their sit-ups. See if they can do 10 sit ups with their arms crossed over their chest and get a “high 5” from you each time they “sit up”. Thanks parents for helping out!!

PRE-K DANCE

JAZZY BUGS, GIGGLE TOES AND GOOD LEAPS

This week the kids learned a new ballet skill, Jeté! Their POP for the week is to practice it each night before bed. We also encouraged them to make a little trail of small stuffed animals or soft toys they can Jeté over.

.SPORTS SKILLS

MINI JACKS AND CRACKER JACKS

“Dribbling Dynamos!”

This week at home we want your child to dribble the basketball as much as possible. Have fun coming up with different dribbling challenges with them. A few examples are to see how many dribbles they can do without stopping, how long can they dribble without stopping, can they dribble with their eyes closed or dribble with one hand while eating a snack with the other, etc.!

KARATE

CHOPSTICKS

We’ve asked the kids to try and take a few minutes to try and teach their families the beginnings of their kata. The kata is a series of movements strung together – like a Karate Routine. They have been tasked with trying to see if you can perform the kata as a family every night after dinner!

POPs Week 33

PARENT/CHILD CLASSES

BUGS

“Long Sitting and Straddle Stands”

For younger Bugs, try to do some long sitting at home. Place your Bug in a seated position on the floor with a wide straddle position. Place a toy in front of them they have to reach forward to get. This will lengthen their hamstring muscles! For older Bugs, have them sit in a wide straddle position on the floor facing you. Take them from their bent elbows and slowly pull them forward until they are standing in a wide straddle stand. Then slowly lower them back down. As they get steadier, see if they will balance on their feet for a second or two. These are both great exercises to practice at home with your Bugs!

BIRDS

“Your Little Helper”

This week as you’re doing your household chores, enlist your Bird’s help. Your child will love being part of the action and will learn from the job, even if it’s something as simple as dropping socks into a basket or wiping her high chair with a rag. After she has completed the task, make sure to say “Thank You”! (Avoid saying “good girl” or “good boy”). They’ll learn to feel appreciated for the things they do for others. By praising the action, they’ll want to continue to try to earn your thanks!

BEASTS AND SUPER BEASTS

“Mom’s/Dad’s Little Helper”

Ask them to help you and LET them help you. Buy them a little broom so they can sweep too - give them a cloth so they can dust with you - empowering them with ‘adult jobs’ is a great way to make them feel like an important member of the family unit. They might not be the greatest ‘sweeper’ but that's ok; it's the feeling that comes with it that counts. Praise their efforts and actions and you will see them want to help you more and more!

PRE-K CLASSES

FUNNY BUGS AND GIGGLE WORMS

We have asked the kids to work with you this week to come up with a team cheer! It could be a simple saying you all do together each morning to start the day off together. We encouraged the kids to write it down on a poster or paper with your help and hang it on the wall. We hope it will reinforce the ideas of teamwork and cooperation.

GOOD FRIENDS

“Go TEAM!”

We have asked the kids to work with you this week to come up with a team cheer! It could be a simple saying that you all do together each morning to start the day off together. We encouraged the kids to write it down on a poster or paper with your help and hang it on the wall.

GRADE SCHOOL CLASSES

“Prep For Game Day!!”

Our POP for the week will be what we’d like to call a “Prep for Game Day”! You might already know, but all this preparation we’ve been talking about it for a fantastic show we’ll be putting on for you during the second to last week of our season! This will be the day we perform all of our routines and skills learned! You’ll want to be sure and invite everyone you know for this. It will be the week of _________. The week after the show will be our “Game Day”!!! This will be the last class of our season and we’d like it to be a celebration of all we’ve learned, all the fun we’ve had and all of our favorite things will be included. This week, we’re hoping the kids can go home and write down some of their favorite games, activities, challenges, drills and skills. We’ll collect these in class next week, so be sure to have the kids bring them back! Thanks again for all of your help and encouragement with the Personal Outside Practice!

