Thinking Allowed: Kindergym

I have been meaning to put down some thoughts about Tovas kindergym class. It seems an unlikely topic to have thoughts about but I have thought a lot about it and learned lots from it.

I held off for a long time before allowing Tova to join a gymnastics class. She is a very agile child who spends a lot of time at playgrounds, climbing, swimming and generally running back and forth and jumping up and down needlessly. I was happy not to have to pay for and drive to yet another class. How much do three year olds even learn in classes? But Tova didn't agree and was entirely jealous of her sisters. I went to the first class a little skeptically. I was even more skeptical when I learned it was a parent (and accompanying baby) participation course. Sophia had done a similar class the year before at a different gym so I assumed it would be similar but I was wrong. This is way better.

The class is designed by a person who understands children. There is a new theme to every class so we are not just going to gymnastics but we are going to space or to Hawaii or to the circus. There is music throughout the class appropriate to the theme. There is even music to signify transitions. There is a transition melody that signifies to the children they must go back to the floor and sit down. This is so effective that I have considered creating different music clips for home transitions instead of the usual motherly nagging to get kids where they need to go - Music to signify sit at the table, music to signify brush your teeth and go to bed, music to wake up by, music to get kids to clean by. The teachers never give directives instead everything is phrased like an adventure. Instead of 'walk across the beam', there is 'carry the little chick across this beam to help it get to the mama chick'. Instead of 'swing on the bar' there is 'try to swing and kick down this pillar like a superhero'. Instead of 'let's stretch' there is 'let's make ice cream sundaes on our legs'. It is genius and entirely effective. Really my description doesn't do it justice. I can visibly see the kids improving at gymnastics skills while they just assume they are running around playing.

Tova's kindergym class is the highlight of her week. It is a place she is always hyper happy. Zadie loves kindergym too and can now do the start of a handstand and likes to be thrown into foam pits. Sophia was sick one day and came to class and now wants to be sick every Monday. I like kindergym because it is so cute and inspiring and serves as a weekly gentle reminder that sometimes a slight change in teaching or parenting approach makes all the difference.