Fun Activities for Children Blog – The Little Gym of Ridgefield

The Little Gym of Ridgefield
96 Danbury Road
Ridgefield, CT 06877
(203) 431-2150

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We all know that starting the school year off right is really important, but getting back into the routine after summer break can be tough. From waking up early, to getting used to new friends and teachers, to getting back in the groove of paying attention and curbing impulses, the start of the school year is a giant wake up call for many kids.

Fortunately, The Little Gym is here to help. First of all, exercise is a great outlet for kids who have spent the whole day focusing on learning new rules and routines and just remembering to raise their hands before talking or do extended amounts of seat work.

There's no question about it: starting the school year can be stressful for kids, and exercise can help alleviate that stress. In fact, this article explains that, "Exercise scattered throughout the day will help keep blood flow circulating through the body and may stimulate brain activity while reducing stress. " It goes on to explain that, "Being physically active will keep you alert, focused and ready to tackle mental projects."

Plus, this article points out that children with 30 minutes of recess have more attention and fewer behavior problems. The article further states that kids with at least 45 minutes of exercise every day "have less discipline problerms and better academic performance." If that's the case, just imagine what an hour of serious fun at The Little Gym can do!

Not only that, but our curriculum helps kids practice those skills they need to be successful in school in a fun, pressure-free environment. We help our students work on listening, social, and creative thinking skills, among others. See our blog post here for more on how The Little Gym can help kids to be more successful in school.

We wish you the best for a successful school year!

Stop Worrying About Screen Time!

At this point it’s probably safe to say that most parents recognize that allowing kids too much screen time can be harmful. We know that we need to limit children’s access to television, computer games, and mobile devices.

Specifically, both the CDC and American Academy of Pediatrics strongly discourage any screen time for children under age 2, and they recommend a limit of one to two hours a day for older children. The American Academy of Pediatrics points out that some of the dangers of excessive screen time include "attention problems, school difficulties, and sleep and eating disorders," among other hazards.

The problem is that putting kids in front of a screen is sooooo effective. Let’s face it: kids love screens, and adults love when their kids are otherwise engaged and they can get adult-stuff done! The important question, then, is how do we entertain the kids all day during the summer when school is shut down?

Well, let The Little Gym help! Drop the kids off at our Anytime Summertime camp for a few hours! You’ll be amazed at how much you’re able to get done, and your kids will be amazed at how much fun they’re having! More importantly, our camp gets kids’ minds and bodies moving and away from screens.

Here are some of the ways our Anytime Summertime camp can help:

If you've ever observed a Little Gym class or camp session, you know we get kids moving. From the warm up to the stations to the games and crafts, there is virtually no down time.
We help build kids’ imaginations while helping them develop strength and body control! During a pirate-themed week, for example, campers may think they're "walking the plank," but they're actually on the high beam working on their coordination.
We’re social! This may be more important than you realize. According to an article published by Time Magazine on May 28, 2012, recent studies show that “hanging out with active peers may lead kids to exercise more, making a child’s social network a potential vehicle for promoting healthy habits and reducing obesity.”
Our programs help kids become more successful in school. We teach listening skills, creative thinking, respect, cooperation, and more.

The best part? Our campers have fun!! Even while they're getting exercise, working on social skills, and building their imaginations, they're having a great time!

So what are you waiting for? Stop worrying about screen time, and give us a call to register your kids for our Anytime Summertime camp.

One more thing - if you’re looking for ways to limit your kids’ screen time when they’re at home, the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute has some helpful suggestions here, and the CDC has a fantastic tool kit here. Another eye-opening resource that we recommend is screentime.org.

Summer Safety at The Little Gym

Summer safety is a hot topic right now, but as you might imagine, it's always a major priority at The Little Gym. Sure, we’re all about fun, but we take fun seriously here.

So, here are some measures we take to ensure safety of your children during camp and summer classes:

Since camp sessions and summer classes take place indoors, there is no risk of sunburn and minimal chance of dehydration or overheating.
Speaking of dehydration, we encourage our students to drink water and always require our campers to drink water before they can have juice.
Our program is based on progressive growth, meaning that each student progresses at his/her personal comfort and skill level. This minimizes risk of injury.
Likewise, progressive growth ensures that each of our students has the skills he or she needs in order to safely progress to the next level.

Of course, our campers and students can't be with us all of the time, so here are some great resources you can use to keep your little ones safe when they're out of our hands:

The CDC has a very helpful section on kids' safety here. They cover just about every relevant topic, from water safety to sun protection to cyberbullying.
Here are the American Acadamy of Pediatrics' safety tips, including some interesting articles and newsletters from other sources.
Healthy Children breaks their safety tips down based on the age of the child. You can find their advice here.
At keepkidshealthy.com you'll even find strategies for fighting summer boredom! Check out their suggestions here.

The Little Gym hopes you have a safe and seriously fun summer! And don't forget - one way to beat the heat (and sun exposure!) is by enrolling in our camp or summer classes!

We're Excited to Show Off!!

Next week is a really big deal at The Little Gym: It's Show Week! We can't wait to see your kids show off how much they've grown this year!

Join us during your child's regular class for a chance to see everything they've learned put into action!! You'll be amazed by how much strength, flexibility, and independence your little one has gained!

Show Week is a great confidence builder for kids and a great photo op for parents, so come prepared to take off your shoes... and don't forget to bring your camera!