First gymnastics class

POD learnt to climb at an early age so much so we nicknamed her ‘Danger Dove’ for a time. Although she no longer attempts to stand on the kitchen table, she still loves to climb, has a great sense of adventure and boundless energy.

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We’ve been toying with taking her to gymnastics recently and decided to give it go when we discovered somewhere near us was offering a trial session.

The room was hugely appealing, awash with bright colours and lots of apparatus. POD was almost beside herself with excitement watching it being set up.

Sitting on a fun bouncy floor, the warm-up saw the children form different shapes with their bodies and learn basic positions such as the pike and the straddle. POD didn’t pay too much attention as she was itching to try out the apparatus!

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As it was our first time, we were taken round the course by a coach who explained what she was doing at each stage and supported POD throughout.

First up was the trampoline where POD enjoyed bouncing up and down with two red pom poms. Next came the trapeze which she was desperate to have a go on! She took to it with great gusto and let go when she was told to landing in a pit of foam shapes.

There she let out the most enormous giggle – it would have made a brilliant photograph! As it was a trial session, and other children were there, we were sadly camera free. Imagine a smile like the above photo but much much bigger!

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After sliding down a tube, POD did a downhill forward roll in tuck position before jumping over a mini vault and pulling herself along a low beam to ring a bell. She then hung from a bar while attempting to ring bells with her feet before walking across apparatus similar to a wobbly bridge you’d find in a playground.

We didn’t think POD would be on a balance beam in her first session. But she was. She walked the entire length of it, with support from the coach, carefully stepping over a hoop in the process. She showed incredible strength and balance, didn’t lose her footing once. After that POD tried out the rings before finishing up by climbing a horizontal ladder.

The gymnastics session ended with all the children under a giant parachute. An utterly brilliant 45 minutes – POD absolutely loved it.

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  • anna m February 5, 2014 at 11:18 am

    Oh this sounds great! I would love to take mine to gymnastics, once I pass my driving test I will look out for somewhere to take them i think, as there are none nearby. I used to do gymnastics a bit as a child and loved it

    • Charly Dove February 7, 2014 at 10:24 pm

      You so should Anna once you’ve passed your test. The set up they had was amazing. We’re going back for another session so we’ll see how we go 🙂

  • Kirsty February 5, 2014 at 11:24 am

    She sounds like a natural. Gymnastics is such a great start for young children and the flexibility and strength I gained from gymnastics as a child are still with me now (I can still do an Arab Spring if I warm up a bit first!).

    • Charly Dove February 7, 2014 at 10:26 pm

      An Arab Spring sounds very impressive Kirsty (will Google in a minute!). It sounds like such a useful skill to have, we thought it would help POD, we’ll see with session two!

  • Seychellesmama February 5, 2014 at 11:35 am

    Wow that sounds amazing!!!! Little POD clearly had a blast! Are you taking her back again?

    • Charly Dove February 7, 2014 at 10:30 pm

      It was absolutely brilliant. We’re taking her back for another session to see how she gets on 🙂

  • Michelle February 5, 2014 at 12:39 pm

    Sounds live your Danger Dove had a fab time x

    • Charly Dove February 7, 2014 at 10:31 pm

      She had a great time Michelle. Be interesting to see how she fairs with me rather than the coach!

  • Jenny February 5, 2014 at 2:47 pm

    Thank you sooo much for linky up to my first ever linky! POD looks adorable in these photos, and the photos are fabulous. Great location. Are you going to keep the gymnastics up with POD I loved them when I was growing up. It definitely melts your heart when your kids are old enough to go and be so independent. They grow up so fast don’t they. Hope to see you again.

    • Charly Dove February 7, 2014 at 10:32 pm

      You’re welcome Jenny. Such a shame I didn’t have my camera there although it wouldn’t have been appropriate. We’re going back again to see how she gets on 🙂

  • sarah February 5, 2014 at 2:54 pm

    ah this is so how my girls started out in gymnastics. One of them went on to train with the club..im so glad we went along to these little groups!

