Wednesday, October 8, 2003
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Wednesday, October 8, 2003 |
| New
spot for family time in Newnan
Local families now have a new way to spend time with their young children. Just off the Courthouse Square in downtown Newnan, kidFun Gym offers weekly classes for parents and their kids aged birth to five years. “At kidFun Gym, parents and kids spend quality time together playing and learning,” said owner Kristy Mšller. Classes feature a free-play period, parachute activities, puppet activities, music and “circle time.” On a recent Thursday morning, six new students sat in a circle awaiting the day’s instruction. No matter that the pupils were still in diapers; the tiny scholars were reasonably attentive and caught on quickly to the songs and finger plays led by their teacher. Each class includes time for “free play,” or a chance to cut loose on the gym floor. The landscape of brightly colored cubes, spheres, tunnels and ramps is heavily cushioned for safety. “All activities are specifically designed to stimulate the development of a child's gross motor skills, fine motor skills and pre-reading skills.” Moller said. “Brightly colored balls and lambskin rugs stimulate a newborn's senses. Toddlers develop their gross motor skills by running, jumping, and climbing, and preschoolers explore the world of make-believe with songs, stories and puppets.” One newcomer, 11-month-old Spencer Turner, was dubious about crawling through a short, brightly colored tunnel, even as his mom and grandma took turns beckoning on the other side. Spencer perked up later, though, laughing gleefully as his mother donned ladybug finger puppets and sang to him while the ladybug creeped up the “tall grass” (Spencer’s leg) and tickled him behind his ear. Two-year-old Bryce Jankowski, a repeat customer, is a bold conqueror of egg tunnels and an enthusiastic bubble popper. “He loves it,” his mother, Dawn, said as she watched her son through a dizzying barrage of bubbles. “He was really excited when I told him we were coming today.” “Popping bubbles helps develop visual tracking, hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills,” Moller stated as she showered each child in turn with her bubble gun. “Plus, it’s just plain fun!” The idea is to give babies lots of sensory stimulation, according to Mšller. Babies are flooded with sights and sounds, but in a structured way and with parents present, to avoid frightening them. “After a couple of weeks, they get familiar with the routine and know what to expect.” And parents learn, as well. Each class includes a brief discussion on issues arising at various developmental stages. “Talking about our experiences with establishing bedtime routines, encouraging a picky toddler to try new foods, or handling temper tantrums allows parents to learn from one another, and often share a laugh”, Mšller says. “It’s nice to hear someone else’s tale of the earth-shaking meltdown at the crowded grocery store, or that you weren’t the only one up at 3 a.m., convincing your toddler that play time is still a few hours away!” Mšller invites all interested parents to bring their child to kidFun Gym for a free introductory class. Contact 678-662-4281, or visit www.kidfungym.com.
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