This winter, Colin started taking gymnastics through Chicago’s park district programming. I grew up taking gymnastics, and I love the idea of giving his intense toddler energy a focus. Rather than treating our home like a jungle gym, this class has given him an outlet where it is encouraged to run and jump and swing. And in a city where children’s activity costs range from expensive to extortion, the fact that this class is $50 for 10 sessions is incredible. At nineteen months, I initially thought he would be much to young for an organized “sport,” but I have found that despite the obvious fact that he is too young for cartwheels and back flips, this class has many tangible benefits.
Following Directions
Class begins with ten minutes of open play where Colin can take the lead and explore any of the apparatuses, from the beam to the bars, to the cushy mats or his favorite – the giant trampoline. (Colin is absolutely obsessed with the trampoline, and dragging him away is like taking a moth from a flame.) But after that, we all get together to stretch, and the instructor places a strong focus on following instructions. She leads them in five minutes of “stretching” (nothing in the world is cuter than watching toddlers who do not need to stretch “stretch”). Then we put our backs to the wall, and she gives instructions for the obstacle course that we all lead our toddlers through twice. She shows us all what to do (ex: walk across the beam backwards, jump onto vault, climb down, do three leg lifts on the bar, jump…), and then we all spread out along the course and go for it. Colin is still young, but it is wonderful to watch him improve his listening skills and watch him follow Miss Jessica’s instructions.
Transitions and Waiting
Toddlers aren’t known for their patience, and my child is no exception. Because the class is a series of obstacle courses, there are tons of transitions involved. This has been a great challenge for both of us, mostly for Colin of course, but also for me as I figure out how to navigate this as a parent. In the beginning, this meant carting him over my shoulder as I dragged him away from the trampoline every time he bolted over there from across the room, but it is getting better by the session. Moving from obstacle to obstacle is teaching him how to control his emotions, stay calm, and be patient. Because there are 20 kids in the class, and usually about 10 obstacles per course, there is always a bit of waiting time, which helps with this skill building as well.
Gross Motor Development
Since Colin started class a month ago, he has learned how to jump on two feet, his running looks a little less “drunken sailor” and more “running toddler,” he can balance while holding my hand as he walks across a balance beam, and has figured out how to adjust his hands and feet as he sidesteps along the parallel bars. He will touch his toes, hop from star to star and hop along the trampoline. Gymnastics is the ultimate kiddie sport when it comes to gross motor development.
Amazing Naps
After an hour of running around and jumping like a maniac at gymnastics, Colin is absolutely WIPED OUT. Enough said. My Wednesday afternoons are glorious.
Have you enrolled your toddler in an organized sport? Have you found it to be worthwhile?
blogger / wonderful cherry / 21616 posts
amazing!! I wish we had something like this in my area. That sounds like an incredible program.
ETA: I just googled gymnastics in my city and there is one for 18-36 months – however it’s $70 a WEEK! And that is a once a week night class. oof.
blogger / grapefruit / 4836 posts
What a fun idea! I will definitely be looking into this when LL gets a little older!
wonderful clementine / 24134 posts
Great post!
Our city offers a 2 year old and up gymnastics class. It is so cheap! Like $40 for 16 week session (30 min sessions). It is perfect and they offer evening and weekend classes which is so hard to find!
grapefruit / 4903 posts
Oh I love seeing this review! Just yesterday I was looking at signing up LO for this exact class! I can’t tell if she’s old enough yet, so we may have to wait until the summer session. Do you happen to know if she has to be 1.5 before it starts? She’ll turn 1.5 during the series, but I wonder if she might get more out of it when she’s stabler on her feet.
blogger / pomegranate / 3491 posts
@rattles: I would say that it depends on your LO’s walking ability, language comprehension and size. The age range goes up to 3 year olds, so even now at 20.5 months, C is one of the smallest. I think that a month or two earlier, and C would have been a bit over his head. But you’re the only one who knows your own child, so I would just use your best judgement. And make sure to log in on the first day of registration at exactly 9:00 – the class fills within a matter of 1 minute usually. It is crazy!
blogger / pomegranate / 3491 posts
@rattles: and feel free to wall me if you want to chat more or have other specific Qs!
grapefruit / 4903 posts
@Mrs. Confetti: Thanks so much for your help! It sounds like we should probably wait then. I’d rather hold off than risk it being frustrating for us both. I may follow up with you later though, if you don’t mind! C looks like he’s really into it!
pomegranate / 3045 posts
I did gymnastics when I was really little and I absolutely loved it Looks like he is gaining a lot from the class!
blogger / pomegranate / 3201 posts
So fun!!
nectarine / 2771 posts
He looks so cute! Must be such fun
blogger / eggplant / 11551 posts
I haven’t yet, but I want to soon! Not sure which activity to enroll her in yet though…
I used to take SCATS gymnastics growing up – I had a lot of fun!
nectarine / 2886 posts
We recently started gymnastics classes as well (LO is 20 mo), and love it! My LO is also obsessed with the trampoline and really loves tumbling. I think gymnastics classes have been a great outlet for her to explore and gain confidence as she often shows fear or apprehension towards certain class activities but eventually tries them and ends up loving them and wanting to do them again and again!
blogger / nectarine / 2010 posts
We’re in our second session of gymnastics and I’ve seen a huge improvement in his social skills. He’s following along with the larger group of older kids at the beginning and knows how to wait for instructions and then wait his turn. I’m so impressed with how much he’s learned. I thought we were just going somewhere to run around and burn off energy and got so much more.
guest
My LO is still too young for gymnastics, but as soon as she’s 18 months (in August), we’re signing up for the fall session. I was a competitive gymnast through high school and I coached from 13 (as a junior coach, I got certified at 16) until I was 22 and finished university. It’s the best sport and I can’t wait to introduce my LO to it!
blogger / persimmon / 1231 posts
So much fun! He looks like he’s loving it
We have one here but it’s $10 a class. Not terrible but not cheap either. That’s at an actual Gymnastics Academy though, there’s a Tots in Motion class close by too that’s probably a little more low-key and cheaper. Of course both of the classes are during nap times. UGH.
coffee bean / 35 posts
Alex takes CPD gymnastics at a different park and loves it, too. He can’t stay away from the trampoline either. Learning to follow directions has been the best benefit. He always looks forward to getting a stamp on the arm if he does the roll/spiderman handstand/etc that Ms. Cheryl asks him to try.
blogger / pear / 1563 posts
That price is a STEAL! I just bought a groupon for toddler gymnastics and hope to start using the classes in the spring. I can’t wait to see how it goes!
blogger / pomegranate / 3300 posts
This looks great. We haven’t done any group sports yet because of the price but yours seems like and awesome deal. I also didn’t have a lot of luck when they were toddlers because I was turned a way from a lot since I had three with me and only me to help. We ended up doing a music classes where I sat with two and the teacher always helped me with one kid.
blogger / nectarine / 2600 posts
This looks great! I also wish we had something like this locally
GOLD / wonderful apricot / 22646 posts
so much fun! there’s a local gym that offers somethign like this, i need to look into it for ds!
blogger / nectarine / 2608 posts
We don’t have anything like this near us, but boy do I think Lorelei would enjoy it! She’s full of energy and always doing dangerous stunts. I love all of your pictures!
blogger / clementine / 998 posts
what a great deal!!
hostess / wonderful honeydew / 32460 posts
Aww so much fun!! We haven’t enrolled DD in anything yet.. She’ll be 3 soon, so I think it’s time!