The little gym.

Training for the 2024 Olympic Games.

Every Wednesday morning this summer, Linna and I go to The Little Gym of Edina. We love The Little Gym! It's the perfect place for Linna to go and explore in a fun and safe environment. Linna isn't walking yet, but she sure is on the move. With all the padded toys and foam mats, The Little Gym is a great spot for Linna to explore her adventurous side without my fear of having her break a bone!

(The big blow-up matress)



For 45 minutes, all of the parents and kids (AKA "Birds") sing songs, play games, test out new skills, and challenge their individual limits. We start the class by going around the circle saying our names. All of the kids in our "Bird" class (10-19 months) are at the age where they recognize their own name, so when they hear it, it's really cute to see their reactions. They also have toys like "shakers", balls, sticks, foam noodles, bubbles and scarves that we use during learning activities. The have a big parachute and this huge blow-up mat that the kids can sit on while it's filling up with air (they have a machine that blows it up, so don't worry). They also have balance beams, even and uneven bars, rings, etc., so you can get a little gymnastics training in as well! Our teacher tries to keep all the kids in a group (on the red mat) for at least 10-15 minutes, but then they get to go off and explore the gym. Every day, at least a couple of the little birds decides to wander off and explore the gym on their own during group time. Linna is one of these birds:)  

(Mastering the uneven bars. This was one of Linna's first classes)

 

I can't say enough great things about our teacher, Miss Stephanie. She is so upbeat and great with all of the kids, giving them their own individual attention throughout the class. Somehow, she has memorized every child's name in the class (there's like 15-20 kids in the class)! She is amazing and the kids flock to her whenever she's singing a song, showing a new skill, or if she has the bubble machine. We love Miss Stephanie! Every now and then, one of the kids will get a little "boo boo" and have a short cry, but for the most part, all of the kids know their limits when they explore the gym. A lot of the parents will let their child venture off on their own, and they always come back when they need a little reassurance that mom or dad is still there. Linna could explore on her own forever before she needs to check to see that I'm there! As soon as she sees me though, she crawls at the speed of light with a huge smile on her face, and falls into my arms. I love it!   

(Exploring different levels.)



For 45 minutes every Wednesday, Linna gets to crawl, climb, and explore with little supervision from mom. When we're at our house, I constantly have to keep an eye on her, or she'll get into something she isn't supposed to. At The Little Gym, Linna is able to burn a lot of energy without me having to worry about her getting hurt. I just get to sit and watch her learn, grow, and test out her independence!

(The even bars.)



The Little Gym offers classes for kids age 4 months to 12 years. I'm not sure I would have brought Linna there when she wasn't "mobile", but it's one of the best things I've signed her up for since she started crawling! They also do birthday parties, camps for the kids, and they have a "Parents Survival Night", where parents can drop off the kids and enjoy a date night! The best part about The Little Gym is that they offer a FREE introductory class, without pressuring you into singing up. We were hooked after the first class and signed up, but if you're looking to get even more free classes after your introductory class, they have a great referral program. Once you sign up for a session, if you refer a friend(s) to The Little Gym and they end up signing up, you get points that you can redeem for free classes. Each class is roughly $18, but the more people you refer, the less expensive it is for you!       

(Linna playing by herself while the group is on the red mat singing songs.)

We're looking forward to our last couple classes this summer, and we'll be signing back up for classes once we get back from Singapore! Maybe we'll see you and your little one at The Little Gym:)