Gym parent watch day

Molly Kate takes a gymnastics class every Tuesday at the Little Gym.  She absolutely loves it!  There are  8 children in her class and her teacher is Mrs. Erin.  MK adores her teacher and classmates.  They have all become good friends and have so much fun in class together.  Mrs. Erin is a fantastic teacher and is so good with each child.  She has really helped MK overcome some of her fears and MK is so comfortable with her.  Gym is such good exercise for MK each week.  They run, jump, flip, roll, tumble, and climb.  MK started at Little Gym over the summer because she showed interest in gymnastics.  She loved it so much that we decided to continue the class this year.  I love it because she is learning skills in a laid back, fun, safe environment.  I have been so surprised with how much MK has learned and how much braver she has become.  When she first started gym she wouldn't even walk on the beam at all.  Now she'll walk on the high beam and with Mrs. Erin's help even roll on the beam!  It has been so good for her confidence.  She looks forward to Tuesdays because she knows it is gym day!  A few weeks ago, it was parent watch day at gym so I got to go in and watch her class.  Walker stayed with Mimi because I knew he wouldn't watch.  He'd want to participate and disrupt the class.  His turn will come.  The kids started out behind a mat and Mrs. Erin introduced each child.  They would run out and do a trick and then go stand by the wall.  MK was all smiles when she ran out!  This was the end of her trick.......

Then they showed us how they skip, gallop, and run.  They have to really listen and follow the directions.  I love MK's braids in this picture.

When they move around the gym they make a train and follow the leader.

They also showed us how they connect to each other by hanging on to the feet of the person in front of them. They moved around the mat as a team.  It was so cute!

Running and having fun!

Waving to Mommy and the audience.  She loves being in front of an audience and eats it up.

I wish this picture were brighter but the look on her face was so cute.

After completing some tricks they raise their arms like this and say "Ta-da!"

They showed us how they do forward rolls........

This is most of her class standing by the wall waiting their turn.

Then they did monkey jumps.......

And donkey kicks.......

And they lined up to go to a new part of the gym.

MK climbed like a spider up the rails and then through the circle mat.

She waited her turn with Mrs. Erin to show off on the low bar.

Mrs. Erin helped each of them pull themselves up and over the bar.  They flip back first.

And then hold it......

Then flip forward to get down.......

MK patiently waiting her turn.......

They moved to a new station and MK did lounges on the low beam.......

And ran her feet up the mat to get up on the little bar.

Swinging like monkeys.......

Waiting her turn for the high beam......

An attitude on the beam - working on her balance.......

Checking to make sure Mama is watching her - especially on the high beam!

And Mrs. Erin helped each chid do a forward roll on the beam......

Yay Molly Kate!  I was so very proud of her!

Swinging on the bars.......

Waiting her turn by the wall.....

Finishing the class with a big "ta-da!"

Then they clapped and worked on rhythms on the mat.

I had a great time watching my sweet girl perform her tricks and interact with her friends.  I am so happy that she enjoys gym.  It is so good for her.  I love that she is a performer and that she smiles so big!  I know she'll enjoy this second half of the gym semester just as much, if not more, than she has the first half of the semester.  Can't wait to watch her again in May and see her new skills and tricks!