I went into a Little Gym awhile back when Lilly was just a tiny little thing to see what it was all about. I didn't think she was really ready for it at the time and I knew I wasn't. However, we've all grown up some around here and I signed her up for the fall 2010 session. I called to get the information again and based on Lilly's age, the nice young girl informed me "oh, she's a beast!" To which I responded - "I see you two have met..."
Today was her first introductory class (free!) and look how hospitable they are! Her session starts in a few weeks. They will probably have a different sign posted that day. There were lots of learning opportunities during this 45 minute class. Here is Lilly exploring some of the fun stuff to play on. However, she is suppose to be warming up on the large floor mat with all of her "friends."
This part of the session was "open explore" time. Nothing new for our little beast! Please note the little foot in the upper right hand corner.
It belongs to this little boy! I can't remember his name.
Because Lilly ran him off! And she isn't sorry. I'm sure his parents will always warn him about "those kind of girls" and he will have a flashback to his beastly days...
The balance beam was part of an essential skills session. The beasts are to walk across the beam and then do a scoop step. Parent assists the first few times and then we see if they do it on their own. Houston we have a problem... See that sweet little girl on the opposite set of steps? Her name is Jayden. Lilly managed to get up the steps at the same time as her. Jayden promptly guarded her territory by hitting Lilly who quickly hit her back. Jayden's daddy and Lilly's mommy watched it all just shaking our heads as they both promptly started crying.
This next "new skill" scared me a little. Probably because Emma went first and she did not seem to enjoy it at all. But Lilly really wanted to do it. They put her in a hand stand and then let her swoosh down into a swinging motion. She did the handstand really well.
She needs to work on holding on to the bar so she can actually swing. She did this 4 or 5 times and after awhile, we didn't even use both teachers. I should also mention - she hugged her teacher good bye today. I didn't have the heart to tell Lilly her teacher in the fall is going to be different. I don't remember if his name is Mark or Chris...
I really thought it was just going to be a basic padded room and a bunch of kids just running around burning energy. I also thought I would be more of a spectator, not so much a participant... Ironically, I am out of town for her first fall session class. We'll see how Ernie does.
