KINDERGYM THEMES

At the beginning of each new year we all search for new theme ideas to have fun with In our Kindergym programs. There are so many to choose from, so I thought I might brainstorm as many as I can. Feel free to add more in the comments section.

ME AND MY BODY:
Hands, Feet, Heads, Feelings, Manners

MOVEMENT:
Up down and all round, Forwards and backwards, Big and small, Fast and slow

EDUCATIONAL CONCEPTS:
Colors, Numbers, Shapes, Letters, Making Music, Senses 

ANIMALS:
Zoo, Farm, Jungle, Australian, Monkeys, Pets, Dinosaurs, Frogs and Ducks, Horses, Insects, Reptiles, Birds, Sea Creatures

SEASONS AND WEATHER:
Summer, Sunny, Spring, Rainy, Fall, Windy, Winter, Snowy

TIME OF THE DAY:
Waking Up, Bedtime, Pyjama Party, Afternoon Tea, Clean Up, Cooking, Shopping

TRANSPORT:
Cars, Buses, Trucks, Bicycles, Planes, Boats, Trains, Construction, Traffic Safety, Space, Travel around the World

SPECIAL DAYS:
Australia Day, Valentines Day, Easter, Halloween, Christmas, St Patricks Day, 
Melbourne Cup, Party, Olympics 

NATURE:
Gardens, Flowers, Trees, Camping, Picnics, Beach, Backyard Fun

IMAGINATION:
Super Heroes, Fairies and Elves, Fairy Tales, Nursery Rhymes, 
What will I be when I Grow Up, Circus, Cowboys and Indians, Pirates, Teddy Bears Picnic,
Disney, Dr Seuss

I hope this helps you in your class plans!

STARTING YOUR KINDERGYM CLASS

Do you have a set routine to start your class and let your participants know the fun is about to begin?

Please keep in mind that Kindergym programs are run differently where ever you go, with many different methods of organisation. I am happy to share my ideas with you.

For my gym, I like to allow 5 minutes for my participants (parent and child) to enter onto the floor before class begins to have a quick opportunity to explore the environment that has been set up and have a look at the theme ideas presented. This time is without any directed teaching from the instructors. It is a great time for the instructors to greet and meet all the class members personally and ensure that information is collected about the members of the class.

After this five minutes of exploration a piece of music will play to indicate that it is time to come together on the floor to begin the class. This music never changes and the parents and children come to understand exactly what this means within a few weeks of joining our program. It is fun to watch the reaction of the children who are busy exploring the gym when the music starts . Immediately they stop what they are doing and run to the floor area with smiling face ready to begin the class.

Once assembled together I always start with a bright and cheery hello and ensure that any new members to our class are introduced at this time. Next comes our "Hello Song". The actions of this song are adjsuted to each age group so that they become more challenging as the child continues through our program. It is the same each week and the children always know exactly what is expected of them.

So next time your class is about to begin and you shout through the gym trying to gain the attention of your participants, think about how you can set up a system to make things run smoothly and effectively.

Hope this helps....love to hear from you!

NURSERY RHYMES

How about this theme on Nursery Rhymes. It was great to hear the children's voices as we sung each rhyme. So much was achieved throughout the lesson.

Here is a snippet of the ideas used throughout the plan:
1. Our warm up song used shakers to upbeat nursery rhymes
2. We practiced our jumps and landings over cellophane flames on candles to Jack Be Nimble
3. Row, Row, Row Your Boat with the parents worked active flexibility on the hamstrings by sitting in pike and straddle.
4. Twinkle, Twinkle practiced our star shape and transference of weight, getting ready for our cartwheels.

Out in the gym, the adventures began. Here are a few of our ideas:
1. Jack and Jill: a high and wide hill made to log roll down
2. Humpty Dumpty: sit children on top of a box, allow them to jump to a crash mat below
3. London Bridge: our wooden bridge was placed on top of our see saw, so when the children got past the middle it went "clunk" down to the other side.
4. Little Miss Muffet: inflatable balance discs we're placed on the floor with spiders. As the children attempted to balance, the parent said the rhyme and threw the spider at them to catch....or run away!
5. Rock A Bye Baby: in our hammock tied between bars
6. Baa Baa Black Sheep: three bags of wool to throw into a bucket while standing on the beam

There were so many activities throughout the gym that promoted movement patterns and the fundamentals of gymnastics. It was great! I always love this theme, as the ideas are endless.