PRE-K DANCE

JAZZY BUGS, GIGGLE TOES AND GOOD LEAPS

“Team Cheer”

Can you work together with your parents or family to create a team cheer? Maybe a fun saying that will encourage you to get something done around the house - or maybe just to start your morning off right each day this week. Write it down on some poster board or paper and put it up on the wall at home!

.SPORTS SKILLS

MINI JACKS AND CRACKER JACKS

“Play Defense Around the House”

This week at home we want the kids to play defense around the house. Parents, at any time you can say, ‘D-fense! (Clap, Clap)’, immediately your child should get into a defensive stance. Next, tell them what object they can play defense on - the television, refrigerator, dog, etc. Be creative!

KARATE

CHOPSTICKS

“Family Team Clean”

We asked the kids to organize a “Family Team Clean” session at home; maybe this weekend! The idea is that your family will decide on a room or section of your home to work together and clean as a “Team”. We told the kids that “You may be surprised at how quickly the work gets done – and what a difference it makes when people and families work together!” Maybe you can even take a “before” and “after” picture to see the difference when you’re done!

POPS week 31

PARENT/CHILD CLASSES

BUGS

“Tummy Time, Sitting & Crawling Practice”

For the non-crawling Bugs, practice tummy time at home as long as your little Bug will tolerate it! The more tummy time they do the stronger their upper back and neck will become, which will prepare them for crawling. Put a few favorite toys in front of them to keep them engaged for a longer period of time. Maybe even prop a small pillow under their tummy/chest to get their tummy raised off the floor. You could also try some sitting activities to help strengthen the core muscles. Sit in a chair with your Bug on your lap facing away from you, holding them in the hips. Slowly lean them forward and back. This helps work the muscles in the back and abdomen. For the crawlers, create a crawling course around the house by putting a toy in front of the Bugs, so they have to crawl to get the toy. Once they get it, try again and make the toy further away as an extra added challenge!

BIRDS

“Who’s That?”

There’s a classic mirror test you can try with your baby to test their concept of self-awareness. Put a little smudge of lipstick or marker on your baby’s nose and put them in front of a mirror. Point to the reflection in the mirror and ask ‘Who’s that?’ At 6-12 months, most babies think it’s another baby, they smile and make noise. At 13-20 months, they usually don’t like to see the image, becoming shy and anxious in front of another child. At 20-24 months, they start to realize the image is really themselves by pointing to the spot on their own nose! Try it and see how your baby’s self-awareness is emerging. Being able to distinguish themselves from other people is fundamental to developing social relationships. Try the test every few weeks to see how their awareness of themselves.

BEASTS AND SUPER BEASTS

“Parallel Me!”

This is a game you can do at home to encourage sharing. When you see your child playing with something, go up beside them and play with something else. Mimic “parallel playing”. Every now and again say what you're doing out loud and see if they do the same and continue on their merry way, or if instead they turn around to try and join you. Either way PRAISE them for their choice.

PRE-K CLASSES

FUNNY BUGS, GIGGLE WORMS AND GOOD FRIENDS

“Cooperation at Home”

We have encouraged your children to work together with a friend this week by taking turns or sharing toys. We encouraged them to tell Mom and Dad all about the great ways they shared with a friend! So hopefully you’ll get an “ear-full”! Providing your child’s opportunities to interact with peers develops social and problem solving skills, exactly what we focus on each week here at The Little Gym!

GRADE SCHOOL CLASSES

“What Makes You A Great Team Mate?”

For this week’s POP, kids will go home and write down what they are best at when it comes to being on a team. For example: do they listen really well? Watch their teammates and cheer them on? Suggest ideas? etc. This might be tricky, but will be great to “springboard” our Learning Unit! Parents, you will be key in helping them with this POP!! They can also add some bedpost toe raises right before bed each night! Have them do as many as they are old, five times!

PRE-K DANCE

JAZZY BUGS, GIGGLE TOES AND GOOD LEAPS

“Cooperation at Home”

We have encouraged your children to work together with a friend this week by taking turns or sharing toys. We encouraged them to tell Mom and Dad all about the great ways they shared with a friend! So hopefully you’ll get an “ear-full”! Providing your child’s opportunities to interact with peers develops social and problem solving skills, exactly what we focus on each week here at The Little Gym!

