Click here for our 2012 Kindergym Summer once a week classes
Click here for our 2012 Kindergym 3-5 year old half day summer camp
Click here for our 2012 Kindergym 5 year old full day summer camp
Two video's regarding the benefit of physical activity to your infants and toddlers!
Click here for information on a bursery which can be used towards your KG fees!
Kindergym Programs The Kindergym program is designed for children from ages 8 months to 5 years. The OGC program is the result of 31 years of development and is well recognized in Canada as a terrific foundation for body awareness and fitness development.
Gymnastics is an excellent sport to develop balance, strength, co-ordination, flexibility and self-confidence. This aspect makes our Kindergym the perfect starting point for many sports other than just gymnastics. Parents often tell us how well classes prepared their children for skating, soccer, dance etc. Children usually do similar skill development, however, the extent to which they are assisted varies depending on their level of confidence. A number of doctors have sent children to our program to help them with ankle turnout, weakness in the shoulder area etc. The program enables children to progress at their own pace within an age group.
Gymnastics is for all pre-schoolers!
All Kindergym participants use modified gymnastic equipment to develop the basic fundamentals in the sport with an emphasis on fun and self-esteem. We incorporate many circuits into our classes to keep children active, stimulated and challenged
| OGC Kindergym Instructors Our Kindergym instructors are selected for their enjoyment for not only gymnastics but for young children as well. Many of our weekday teachers have been instructing our youngest gymnasts for over 15 years. Lori Ierullo has been the Program Director since its inception in 1980. We are considered to have one of the best pre-school programs in the country! |
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Special Events
At least twice a session, we have Theme Days! These are favourites with the children (i.e., Pajama days, Halloween week, Backwards day, etc.). At the end of each session we have Parent's Day. Parents are invited to come and watch their child proudly demonstrate their accomplishments. Video cameras and Grandparents are welcome!
Summer Camps and March Break Camps and Special Holidays
In addition to school-year programs, the OGC also offers Kindergym classes each summer. Half-day camps are offered during the March Break and Summer Camp. Half day camps may also be offered at Christmas (Stop and Shop) and during PD days.
Kindergym Class Details
NEW GymBabies: 6 months - 8 months
New for Spring 2012. With so many parents requesting a class babies who are not yet 8 months, we have created an interactive program for Parents/Caregivers and babies. The program is designed to encourage balance, flexibility and strength through movement, motion and exploration using modified equipment. By increasing these important aspects of development, they improve their own kinesthetic awareness. A great activity for Parent and Baby! If your baby will be 8 months by the start of the session, you have a choice of either GymBabies or Babynastics. As babies develop at their own rate, choose the one best suits your child. We suggest GymBabies if they are not yet actively crawling (give us a couple months and watch them move!). Bring a baby blanket and a small toy.
• Babynastics: 8 months - 15 months
Our fastest growing program! This innovative program is unique to the Ottawa Gymnastics Centre. The developmental program introduces babies ages 8 months to 15 months, to a variety of basic movement patterns using modified equipment under the careful direction and assistance of a certified instructor. Parent / Caregiver and child are guided through gentle exercises using dowels, parachutes, bolsters and songs.
Through the session they will be introduced to the concepts of rolling, swinging, bouncing and balancing using specially designed kindergym equipment for this age group. By the end of the session parents will see their little ones doing front rolls down inclines, crawling through tunnels, swinging on mini-rings bars and ropes, and being gently bounced on trampolines to name just a few.
Parents have enjoyed watching their children progress and enjoy the feeling of being upside down or pulling themselves up a children's climbing wall! Great fun and interaction. Guaranteed to have a good nap after the class!
• Tall'n Small: 16 months - 36 months
The Tall'n Small program is a class designed to keep your little one active. Each 45-minute class requires adult caregiver participation. This structured program is designed to develop gross motor skills in a safe and fun environment with the parents or caregivers assistance. Circuits and modified apparatus teach children front rolls, swinging, jumping, climbing, and walking on balance beams to begin the process of body awareness in physical development. The class is always active and the children will be climbing on specialized Kindergym apparatus, sliding down inclines, somersaulting, jumping on in-ground trampolines, swing on rings, bars and ropes, just to name some of the many activities that fill their time. Parents are always amazed at what their children are able to accomplish by the end of a session!