KEY WORDS OR RHYMES FOR TEACHING SKILLS

Young children can remember technique for skills the best by providing key word, rhymes or songs.
It is important to recognise that the K.I.S.S (Keep it short and simple) principle should be used at all times. The amount of words you use will vary according to the child's age and development level.

Forward roll:
Two year old: Hands down, head down (2 key points)
Three or four year old: Tall, small, roll like a ball (3 key points)

It is a great idea to ensure all your instructors are using the same key words, rhymes or songs.




 

Sammy The Snake
(Reptile theme week)
 
Sammy is a mighty snake, who curls up very small
(Children squat down low on their feet)

And when he stretches up and up, he really grows quite tall
(Children stretch upwards and stand on their tippy toes)

He likes to slither, slide and squirm
(Children squat and drop to the floor and move around on their stomachs)

And roll from side to side
(Children will roll from stomach to back and back again)

But when he eats lots and lots, he really grows quite wide!
(Children jump up to their feet and open their legs into the side splits and hold)
 

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!

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.

Teaching landing positions in Kindergym

We all know how important it is to teach the children how to land safely so each week our Kindergym classes practice as part of their routine.
We dance through our warm up song holding our hand held apparatus (such as ribbon sticks, pom poms of various sizes, shapes and textures, scarves, etc.)
After this song is finished we lay our apparatus on the floor to make a visual line in front of our feet. We all stand behind our line, clap and count 1,2,3! On 3 we jump to the other side and show our landing position...many refer to it as the "MOTORBIKE " position. Knees bent and arms in front of the body.
This begins at the age of two and continues upward.
The jumps over the line may vary...star, tuck, half turn, forward then backward. There is so much you can teach them over these lines if you think about it.
In our three year old class we even started counting to three in french....un, deux, trois. I was amazed how quickly they remembered this.
Many of our parents say their children will line up objects on the floor at home and count 1,2 3 and practice their jumping and landing.
YEAH! SUCCESS!

Parachute activity

The parachute is so popular in Kindergym classes and it is always great when you find a new idea for this apparatus. So here is a  musical idea that is successful in our Kindergym program:

Jack and Jill (The Wiggles - Pop Goes The Wiggles)

In this activity the children will be climbing on the top of the parachute so think of safety first.

I always ask the children to sit on their parents lap and for the parents to hold the children with one hand, as though they are putting on a seat belt! The temptation to go under is sometimes too great!!
I also explain to the children to slow down at the top of the mountain as we would not want to crash with those coming up on the other side of the mountain.

As the song begins ask the parents and children to lift the parachute and lower it to the ground trapping the air underneath to make our mountain. Each time the children climb up the mountain to flatten the parachute, they must quickly return to their parents to make a new mountain for the next verse. Each verse will say a different way to climb the mountain.

Verse 1: "Jack and Jill went up the hill"
Verse 2: "Jack and Jill ran up the hill" 
Verse 3: "Jack and Jill jumped up the hill"
Verse 4: "Jack and Jill skipped up the hill"

ENJOY!

Fine motor activity

Pegging is a great fine motor activity that can be used in any children's program, as well as at home.
You can buy various colors, sizes and textures of pegs in stores these days.
It is then up to you to use your imagination as to how to include them in your program.
During our CLEANING themed week , where we pretended to wash the scarves on the top of the parachute, then we hung them on a line. Later we returned, took them off the line, ironed and folded them.
As an adult that sounds too much like a regular day, but for the children they really became involved and had a great time.

At the end we gently gave the parents a massage with the play irons. Now that they liked!

Criss cross

When I was lecturing in Queensland the group asked me to blog this rhyme...so here it is.

Have the child sit in front of you to begin this activity.

CRISS CROSS
Criss cross  (draw and X upon the child's back)
Apple sauce  (squeeze the child's shoulders)
Spiders crawling up your back  (walk your fingers up the child's back)
Cool breeze  (blow in the child's ear)
Tight squeeze  (give the child a hug)
And now you've got the shivers  (tickle them on their sides)

Trampoline rhyme

I started singing a song for the younger children when they were jumping on the trampoline so they could join skills together in a sequence. It has been a big hit and I now hear all the staff using the words to this song either sung or spoken.