.SPORTS SKILLS

MINI JACKS AND CRACKER JACKS

“Step-Push-Point Practice”

This week when you are at home, we want your child to practice passing with you. First, they have to teach you how to “step-push-point”. These are the performance cues for a chest pass. Then, you have to see how many catches in a row you can do with them before dropping the ball. Try to break your record all week!

KARATE

CHOPSTICKS

“Cooperation at Home”

We have encouraged your children to work together with a friend this week by taking turns or sharing toys. We encouraged them to tell Mom and Dad all about the great ways they shared with a friend! So hopefully you’ll get an “ear-full”! Providing your child’s opportunities to interact with peers develops social and problem solving skills, exactly what we focus on each week here at The Little Gym

WonderKids !

Think your little one is wonderful? Join the club!
Do you have a child 3-5 years old and are you looking for 3 hours to yourself ?
We thought so, well here is an option for you.
Introducing WonderKids Club™, a brand new enrichment program that extends The Little Gym experience for children ages 3-5. Wonderkids is being piloted by The Little Gym of Edina and your child can be one of the first participants in this unique program.

For parents, WonderKids Club provides three hours of much-needed grown-up time and the confidence that their children are happy and growing in a safe, structured, familiar environment.

For the kids, it is 3 hours of fun and excitement at a place they already know and love.
Each three-hour WonderKids Club session combines a Funny Bugs or Giggle Worms gymnastics-based class with active learning and instructor-led, immersive play in the Multi-Purpose Room. Arts and crafts projects, creative songs and story time all reinforce the week's Learning Unit and theme.

The price per child for the 3 hour WonderKids Club is $48. If your child is in the Monday Funny Bugs class at 11:10 then the added cost would be $28.

The time is Monday from 10:00-1:00 and/or Wednesday from 1:30-4:30pm and it is open to all potty trained 3-5 year olds.

The Wednesday WonderKids Club will be capped at 8 kids and the Monday time will be capped at 6. Just like our Anytime Summertime Camp, you can sign up for weeks at a time or for just a day here and there - whatever works for your schedule.

Call us at 952-924-0083 today and tell us you are interested in the WonderKids Program. We can't wait to get started!

Raising a Citizen Kid!

Friendships provide children with so much more than just fun playmates! In fact, friends are essential for healthy psychological development. Many experts believe that a child’s ability to make friends is the single biggest predictor of their success later in life. Some even claim that it’s more important than IQ and grades. Programs at The Little Gym are purposefully designed to help children become “Citizen Kids!” by improving their social and emotional development. Songs, games, and activities focus on listening, sharing, and taking turns. Experiential learning activities help foster creativity, allow friends to solve problems together, and let them pass on knowledge. Throughout the Season, we have special themed weeks to celebrate your child’s friendships. Our Bring a Friend Week is meant to do just that- build friendships and confidence. Watch for our next Bring a Friend week.

New Years Resolution, what else?

"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 activity. 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 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 parents 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 Minneapolis 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 952-924-0083 today! Other Ideas: Boost your blog’s visibility and interest by: • Including 1 to 2 links that will direct readers to other pages of your website. For instance, you might link “We’re still taking enrollments” in the closing paragraph to your class schedule page • Showing some photos of kids at your gym having a great time o Make sure Mom and Dad are okay with photos being taken! • Posting a photo of a staff member working with kids or even just a shot of a smiling staffer cleaning the gym after a class…a parent interested in enrolling won’t mind seeing that your gym is always kept clean!

POPS week 16

PARENT/CHILD CLASSES

BUGS

If you have a crawler try setting up a crawling station at home with various multi-colored objects, like blankets, pillows, sleeping bags, anything you can think of that promote a fun, colorful environment. For non-crawlers have some daily tummy time placing multi-colored objects over there head, play peek-a-boo and then call out the colors at the same time.

