4/11/2012

HANDSTANDS

Handstands are very important in the gymnastics pyramid of skill achievement. Many years are spent trying to have the correct shape, shoulder flexibility and strength to order to master this skill. We are easily able to start in our Kindergym programs with the help of the parents, our modified equipment and eager litle participants.
Here are a couple of pictures of modified handstands in action.

Supported handstand on small mountain or plank from a testle at 4 years of age. Not perfect yet but we will keep working on those shapes!

1/25/2012

MOVING ON UP?

At the end of every year, I always give my parents who have children heading off to big school a hand out with all the information they need to make the transition into gymnastics classes a smooth one.
What are the differences in your classes between Kindergym and Gymnastics classes?
Time of the day?
Length of class?
What actually happens in the class?
What is your teacher : child ratio?
What should they wear?
What else should they bring?
What time of the week is best?
What may happen in the first few weeks with behaviour?
Are the parents able to view the classes?
What skills will they be learning?
How will the parents understand how their child is improving?

These are some of the questions you may think about providing in a handout so that the transition is smooth and easy. Also so that you are not answering the same questions time and time again.

END OF YEAR PERFROMANCE


Here are my little TIGGER THE TIGER kids performing on gym balls with their parents and helpers.

DORA THE EXPLORER!

Our first week back for 2012 and it was my birthday! So we had a party with a DORA theme - all week long.
It was a great theme to play with.
*  We began our class with a warm up song "Dora's Party Mix". We danced with our ribbon sticks...of colors pink and orange.
*  Everyone got a bag (Dora's back pack) filled with objects as the "back pack"song played. All the kids knew it! I told them not to peek inside. They were only allowed to use their hands and not their eyes to find me a balloon (not yet blown up). Before the class I had blown up orange and pink baloons and placed them in a big bag. When they found their balloon I told them that they could have a balloon that was already blown up from my bag that matched the color of theirs. We then bounced the balloon into the sky following the lyrics to a song that told us to bounce it on various body parts.
* "Back pack, Back pack" played again and the children knew exactly where to go. This time they had to reach their hand in and find a star. I had laminated A4 size yellow stars.
* Parents held the stars above the children's heads as they jumped up and tried to touch it.
Dora has a song "Reach For The Stars".
* Next everyone was asked to place the star on the floor as we were about to play Musical stars! Parents and children moved in a circle around the stars and when the music stopped they had to stand on a star.
*Back pack" played again and the children ran their bags to listen for the object that was next.
A ball!
* All children sat in a circle with their legs crossed with the ball slightly in front of them. The teachers sat in the middle and told the children that they were going to be SWIPER! It was swiper's job to try and steal a ball from someone. If the children wanted to stop Swiper they had to put their hand out and say "Swiper no swiping"!
This was fun. Even the children who were usually very quiet spoke in a loud voice. Lots of giggles all around.

Hope you enjoyed reading just a few of our Dora theme activities. Let us know your thoughts.