Tall'n Small 1 is for 16 months to 24 months. Tall'n Small 2 is for children ages 24 months to 3 yrs. The T/S 2 pace is a little quicker than T/S 1 to match the fast paced world of a 2 year old! There are some options of combined T/S 1 and 2 classes to provide more options with parents with other children who are trying to coordinate class times.
• 2 Years-Old
The 2-Year-Old group is another 45-minute class and continues to build on the foundation established in Tall'n Small. Children must have participated in at least 1 Tall'n small 2 session first (or a Tall'n Small 1 and 2 combined as a 2 yr old) as separation from the parent can be difficult at this age. The activities of the gym can be very overwhelming the first time a young child takes in our active and structured classes. After a comfort level is attained in Tall'n Small 2, 2 yr olds are more ready to take part in classes where the instructor assists them through many basics using the modified equipment, music and circuits. Keep in mind, most children wait until they are 3 yrs of age before attending an independent class. Classes are small - just 5 participants per coach, or a 5:1 ratio -- so that each child is afforded plenty of attention and hands-on help but it is a big step to go independently so don't rush if they are not ready. (not sure, ask their Tall'n Small teacher).
• 3 Years-Old
The 3-Year-Old class is one hour in length and the participant to coach ratio is 7:1. Children start to improve their level of basics through the use of circuits and stations to keep each child active in the class. Overall co-ordination is developed using landings off blocks, inverted skills on rings and bars, somersaults on the balance beam and various jumping elements on trampoline to name just a few.
• 4-5 Years-Old
In this age bracket groups are not more than an 8:1 ratio. Focus is on fun and developing the skills necessary to move forward with Recreational gymnastics and the CanGym badge system. Fundamentals in the sport continue to develop strength and balance and self-confidence. These children begin bridges, cartwheels and continue to develop basic elements on multiple apparatus. The use of circuits and stations ensures that each child is ch
allenged and progresses at his/her own level. The emphasis is always on FUN and FITNESS! (Children who are 6 at the beginning of a session may be better suited to the Recreational Mini-Rollers class.)
NEW THIS YEAR! Totally Trampoline 4-5 Years-Old
The new class has been requested by parent's whose children just can't get enough Trampoline! We started with one class and had to open more as the kids love it! If you have a "jumping bean" that would like to have a class dedicated to a favourite event, this is the one for them. After a warmup, children will be guided through basic and more development on the trampoline and will also use the Mini-trampoline, mini-tumble trak and other activities to help them progress further on this event. If they have lots of energy, sign them up for a regular kindergym class and a Trampoline back to back!!
• Special K (4 and 5 yrs)
This class is an extension of our 4-5 yr. Old program and is a 90 minutes in length. It was created for 4 and 5 yr. olds who have been through Kindergym and wish to develop their basics further in preparation for the Recreational program. These children have been in the Kindergym program for at least one year and a ready for more challenging skills and longer classes. We are now including 4 yr olds in this class as many have been in our program since Babynastics and just can't get enough!
While we endeavor to accommodate everyone, the OGC has established standards for class size, coach qualification, and gym utilization. We do this to ensure your child's safety and to maintain the extraordinary high quality of our programs. Unfortunately, a consequence of these standards is that classes at the OGC are P O P U L A R! and often fill quickly. Register early and don't risk disappointment. Please call the office at (613)722-8698 to register. Thank you
Testimonials
We have loved Babynastics. It is completely different from any other baby activity we have tried and allows the little ones the chance to develop other skills that music and dance don't. Plus it “tires” her right out! -- Tracey E. Mom of Olivia 10 months.
Ma fille est inscrite aux cours de kindergym depuis l'âge de 14 mois-elle aura bientôt 3 ans et nous n'avons pas manqué une session! Elle a “initié” son petit frère à la maison, et il abore autant qu'elle. -- Anne-Marie Maman de Delphive (2 ½ ans) et Oscar-Philippe (13 mois)