The Little Gym

Have an 8 year old, in a small mixed age gymnastics class (all are around ages 7 – 10). For the kids, the program seems to be a blast. Your child won’t become an Olympian, but she will build skills and confidence and have fun. For the parents, the program has an educational component, as the instructors take the time to explain the grander plan. And there is homework! Ok, mostly just pushups and situps.

The instructors are enthusiastic. The class is perfect for a 2 year old, the right mix of mat time, exploration and learning a skill. The general routine of how the class runs is good for kids to become familiar with it and feel comfortable but the class is slightly different each week so it stays interesting and challenging. My daughter loved it and I could see great improvements in her confidence and skills over the weeks we attended

This review is SOLELY for their birthday party experience for my daughter’s 5^th birthday.
****My kids have never been members of any indoor play areas.
(I’m a big fan of fresh air and the outdoors!)*****
However, they had a blast when getting a birthday party of fun games and lots of activities involving running, jumping and moving around. The whole place is colorful and kid-​specific. They have a fair amount of options.
Space is pretty spacious and the staff handled my strong need to be informed on details very well. Price is very affordable.
A big con is the entrance way and the tiny elevator which makes the stairs almost a must. I guess that just comes from being above a Fairway Supermarket.
(Oh and they prefer tips in cash – which was mentioned when discussing pricing.)
Overall I would gladly recommend.

Well that was fun.
We went to a trial class with our 5 ½ month old today and we all had a blast. We still have a couple more trials elsewhere before we decide on what gym we are going to. We liked this one because they do have Saturday classes, so Mom can take the little girl for their weekly gym time. And it’s cheap, at $ 1,350 for the season, which is 40+ weeks.
We started off with bells and the welcome to the little gym song.
Then came introductions, names and such, and high fives from the coach, Lauren. Then on to stretching.
Stretching started off with several different arm and leg exercises all to music, with an instructor on the CD, and added instruction from the coach.
They did hand coordination exercises, then off to «Explore the gym» time.
There’s mats, and inclined mats, balance beams, uneven bars, hand rails, and alot of other equipment I can’t name, but lots of things for all ages and skill levels. Even our little 5 ½ month old. The coach came around, spent time with each of the children, and even suggested where to play, and how to use different equipment. And they all did the uneven bars. Still too young to hang, they practice gripping the bars…
Then came some tumbling exercises, which, at her age, was us standing her on her head and rolling her onto her back…
The balls came out next. She LOVED the balls. So much so that I bought her one on the way home. The balls helped her grab things, lift it up over her head, good arm and shoulder exercise.
Then came bubble time, which explained the slightly sticky mats. I’m like the biggest germaphobe, but it was good for me to dive right into this class with the mandatory no shoes or socks rule. I survived. Bubble time was fun. The coach blew thousands of bubbles and the kids had to pop them with different fingers, good coordination drill.
Then class seamed to end. I’m sure there’s a few things I missed, but all in all it was a good time.
Overall, I like this location, being right across the street from the Beacon, but there is one up here in Harlem that we might check out before we commit to one gym. They have hand sanitizer everywhere, which of course becomes foot sanitizer too before the kicks go back on. The coaches were attentive and great with children. The equipment was fun, can’t wait to see the little marshmellow on the balance beam by herself. And it’s NOT DANGEROUS, kids fall, it’s how you learn to get back up. And lastly, it’s a great weekly thing to do if you’re a stay at home Dad like myself, or for Mom and daughter on the weekends. Our girl loved the interaction with the other children, and of course, the balls.

Ultimately, it isn’t safe. That’s the bottom line. There is one teacher trying to manage up to 6 children on very big equipment (irrelevant what level they are in) which includes an adult size balance beam (chest level to an average adult). The management is non-​exhistant and the poor staff are over-​worked.
Go to NY Kids club… believe it or not they are learning more about gymnastics there.

The Little Gym is not a place to learn any real gymnastics. It is a place to drop your kids off in lieu of a babysitter. They will most likely have a good time, but they can be in the room 2 years and not even learn how to do a cartwheel. Staff comes out near the end of a lesson to tell you what they’ve «taught» the kids. Marketing gimmick. Expensive too. You could probably hire Kathy Rigby as a private coach for the same money. The one positive is the staff is amicable.

Signed kids up for a mixed age «camp» that turned out to be more of a play time for toddlers. While the staff was enthusiastic, the programming was mediocre at best.