    • Charly Dove February 7, 2014 at 10:39 pm

      Oh how lovely Sarah. We thought it would be a great place for POD and she loved the first session. We’ll see how she fairs next time 🙂

  • The Reading Residence February 5, 2014 at 4:27 pm

    Clever POD, sounds fab! I took Boo to a class like this from the age of around 15 months for a year or so. She loved it, too, so I’ll be taking my climby Little Man to it as soon as Boo starts school in September.

    • Charly Dove February 7, 2014 at 10:40 pm

      You should so take Little Man, he’d love it too. Nice that Boo enjoyed it too 🙂

  • Jen aka The Mad House February 5, 2014 at 4:28 pm

    OH wow, it sounds like she had a super time

    • Charly Dove February 7, 2014 at 10:41 pm

      She really did Jen, wonderful time 🙂

  • Helen @ Peakle Pie February 5, 2014 at 4:43 pm

    Sounds like she had a wonderful time!

    • Charly Dove February 7, 2014 at 10:42 pm

      A great time Helen, loved it 🙂

  • Charlotte February 5, 2014 at 5:46 pm

    Aww sounds like she had a fabulous time! Sounds like a great class 🙂 x

    • Charly Dove February 7, 2014 at 10:42 pm

      Was a really great class Charlotte, such a great set up 🙂

  • Vicky February 5, 2014 at 5:55 pm

    Sounds like she had a fantastic time – and I bet she looked really cute in her gym gear (I’m a sucker for cute clothes) 🙂

    • Charly Dove February 7, 2014 at 10:44 pm

      A lovely time thank you Vicky. She hasn’t got gym kit yet, we’ll see how she goes first. She would look cute though 🙂

  • Catherine Culmer February 5, 2014 at 6:38 pm

    What a lovely little lady – lovely pictures

    Cat
    http://www.rockandrollpussycat.co.uk/

    • Charly Dove February 7, 2014 at 10:47 pm

      Thank you Cat 🙂

  • Cass@frugalfamily February 5, 2014 at 7:52 pm

    Sounds like she had an amazing time 😉

    Bet you’ll be back again next week x

    • Charly Dove February 7, 2014 at 10:51 pm

      We’re so back next week Cass! POD said she wanted to land in the foam again (trapeze)!

  • Jenny February 5, 2014 at 7:58 pm

    Sounds like a great activity for little ones.

    • Charly Dove February 7, 2014 at 10:52 pm

      Superb activity Jenny, was such a good set up 🙂

  • Sara (@mumturnedmom) February 5, 2014 at 8:26 pm

    That sounds fab, Danger Dove indeed 🙂 Great that she enjoyed it so much! #meltyourhearts

    • Charly Dove February 7, 2014 at 10:56 pm

      She loved it Sara, we’re going to go again and see if she still likes it. Probably a bit different doing it with a coach 🙂

  • Emma (My Little 3 and Me) February 5, 2014 at 8:56 pm

    What great photos. It sounds like your little one had loads of fun, I love parachute games too.

    • Charly Dove February 7, 2014 at 11:01 pm

      Thank you Emma – would have loved photos of her there but wouldn’t have been appropriate!

  • Jess @ Catch A Single Thought February 5, 2014 at 9:13 pm

    Ahh it sounds so good! Meg loves going to gymnastics, I’m amazed every time I watch by her capabilities and her strength. It’s so good for them to go to something which they love and that helps them exercise as well 🙂

    • Charly Dove February 7, 2014 at 11:15 pm

      That’s lovely to hear Jess. It just offers something different and POD loved it 🙂

  • WallyMummy February 5, 2014 at 9:20 pm

    Ooh – never thought of gymnastics! What a fab idea for little ones! Fab stuff Pod! xxx

    • Charly Dove February 7, 2014 at 11:24 pm

      You really should – POD loved it. She was shattered afterwards poor thing!

  • Lauren February 5, 2014 at 9:29 pm

    Ahhh I think things like gymnastics and ballet are so great for children to develop, physically and mentally. So glad she loved it!

    • Charly Dove February 7, 2014 at 11:25 pm

      Very true – she loved it. We’ll see how she goes without the coach!