"Show me a soldier jump and show me a star
 Show me a tuck jump and sit down where you are
 ....then stand up"

I use this for my three year olds and upwards in the beginner trampoline class.

What do you need help with?

Let me know what it is that you feel you need help with and I will promise to help the best I can.
Look forward to hearing from you!

Scallywaggs trampoline class

A Quick Sneak Peak Of A Kindergym Class In Scallywaggs

Making drums

Here is a new idea for you to add to your Kindergym program if you haven't already!
Rhythm and sound is an important part of development and should be included within your program planning.
We try and make as much of our equipment as possible so that my parents can copy and make them at home for their children to gain the full benefit of the activities.
All you need to do is ask your families to donate any old baby formula tins once they are finished with them. Also ask for the plastic lids. You need more lids than tins, so once you get enough tins just ask for the lids.
To begin, wash and dry the tins. Then decorate by covering them with the plastic contact of your choice.
Place a lid on both ends. Ta Da! You have created a drum!
For drum sticks I used dowel cut into short lengths (you may paint these if you wish), then a used small ball pit balls for the ends. I poked a hole in the ball and pushed the stick inside. Ta da! Drum sticks.
Play some music and let the children make some noise. The children love them!

Our crazy gym!

Here is a picture of our wonderful colorful gymnastics club.

Over the years I have visited many gyms and observed many classes in action, which gave me the opportunity to decide what I wanted to have in our facility. So, when I decided to set up our gym (16 years ago), I was clear on one thing....it had to be fun! I wanted to provided a clear image of fun as soon as you walked through the door. I do believe we have achieved this, but we are always trying to improve.

I knew what our philosophy was going to be and we have been true to it ever since we opened. However, in the world of gymnastics, many see us as a "play gym". A place that does not teach "true" gymnastics. I always smile at these comments and feel sorry for those who only believe that there is one way to teach this wonderful sport and  in one type of gymnastics facility. We have chosen to be a recreational club for many reasons but we still achieve skills and results in this wonderful crazy facility. Hope you like this picture of half our gym.

Parent participation in Kindergym

Last week I had two Kindergym coaches from another program come to view Scallywaggs in action.
They said that their numbers are dropping, they now have a few new staff and they feel like they need to be motivated to improve their program. However, their biggest problem would be encouraging the parents that are currently in their program to be involved with their children rather than using it as a social catch up time.
This is a common issue that I have been asked about over the years. It seems quite a few programs struggle with this problem.

Here are my suggestions:

1.  Set your expectations from the start. This means that your office staff should explain the program and the parent's role when a telephone enquiry is made. The office staff or Kindergym instructor should explain what will be happening and what is expected of the parent and child throughout their time with you on their first visit to Kindergym.

2. Have a consistent introduction to your class that occurs each week. This activity can involve the parent and child so that right from the start you are indicating to the parents that you would appreciate their involvement.

3. Build a relationship with the parents too! Greet them on arrival and present yourself as a bright and enthusiastic instructor. This way when you do need to communicate with the parents on a certain matter, they will be open to receive advice.

4. Educate the parents with information regarding the activities you have chosen and how it will benefit their child's development. Some parents do not realise the benefits of Kindergym activities.
This will certainly make the parent's appreciate your creative efforts.

5. If you notice a child is doing something incorrectly or the parent could be assisting the child in a better way, explain this to your parent. Show them an alternative way and let them know why it is the preferred way to perform the skill. Always ensure you are communicating nicely to the parent with  light humour so that no one becomes offended to your advice. Do not present yourself as a "Know It All".

6. If a group of parents continue to talk over your instruction especially in circle time, it would be a good idea to have quiet chat with them away from the whole group and explain to them that it is becoming difficult for you, the instructor, to be heard over the noise. Also that you feel their children may be missing out on assistance when it is needed from them.

7. The main focus is that everyone is having fun. This means that you cannot just throw a plan together at the last minute. Research, prepare, create, and enjoy success with activities. I love hearing the compliments on new ideas or seeing the children engaged in the activities I have prepared. The people who attend your classes will appreciate this and spread the word about your program.

I will continue to provide tips and ideas each week. If you have a question or even an idea that you would like to share contact me.