BIRDS

Did you have fun with matching your colored socks last week? Well, keep them out because we’re going to use them again! To continue with the NAMING theme, this week, use your same three pair of basic colored socks. Lay them all out randomly on the floor (separate the pairs). Ask your child to find two matching socks from the six on the floor, then ask him to name the color; continue until he or she has picked up and named all three pairs. You can expand this game to four or even five colors when your child is ready, but take it slow! Remember, it’s easiest for your child to learn and memorize one color at a time.

BEASTS AND SUPER BEASTS

At home you can play the same game you played last week; matching the socks and clothes to different items in the house, but this time ASK THEM what the name of the color is before they match it up.

PRE-K CLASSES

FUNNY BUGS

Blow up a balloon this week for your child and encourage them to hit it with their hands either keeping it in the air or hitting it against a wall. Maybe you can count how many ‘hits’ they can get before the balloon hits the ground…a great hand-eye coordination activity!

GIGGLE WORMS AND GOOD FRIENDS

Hopefully, we have lightened your workload around the house this week by asking the kids to practice their hand-eye coordination by throwing their dirty clothes in the laundry basket. Who knows? Maybe next week it could be cleaning the bathroom!

GRADE SCHOOL CLASSES

GRADE SCHOOL AND ADVANCED GRADE SCHOOL

This week we’re challenging the kids to practice their bridges with you, allowing you to ‘master’ the spotting technique we showed you today in the gym! If you can’t find the time, it’s A-Okay, they can practice this move on their own also! Please remind the kids to ‘rock and roll’ their backs out after each bridge.

PRE-K DANCE

JAZZY BUGS, GIGGLE TOES AND GOOD LEAPS

The POP for the week is for the kids to draw or color a picture and then perform a dance about the picture. We encouraged them to share the artwork with you and perform their dance. See if you can prod them to discuss how they created those specific movements based on their picture.

SPORTS SKILLS

MINI JACKS AND CRACKER JACKS

This week when you are at home, we want you and your child to be ‘passing partners’. Just like at our sports station, spread out and pass the soccer ball to each other without stopping or trapping the ball.

KARATE

CHOPSTICKS

If you saw what we did in our Opening Circle for our Name Activity today called ‘Spin and Splat’, we’ve asked the children to recruit your assistance in recreating that at home this week! We told the kids to do five spin-punches each day before dinner!

Holiday Camps

We have HOLIDAY CAMPS !

Kids must be 3 years old and potty trained for the following camp days. Call to reserve your spot. 952-924-0083

Monday, December 26^th

TLG Stars on Ice

We’ll use paper-plate ice skates to

glide around The Little Gym...

Tuesday, December 27^th

Winter Camping

Bring sleeping bags and get ready for some

bird watching and tent-building

Wednesday, December 28^th

Holiday Goofy Games

Candy cane spin baseball, snowman slams, ice-castle

building, and parachute snowball poppers …

Thursday, December 29^th

Dinosaur Ice age

We’ll take a sled ride across the Arctic, meet a silly stegosaurus, and travel to some of the coldest places on earth

Friday, December 30^th

New Year’s Eve Beach Bash

Come celebrate the New Year with a

party on the beach!

Price:

Members: $30/Day

Non-Members: $40/Day

POPS WEEK 15

PARENT/CHILD CLASSES

BUGS

For your POP’s this week, converse with your Bug on a daily basis about colors. There are thoughts out there that say you should start with just one color and constantly repeat the same color over and over until they can identify it, but in reality, with our Bugs only being 4 to 10 months old, just starting with some conversation about colors will begin to pave the way to learning them. When dressing your Bug in the morning, say and point to the blue pants, or pink top. Fun little activities like this over time will create a ‘knowledge database’ of colors for your babies to begin learning.

BIRDS

In your daily activities this week, try to focus on colors. You can pick one color and keep reinforcing objects that are the same color. Or you can name and identify different colors as part of your daily conversation. As you dress your baby, tell them what color the dress is; as you cover them with a blanket, tell your baby what color the blanket is. You can also try a simple matching activity. Get three pairs of socks in basic colors (maybe a red pair, a green pair and a blue pair). Lay out one sock of each color on the floor. Give your baby one of the other socks and ask them to find the matching sock on the floor. Continue until they have matched all socks. After they’ve mastered this activity, ask them to choose the sock from the basket to match, or add another color or two.

