Little Gym

Once a week Will and I go to a Parent and Child class at the Little Gym.  We are in the "Birds" Class for 10-19 month old kids.  Usually there are about 7-10 kids with there with this parents.  It is always quite comical because kids that age don't really know how to follow directions yet.  Here's a little look at what I imagine the lesson plans for the day said and how Will reacted.  Don't worry his actions are typical of most of the kids there, although some kids are a little more attached to their parents.


Objective:  Children will shake green shakers while teacher leads group in opening song.
Will:  Stands directly in front of teacher, looks at her like she is crazy, only interested in shakers once it is time to put them away.

Objective:  Children will sit in a circle on the mat with their parents while the parents share their names.
Will's response:  Doesn't want to sit in my lap or stay on the mat.  Climbs on the climbing wall with two other kids instead.

Objective:  Children and parents will walk/run in a circle and follow the directions from a song.
Will:  Locates ipod and ipod dock playing the song.  Climbs on mat to see if he can figure out how to get the ipod.  Not interested in walking with me once I bring him back to the mat. 

Objective:  Children will hit wooden sticks together as music plays.  Parent will help child follow directions (ie: hammer one stick with the other, rub wooden sticks together)
Will:  Interested in the sticks, takes one from another child before the teacher gives two to him.  Refuses to sit in my lap (or really sit at all).  Walks around the room hitting sticks on various mats, balance beam, etc.

Objective:  Children will play with balls on the mat. 
Will:  Sees the teacher going into the supply closet to get the balls.  Cries by the door because he wants to go play in the closet.  Eventually decides playing with the balls might be fun afterall.

Objective:  Children will sit on the mat with parents for the closing song.  Children will shake the shakers.
Will:  Grabs a shaker and wanders around the room.  Returns to mat to stand in front of singing teacher and look at her like she is crazy again.  At the end of class, he becomes very interested in the plastic container the shakers are kept in. Tries to put on the lid before all the shakers are returned.  When he realizes he cannot have the shakers or the lid he finds the lesson plans on the top of a speaker and tries to take those.  When I won't let him have the papers he gets upset until he realizes everyone is over by the teacher getting stamps on their hands.

Once we leave class we all have to get our shoes back on, collect our bags, etc.  Will has discovered that they have Fisher Price Barn (exactly like the one we have at home) and he always wants to play with it instead of sitting still to get his shoes back on.  Although he does like to do things on his own pace today we did walk across the beam (with help) while holding too bean bags, pop bubbles while sitting nicely by the other kids, and get lots of exercise.