Small steps, giant leaps

William Douglas meets the woman getting Chiswick’s kids tumbling, rolling and vaulting their way to confidence

Whether it is due to common-sense parenting or paranoia stirred up by the media, there’s no doubt that modern mums and dads don’t allow their children to ‘play out’ in the same way as previous generations did. Indeed, research recently revealed that a high percentage of children these days never venture beyond the safe haven of their gardens.

‘It’s true. When we were youngsters there was so much more freedom to explore – and that was how we learned about problem solving and risk taking,’ says Tracie Silk of The Little Gym in Chiswick, a centre that runs gym activities for kids that help build confidence.

‘Our programme uses gymnastics to promote exercise and develop key motor skills; most importantly, however, it also gives kids the opportunity to experience essential life lessons in a fun environment – whether it’s a two-year-old finding a safe way down from a ‘mountain’ of traps or a seven-year-old cartwheeling off a beam. Parents must be persuaded to let go and allow children to try activities that might look risky.’

Building confidence is at the core of The Little Gym ethos. ‘Our instructors always stress that it’s perfectly OK to make mistakes,’ Tracie continues. ‘And we back that up by encouraging the kids to have a go and then praising their efforts. The trick is to get children to do the achievable, congratulate and then challenge them with something harder!’ 

The Little Gym accepts children from four months to 12 years old and they learn alongside their peers in age-appropriate classes (a parent must be present up to three years old) led by qualified instructors. It has clearly struck a chord with local parents. The Chiswick site opened last September and ‘as soon as the banners went up outside the phone started ringing,’ recalls Tracie. ‘We had over 400 children enrolled by the end of our first month.’

The programme begins very early with four- to 10-month-olds. ‘We manipulate the babies on the mats and concentrate on movements and exercises using small sticks, bean bags and balls,’  she explains. ‘From 10 months to three years old the classes focus on growth motor skills – that means walking, running and jumping – while introducing gymnastic moves such as forward rolls and learning how to land safely on two feet. And we always finish with catching and throwing balls and batting bubbles: the young ones just love the bubbles – they’re a great way to improve hand/eye coordination.’

The pre-school programme concludes with three to six year-olds. Mums and dads don’t participate but can watch from a viewing area while the children get used to the three gymnastic stations (vault, beam and bars) and enjoy free time playing on the equipment.

From age six, classes are tailored more specifically to gymnastics. ‘Many children feel that they can’t do gymnastics, so we introduce skills suited to their level and build confidence little by little. The activities begin with a warm-up of stretching and line-tumbling, forward and backward rolls, handstands, handsprings and cartwheels and then we move onto the equipment.’

The fact that the vast majority of parents have re-enrolled their children after the first term is testament to the success of programme. ‘A mum told me the other day that her child had been fearful of walking on low walls in their garden,’ Tracie tells me. ‘Within two weeks of coming here he was walking on a beam – and then had no problem with the walls at home. We hear so many stories like that. Children may not be interested in gymnastics as such, but they have fun, learn something and their self-confidence in all areas of life is boosted as a result.’

The Little Gym Chiswick, University of Westminster Sports Ground, Hartington Road, W4 3UH; 020 8994 3729 chiswick@thelittlegym.co.uk
www.thelittlegym.co.uk