BEASTS AND SUPER BEASTS

At home this week, as your Personal Outside Practice, please continue to match and identify COLORS with your child. As they are getting dressed, tell them what COLOR their clothes are and ask them if they can find ANYTHING else that is the same COLOR, or separate some of their socks in piles and have them try to match the pairs. Have some fun and you can try it during dinner too. Did you know broccoli and peas are the same COLOR? YUM!

PRE-K CLASSES

FUNNY BUGS AND GIGGLE WORMS, AND GOOD FRIENDS

At home, we asked the kids to choose a chore or job to do at home – but try doing it with just their feet. Maybe do a different thing each day. Here are the three ideas we gave them:

- Each night when you put your pajamas on, use only your feet to put your dirty clothes in the laundry basket or hamper.

- If you have a pet dog and a dog brush, use your feet to give your dog a good brushing! Can you hold the brush between your feet and brush your dog?

- Pick up your toys and put them in the toy box – or even try to stack toy blocks using only your feet!

They also know to check with you to make sure their ‘Foot Chore’ is safe to do!

GRADE SCHOOL CLASSES

GRADE SCHOOL AND ADVANCED GRADE SCHOOL

Parents, this week, after the kids brush their teeth, they can find a wall and walk down it backwards with their hands into a bridge! They’ll start facing away from the wall, and arch back to touch wall and walk down it backwards into a bridge! You’ll want to supervise this one to ensure the kids are rocking and rolling and stretching through their shoulders!

PRE-K DANCE

JAZZY BUGS, GIGGLE TOES AND GOOD LEAPS

During one – or more – nights this week, we’ve asked your child to perform their ‘Color Solo’! We practiced it in class. All they need is a yellow, a green and a purple object to spread out on the floor to serve as their dance ‘color cues’ for their skills! We’ll see if the kids can remember which skill we’ve assigned to each color! We also told the kids, after they show you their ‘color solo’, perhaps you will take a turn to do a ‘color solo’ for your child!

SPORTS SKILLS

MINI JACKS AND CRACKER JACKS

This week when your child is at home, have them practice counting their hits. Use a balloon and a racquet. If you don’t have a racquet, then they can use their hand. How many hits can they do - 10, 50, 100? Can they break their record? Can they hit higher than they can count? Have fun!

KARATE

CHOPSTICKS

We’re asking for you to help the children work on their blocks this week at home by swinging a small pillow or stuffed animal at them to let them practice their blocking motion. If you are comfortable and have the space you can try tossing something at them to see if they can block it out of the air – a rolled-up pair of socks, a small pillow; anything soft and safe!

POPS for Week 11

PARENT/CHILD CLASSES

BUGS

Try these great parent/child activities at home to carry on our important ‘Do’ and ‘Feel’ learning from this week: Partner log rolls, Back and Front-Whoop-Dee-Doo’s, and maybe even your arm and leg exercises!

BIRDS, BEASTS AND SUPER BEASTS

Practice walking backward with your child: Get a paper or plastic plate and pretend it’s a steering wheel. Let them drive around the house and when you cue them with a ‘beep, beep, beep’ they can stop and try to move backwards; like a truck backing up.

PRE-K CLASSES

FUNNY BUGS AND GIGGLE WORMS

Every day before they eat breakfast and before they eat dinner, we’d like the kids to try to three different body positions – demonstrate for the parents – squat, pike and straddle. Count to ten with your child and see if they can hold the pose the entire ten count!

GOOD FRIENDS

In class, the kids did a ‘Build a Better Body’ Strength Circuit! We are challenging our Good Friends to do some of the same strength activities at home they did in the circuit. They can put their feet on the sofa and their hands on the floor and try to walk the length of the sofa, keeping their torso tight and strong! Or maybe put their hands on the edge of their bed, keep their feet on the floor and try some dips for strong arms! Rome was not built in a day - and better bodies can’t be built in one hour at The Little Gym! So encourage them to move those bodies each day!