  • suzanne3childrenandit February 5, 2014 at 10:32 pm

    So glad she enjoyed it! My eldest went to gymnastics from a very early age, she sounds a lot like POD (and still is in many ways) always climbing trees, climbing on furniture, walking at 9 months…boy she was a handful! The gymnastics class was the highlight of her week, used to call it ‘nastics’! Next time, get some photos! x

    • Charly Dove February 7, 2014 at 11:27 pm

      Bless her! POD loves climbing everything, she’s got great strength as a result. Amazing to see her hanging off a little trapeze – she’s itching to go back on that again! I’ll have to see if I can get some photos 🙂

  • Kara February 6, 2014 at 11:46 am

    Awww i think Eliza would love that……I want her to go to ballet though

    • Charly Dove February 7, 2014 at 11:28 pm

      Ballet would be brilliant Kara. We’d look at that if POD weren’t so into climbing and showing great balance (she doesn’t get that from me LOL!)

  • clare February 6, 2014 at 11:50 am

    what a cutie! I’m glad she enjoyed her lesson!

    • Charly Dove February 7, 2014 at 11:29 pm

      Thank you Clare 🙂

  • Joanne Mallon February 6, 2014 at 12:59 pm

    so cute! Brings back memories of when my teenager was this size. Hold on to these memories, they go by in a blink.

    • Charly Dove February 7, 2014 at 11:29 pm

      Thanks Joanne, what lovely memories! She’s already growing far too fast!

  • thebeesleybuzz February 6, 2014 at 1:47 pm

    well done POD – that’s brilliant! My son was a climber from 9 months old – perhaps we should try gymnastics with him. xxx

    • Charly Dove February 7, 2014 at 11:34 pm

      You so should! Gymnastics is great for strength and balance. POD just loved the trapeze – I won’t forget that big giggle from the foam pit 🙂

  • Karen Bell February 7, 2014 at 2:19 pm

    Fantastic! Well done to POD! My girls love gymnastics, they love it and learn so much from it. It’s a great sport to do while they’re little.

    • Charly Dove February 7, 2014 at 11:38 pm

      That’s good to hear Karen, it just seemed like something she’d enjoy. Let’s hope so – we’re going back but we won’t have as much support from the coach next time 🙂

  • Kriss MacDonald February 7, 2014 at 4:27 pm

    I use to take my kids to a gymnastics class in London – they loved it. It really helps teach them balance and how to fling themselves around and up and down more safely. Glad to hear Pod is really enjoying hers.

    • Charly Dove February 7, 2014 at 11:48 pm

      That’s good to hear Kriss. I think that’s what’s important, staying safe. POD just loved it, hope this time will be the same 🙂

  • Jaime Oliver February 7, 2014 at 6:05 pm

    awww what a really lovely Magic Moment i an just imagine her face lighting up. I take it she is going to go again?

    • Charly Dove February 7, 2014 at 11:49 pm

      She loved it Jaime – especially that trapeze and landing in a pit of foam shapes! We’re going to try another session and she if she likes it.

  • older mum in a muddle February 8, 2014 at 8:57 pm

    Wow… that sounds brilliant, and POD sounds like she has a lot of physical strength and agility, brilliant you’ve picked up on that from all her tree climbing! X

    • Charly Dove February 15, 2014 at 5:33 pm

      Thank you Sarah – it’s nice that we’ve found something she enjoys. We’ll see how it goes though!

  • PODcast | Project 365 | Week #6 February 8, 2014 at 9:03 pm

    […] was exciting as POD attended her first gymnastics class. She’s always been a climber and has great strength so we thought we’d give it a try. […]

  • Verily Victoria Vocalises February 9, 2014 at 9:28 am

    Oh bless her – it sounds like she had a wonderful time – where did you go in the end? Grace used to love gymnastics when she was small 🙂 Thank you for linking to PoCoLo x

    • Charly Dove February 15, 2014 at 5:34 pm

      She really did – well on the apparatus at least! She’s less keen on the sitting in a circle at the beginning and end! She’s at the Gymnastics Factory which I think is where Grace went 🙂

  • Emily @amummytoo February 9, 2014 at 3:13 pm

    Hoe exciting. Sounds like POD will excel in her new class. JD starts karate on Monday – I’m excited for him 🙂

    • Charly Dove February 15, 2014 at 5:34 pm

      How exciting, I hope JD likes his karate class – sounds like fun 🙂