Gymming junior

When John was about 10 months old, I signed him up with mygym at Marine Parade. I heard that it could really help with his motor skills, build his confidence and help with his social skills as well. When I looked at gym options, I looked at mygym and JWT Kids Gym at Leisure Park Kallang. The latter was nearer to my place and offered free parking on weekdays but the time slots for John's age group was not ideal and so I went with mygym instead. But I have no regrets. After one term, I can say that John's done very well in the said developmental areas. Here's a look at what he does at each class.

Before the warm up, the kids are allowed to run around and play with anything in the gym. John's favourite item at the moment is the trampoline. He makes a bee line straight for it. I think for him, it's even more fun when there's someone else on it too.

The warm ups are made up of action songs, dancing around and a skill that parents learn so they can continue at home. Such skills include flipping your child, teaching him to arch his back etc. After that it's free play again before 3 gymnastics stations interspersed with free play. Then it's the swings! All the kids love love love the swings. After that it's the bye bye routine and that wraps up the gym session. All this lasts 45 minutes and at the end of each session, mummy's waaay more tired than John is. If given a chance, i think he could go on for another hour if we let him! Here are more pics of our session yesterday.

Part of the free play - Climbing on the snake

Gymnastics station #1: swinging from the pole. Here he's learning to bear his own weight.

Gymnastics station #2: Climbing the ladder

Free play again. Here he's chosen to walk up and down a set of steps with handles.

The ball pit. John just loves throwing the balls out and calling for mummy to pick them up and throw them back in. Tiring i tell you.

The big swing! Carefully monitored by the gym instructor, John balances on this huge swing. Here he's actually looking at the other babies in the smaller individual swings.

Now he get's a ride on the individual swing. The gym assistants blow bubbles to keep the bubs entertained. The swings help prevent fear of heights.

I'm glad John's really enjoying his time at the gym. As a mummy, I feel it's important that I engage him in such play and am part of this process of development. And I have no regrets signing him up for something like this. After this term, however, I'm thinking of enrolling him in something else just to give him some variety so now i'm scouting around and looking for interesting trial classes. :)