GRADE SCHOOL CLASSES

GRADE SCHOOL AND ADVANCED GRADE SCHOOL

To continue working on building up that power, we’ve asked the kids to re-visit the 800 meter runs they may have tried a few weeks ago. Parents, you can take them to a nearby track and see how many 800 meter runs these powerful kids can do!

PRE-K DANCE

JAZZY BUGS, GIGGLE TOES AND GOOD LEAPS

We’ve asked the kids to utilize their imagination skills and put on an ‘Imagination Show for Mom and Dad’ at home! Your child has been asked to pick three different objects in your house and imagine what it would look like if those objects could move or dance. Then they will find a safe open spot and try to dance/act it out for you in a Three-Part Show (one show for each object they choose)! This is a great example of ‘Think About It, Move About It’ in action! Parents, you know it’s always helpful to provide your child with a wonderful, dynamic demonstration! Maybe YOU can first put on an ‘Imagination Show’ for your child to ‘set the tone’!

SPORTS SKILLS

MINI JACKS AND CRACKER JACKS

“How Fast Can You Do Your Chores?”

This week parents you and your child are going to agree on a chore that they can do. They are going to start that chore when they say ‘HUT’. They will do the chore as quickly as they can (while still doing it the correct way!). You will time them and can even have them try to break their record the next time they do the same chore!

KARATE

CHOPSTICKS

To continue to exercise their minds, we’ve asked the children to enlist your help by reading them a short book or story and having them try to ‘act it out’ as best they can. This is similar to some of what we did in class today by presenting a ‘scenario’ and challenging them to translate it through their movements and actions!”

POPS Week 9

PARENT/CHILD CLASSES

BUGS

Provide opportunities for your Bugs to roll and rotate from different positions. You could start in a wheel barrow position moving into a F. Roll, donkey kicks into little handstands then roll at the end. These are great sequencing skills and will assist in creating more body control and development for your Bug.

BIRDS

Daily vestibular challenges are essential! Have fun spinning on the kitchen floor! Use the ‘roll’ sign and do some log rolls or forward rolls on the floor; engage in roughhouse play: fly your baby through the air or rock them quickly from side to side; dance with your Birdie, moving them up and down and side to side.

Another fun activity is to play ‘roll-up’: spread a blanket or towel on your child’s bed, have them lie on top of the blanket on one side of the bed, and gently roll them across the bed until they are wrapped up in a blanket roll. Then unroll them to spin their heads in the other direction!

BEASTS AND SUPER BEASTS

Take your favorite small stuffed animal for a ‘ride’ by tucking them under their chin when you do your roll. This will teach them great ‘chin-tucking form’ and will work on the balance control center or ‘vestibular system’. Parents, maybe you can try one too.

PRE-K CLASSES

FUNNY BUGS

One of our skills in class was jumping from a platform from two feet and landing on two feet with strong stable legs while maintaining balance. At home, at the playground or in the back yard, find opportunities for your child to safely practice their jumping and landing skills with balance and body control. This skill, being able to jump and land on two feet from a raised surface, is a great ‘safety skill’ as it provides a safe and effective way to get down off of higher areas that are too high to step down from!

GIGGLE WORMS AND GOOD FRIENDS

We have encouraged the kids to practice their favorite balancing position at home this week. They can practice while watching their favorite TV show or while waiting for dinner or by putting on a ‘balancing pose performance’ for you in the living room! Maybe you can join them and work on your balance, too!

GRADE SCHOOL CLASSES

GRADE SCHOOL AND ADVANCED GRADE SCHOOL

“Bedtime balancing” This week kids will be challenged to go home and do 200 toe raises before bed each night…just kidding!

Just before they go to bed, they can use their bed post or headboard to balance while raising up and down 10 times from flat feet to relevé on toe! A great calf work out and easy to remember if you do it just before bed! Challenge them to even try it without holding on! Tricky business balancing just before bed!

PRE-K DANCE

JAZZY BUGS, GIGGLE TOES AND GOOD LEAPS

Their POP for the week is to practice their passé while they perform port de bra each morning when they wake up.

