Sunday, May 22, 2011
Saturday, May 21, 2011
Wiggle Worms!
disclaimer: I attempted to publish a blog about Jordan's first time at gymnastics two weeks ago, but when I hit "publish" an error message popped up on my screen and informed me that Blogger was down for routine maintenance and to try again later. The problem is that I had recalled a generous amount of this experience and after receiving the error message all my work was erased forever. It was late and I was angry so I've been reluctant to post for a while. I guess I am reminded to save my work early and often. (i know, dad, you've told me that a million times and I still don't do it)
So what in the world is Wiggle Worms? It's a half-hour gymnastics lesson for toddlers aged 18-months and up that focuses on learning body movements and following instruction. The class begins with free play, where the tykes have access to the entire gym and can explore the equipment and do whatever they want (with parental supervision, of course). Then the instructors set up obstacle courses (this is where the following instructions comes into play) for the tykes to complete that includes the use of key pieces of gymnastics equipment. Afterward, the fun moves to the open floor and the focus shifts to learning body movements. For example, in the first session we all circled-up and marched in place until prompted to move like a lion (crawling on all fours) or like a bird (flapping arms) or like a bunny (hopping), etc.. In Jordan's second session, the floor exercise consisted of running and hopping across the floor and high-five-ing the teacher on the opposite side of the floor, then running back to the parents. The lesson concludes with a few more minutes of free play and they leave the gym with a fun stamp on their hand.
Two weeks ago, at Jordan's first Wiggle Worms, she was reluctant to let go of my finger and explore things on her own. She did, however, really enjoy the trampoline floor. She's not jumping on her own yet, but the kids jumping around her were causing the floor to shake beneath her and she thought that was pretty neat. She also enjoyed the fact that everything she climbed on was soft and squishy. This week, as a seasoned veteran of Wiggle Worms, Jordan took a liking to the balance beam and insisted on walking across each and every one in the whole gym. Apparently she has no qualms about being high above the ground, and being so high on the beams made her think she was pretty hot stuff.
During floor exercises today Jordan got knocked down a couple of times by the older kids, but she took it all in stride. The floor is nice and squishy so it doesn't hurt to hit the ground. She seems to be the youngest in the group, so she is especially interested in doing what all the bigger kids can do. Some of the faces are familiar from daycare, but none are in her classroom. The gym will be closed for a few weeks while they transition to Summer hours, but Wiggle Worms will resume afterward. I think Jordan will be excited to return.
So what in the world is Wiggle Worms? It's a half-hour gymnastics lesson for toddlers aged 18-months and up that focuses on learning body movements and following instruction. The class begins with free play, where the tykes have access to the entire gym and can explore the equipment and do whatever they want (with parental supervision, of course). Then the instructors set up obstacle courses (this is where the following instructions comes into play) for the tykes to complete that includes the use of key pieces of gymnastics equipment. Afterward, the fun moves to the open floor and the focus shifts to learning body movements. For example, in the first session we all circled-up and marched in place until prompted to move like a lion (crawling on all fours) or like a bird (flapping arms) or like a bunny (hopping), etc.. In Jordan's second session, the floor exercise consisted of running and hopping across the floor and high-five-ing the teacher on the opposite side of the floor, then running back to the parents. The lesson concludes with a few more minutes of free play and they leave the gym with a fun stamp on their hand.
Two weeks ago, at Jordan's first Wiggle Worms, she was reluctant to let go of my finger and explore things on her own. She did, however, really enjoy the trampoline floor. She's not jumping on her own yet, but the kids jumping around her were causing the floor to shake beneath her and she thought that was pretty neat. She also enjoyed the fact that everything she climbed on was soft and squishy. This week, as a seasoned veteran of Wiggle Worms, Jordan took a liking to the balance beam and insisted on walking across each and every one in the whole gym. Apparently she has no qualms about being high above the ground, and being so high on the beams made her think she was pretty hot stuff.
During floor exercises today Jordan got knocked down a couple of times by the older kids, but she took it all in stride. The floor is nice and squishy so it doesn't hurt to hit the ground. She seems to be the youngest in the group, so she is especially interested in doing what all the bigger kids can do. Some of the faces are familiar from daycare, but none are in her classroom. The gym will be closed for a few weeks while they transition to Summer hours, but Wiggle Worms will resume afterward. I think Jordan will be excited to return.
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