For being such a small town, Castle Rock actually boasts a couple of highly reputable Gymnastics training facilities. One is located at the entrance of our community. My brother, Allen, was thrilled to learn this. Having been a gymnastics coach for years and currently coaching very young kids in the sport, he has seen the benefits for kids and parents when the little ones take up gymnastics.
Since we were new to the area, he also thought it would be a great way for Paul and me to meet other local parents. Therefore, for Abby's 2nd birthday, Allen got Abby a membership and sessions at the Castle Rock School of Gymnastics, beginning last Saturday, August 8th.
Starting at 18 months and going up to 3 years, the kids are in a class called the Twiddle Bugs. The kids dance around to lively music, learn to follow directions and take turns, and explore various body movements like twirling, flipping, hanging upside-down, jumping, swinging, etc. It is a 45 minute class and parents are very involved. The teacher is full of energy and keeps each child very much engaged. For the first 10-15 minutes or so, the parents and kids sit in a circle on the floor exercise mat. They go through stretches, dancing, and then various techniques like pikes, straddles, hand-stands, front somersaults, and leaps. After circle time, the kids and parents are off on their own to explore an obstacle course and any other equipment around the gym. Abby will undoubtedly head towards the trampoline first to bounce. Her biggest fear is the balance beam, but she continues to try them and her confidence has visibly grown even in just one week.
Meanwhile, the teacher goes around to each child and helps them work on various skills such as skooching along bars and dropping into a "hot tub" of big foam squares (aka a small, portable foam pit), walking across a balance beam while stooping to pick up small sandbags along the way, or backward flips.
By the end of the class, Abby is thrilled and thoroughly exhausted (as are we after trying to climb out of the large foam pit for the 3rd time in 10 minutes!)
I hope Allen knows that Abby LOVES going to gymnastics and we are all having a great time. Thank you!
Since we were new to the area, he also thought it would be a great way for Paul and me to meet other local parents. Therefore, for Abby's 2nd birthday, Allen got Abby a membership and sessions at the Castle Rock School of Gymnastics, beginning last Saturday, August 8th.
Starting at 18 months and going up to 3 years, the kids are in a class called the Twiddle Bugs. The kids dance around to lively music, learn to follow directions and take turns, and explore various body movements like twirling, flipping, hanging upside-down, jumping, swinging, etc. It is a 45 minute class and parents are very involved. The teacher is full of energy and keeps each child very much engaged. For the first 10-15 minutes or so, the parents and kids sit in a circle on the floor exercise mat. They go through stretches, dancing, and then various techniques like pikes, straddles, hand-stands, front somersaults, and leaps. After circle time, the kids and parents are off on their own to explore an obstacle course and any other equipment around the gym. Abby will undoubtedly head towards the trampoline first to bounce. Her biggest fear is the balance beam, but she continues to try them and her confidence has visibly grown even in just one week.
Meanwhile, the teacher goes around to each child and helps them work on various skills such as skooching along bars and dropping into a "hot tub" of big foam squares (aka a small, portable foam pit), walking across a balance beam while stooping to pick up small sandbags along the way, or backward flips.
By the end of the class, Abby is thrilled and thoroughly exhausted (as are we after trying to climb out of the large foam pit for the 3rd time in 10 minutes!)
I hope Allen knows that Abby LOVES going to gymnastics and we are all having a great time. Thank you!
Saturday, August 15, 2009 |
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