SPORTS SKILLS

MINI JACKS AND CRACKER JACKS

“Angle Shooting!” “This week we have a great challenge for the kids at home with your help parents. As you know, in soccer, the ball isn’t always just sitting there for us to score or rolled directly to us. So what we want you to do is have your child line up like they are going to shoot the ball. Your job is to roll the ball, not directly to them, but just off to one side or the other so they must run to the ball and kick from different angles at the goal. Remember to give them lots of praise and don’t let them get frustrated!

KARATE

CHOPSTICKS

During this unit, we’ve mentioned to the children that balance is important in many other areas of their life besides just karate, so we’ve asked them to try some everyday tasks at home on one foot. Be prepared for some potentially odd feats of balance - such as balancing on one foot during a commercial or while singing their ABC’s!

POPS Week 8

PARENT/CHILD CLASSES

BUGS

Using a wooden spoon, rhythm stick (if you have one), or wood dowel, have your Bug lie down on their backs with feet toward you. Put the stick in front of them and see if you can play ‘peek-a-boo’ gently lift the stick above and below their head (while they hang onto it). It’s fun and a great for strengthening those shoulder muscles getting them ready for future hangs and swings.

Then try and gently lift your Bug up as they grasp for the stick into a standing position promoting some balancing opportunities to again continue to work on strengthening your little Bug’s lower body.

BIRDS

This week’s Personal Outside Practice will help train your child’s Static Balance, which is the ability to maintain a desired body posture or position when the body is stationary. Have your child stand on both feet and extend their arms. Give them two objects of different weights – maybe a stuffed animal and a heavier toy – and have them hold each toy in a different hand. Ask them to move their arms up and down. Next, ask your child to stand on one foot with arms extended and to hold two objects of different weights.

They may use a chair or table to lean on to help them balance at first, but with practice their balance should become developed enough that they can stand on their own on one foot. Holding objects of two different weights creates a situation where they have to reestablish their center of gravity and focus on stabilizing their core to deal with the imbalance they’re holding – a great balance challenge!!

BEASTS AND SUPER BEASTS

Spot your child in a wheelbarrow to their bedroom at least once a day; maybe on their way to bed for the night, or going to their bedroom to get a toy! Wheelbarrows are a GREAT ‘Core’ builder! Not only are the kids using their back, neck, shoulder and chest muscles to bear weight on their arms as they keep their head up, they also activate their abdominal muscles to stabilize their spine!

PRE-K CLASSES

FUNNY BUGS AND GIGGLE WORMS

Every time they brush their teeth, they’re going to try and balance on one foot. If it’s easier to brush and then do a 10 second balancing, that’s ok too!

GOOD FRIENDS

“High Wire Hero Around Town!” We told your children to be a ‘high wire hero at home or around your town this week and work on your balance! Find a safe curb in the parking lot or at the park with Mom or Dad and walk on it without falling off.

GRADE SCHOOL CLASSES

GRADE SCHOOL, ADVANCED GRADE SCHOOL, AND GRADE SCHOOL DANCE

This week’s ‘POP’ will include you, parents!

If willing, play the Frozen Popsicle game. REPETITION will lead to the child’s ability to make this body position and “muscle activation” automatic! Be supportive and encouraging with this – but try not to force them. This is completely optional and “Extra” for the kids to do!

PRE-K DANCE

JAZZY BUGS, GIGGLE TOES AND GOOD LEAPS

Practice being an Amazing Balancing Betty. We encouraged them to practice standing on one foot before going to bed each night. The challenge is to see if they can balance long enough to sing the entire ABC song.

SPORTS SKILLS

MINI JACKS AND CRACKER JACKS

“How Long Can Your Child Balance?”

This week parents, we want you to get out the stop watch and challenge your child to trap a ball for as long as they can without their trapping foot coming off the ball. Maybe they can break their record as the week goes on! They can try it with both their right and left feet. If they need more of a challenge, then you can either have them try it with their eyes closed or you can playfully try to knock them off balance.

KARATE

CHOPSTICKS

To further that development, we have asked the children to practice some balancing on one foot at home this week after they get out of bed each morning. They also know to check with you before they do it to be sure the spot they’ve chosen is safe to practice.