Tell me about the Little Gym

[ArielRae]

I am thinking about the little gym for my 8 month old. I would love to know what you think about it. He is big on crawling and trying to walk. I also am a stay home mom so I figured this is a great way to get him socialized as I don't know any other moms with kids his age.

 

[quentina]

I am thinking about the little gym for my 8 month old. I would love to know what you think about it. He is big on crawling and trying to walk. I also am a stay home mom so I figured this is a great way to get him socialized as I don't know any other moms with kids his age.

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Personally, I would look into mommy and me programs at the YMCA or Gymboree.

 

[LuLuO]

DD3 has been going to LG since she was 4 months old. DS, 19 months, started at 6 months. The kids love LG. They have lots of fun, get exercise, they learn to take turns and listen. For the classes for the little ones at our LG go something like this:

Mat time and welcome song
free play
skill learning time (bars, beam, air track, parachute, rings, forward and backward rolls, etc)
ball time
bubbles
closing song
stamps on the feet and stickers

Things are adjusted and activites change as they get older and move to the more advanced classes. Each LG is individually owned. Ours offers a free intro class, yours might too.

 

[mjkacmom]

My dd14 and I went to our first mommy and me class when she was 3 months old! I was dying to get out of the house and talk to people! We didn't do Little Gym, but I know many who did who liked it. We have a gymnastics studio a minute from our house, so we did the mommy and me there (plus Music Together, plus the children's Y - pretty much anything I could find). I met women there, we formed playgroups, and I had 1 - 2 weekly playgroups for 12 years straight! ETA, see if your library has story time. Work the area!

 

[ArielRae]

I have taken him to story time but am looking for a more active activity. Gymboree is too far away from me. I'll see about a nearby YMCA.

 

[amylevan]

They usually offer free classes to try before you sign up. So you can see if you like it. We went to a free trial class when my son was 13 months, but decided the price was too high for what you get.

 

[mrs.sammich]

We have friends who did the little gym when their child was 1-3years old. We went as their guest to the 'bring a friend classes'. They had at least 3 of these a year. It was ok. There was a lot of parent/child interaction. Not much child/child if that is what your looking for. I broke it down per class and basically it was $26 for you to play with your own child in their padded environment. It wasn't for us. We go to parks a lot. Fresh air and running around, even when they we're not walking, we'd throw down a blanket or bundle up for getting out. The other family loved Little Gym, but they are not outdoorsy people either...

 

[kldmom2000]

Both of my DD's did classes at the Little Gym for years..... we also did some @ the Y as well, but we much preferred the Little Gym We did some Mommy & Me classes and then they both went into the Gymnastics classes until they turned 8. We made so many great friends there and found it to be both enriching and rewarding

 

[JamesMom]

Both of my boys did the Little Gym but as preschooler instead of infants or toddlers. I bought our membership when they were having a fall sale and got a years worth of classes with sibling discount and free birthday party for each. Their birthday parties are great and cost $200 just by themselves! I paid roughly 60% of the then going rate by paying for the whole year in advance.
My oldest took Gynmastics for a year then the next year took Dance (yes, he was the only boy in the class), Sports clinic and Karate. My youngest took the basic gymnastic class and it was great for him. He is special needs and the first YEAR he would not participate, do his own thing and more times than not would have to leave early for discipline issues. But the staff was great and by the second year he was following the rules and everything! I was so proud of him. He was attending spec ed preschool with the school district and the LG helped round out his social as well as physical skills.
YMMV but I am happy with our LG expereince. Now both boys are in full-day school with church, scouts & piano - something had to give budget and timewise.

 

[LuLuO]

We have friends who did the little gym when their child was 1-3years old. We went as their guest to the 'bring a friend classes'. They had at least 3 of these a year. It was ok. There was a lot of parent/child interaction. Not much child/child if that is what your looking for. I broke it down per class and basically it was $26 for you to play with your own child in their padded environment. It wasn't for us. We go to parks a lot. Fresh air and running around, even when they we're not walking, we'd throw down a blanket or bundle up for getting out. The other family loved Little Gym, but they are not outdoorsy people either...

With regards to the child/child interaction, most babies and young toddlers play alongside one another rather than playing with each other so while there is definitely more parent/child interaction I believe it is age appropriate. The kids start taking classes without the parent at 3 years old which is typically the age that kids start playing with each other.

Also, we pay about $16 per class and that is very competitive with what we would pay at other facilities, like our Y. I'm sure the prices vary city to city though. We also go to parks a couple of times a week and have a jungle gym in our yard, but for us the routine and structure of LG is a big plus for our kids.

 

[dancin'girl]

I, too, was put off by the high price when I first went in to check out the Little Gym and so didn't sign my children up. I eventually signed them up about 6 months later (DD was dying for a gymnastics class!!) and I feel that it is well worth the money. I should have enrolled them earlier! The instructors at our studio are GREAT and the classes are well planned. I had my DD in a dance studio and there was so much time wasted (teacher leaving the class unattended to toast her bagel) - just was not happy there. Our experience at The LG has been the complete opposite - they always begin on time, have several teachers/assistants in the class to monitor the kids at all times, they explain what the kids have learned at the end of each class to the parents, facility is clean - it's just wonderful.
DS enjoys the Sports Skills class, too. Birthday parties have been big hits (and with the points you can earn, I ended up with DD's party for free!),
I know they are individually owned, so I cannot vouch for the one in your area, but we have been extremely pleased with ours.

 

[ArielRae]

Ok I found these places close to me to try.

Gymboree
The little gym
My Gym
My local YMCA

Any other places you think I should look for to try.
These all offer a free trial.

 

[2girls4me]

We are on LI, but both of my DD's have gone to TLG.

DD (3) started at about 7 months old (mommy and me) and is now enrolled in the dance class.

DD (7 months) just started last month (mommy and me) and she seems to love it as much as her sister did.

Yes, it's a big $$$$$. But I can't even tell you the confidence she has gained since she started. You can't put a price on that.