The only person in the gym was a man setting up different pieces of equipment. I introduced myself and told him I wanted to see if Reese would be a good fit for this class. The man, an instructor with a strong Russian accent, told me to go to the office to talk to someone and complete paperwork.
After the paperwork, we went back to the gym. Nasko, the Russian instructor, told me the kids had free time until the class started, then they did some drills, then it was free time until the end of class. Reese enjoyed bouncing and jumping on the springy-floor of the gym and "dancing" as music roared over speakers. A mother, older daughter and young son arrived and went into a separate side room full of mats, rings, balls and bars. The boy, Owen, was 3-years-old and only had a few sessions left with the current class (the "Pluto" class is for children 18-months-old to 3-years-old; "Neptune" is for children 3- to 4-years-old) All of the classes are named after planets, even though Pluto is no longer recognized as a planet. A mother and young girl arrived next and joined us in the play room. Stella just turned 21-months (she was born on Nov. 12; Reese's birthday is Nov. 16), and her mother said she has been coming "for a couple of months."
There was supposed to be five students in the class, but Nasko came in to the side room and told us to go into the big gym. We made our way to the mat and Nasko told the children to sit on a plastic star that also had a stuffed animal. Reese sat on the reddish-orange star with a brown teddy bear.
The first "drill" for Reese was to hold the bear over her head and walk on her tip-toes to a line about 10 yards away and back. Owen had it down perfectly. Stella needed her mom to guide her. Reese ran off to try to play on other equipment in the room before I corralled her back to the group.
Nasko then set up swim noodles a couple of feet away from each other so it looked like the rungs of a sketchy foam ladder on the floor. The kids were supposed to jump over the noodles. Owen went right to it, hopping over the noodles with ease. Stella didn't want to move off of her star as she hugged her white teddy bear. I held Reese's hands and pulled her over each noodle. When I let go of her hands, she ran off to play on other equipment in the room before I corralled her back to the group.
Nasko then told the kids to run up and down around the noodles in a zig-zag. Owen tossed his stuffed tiger to the floor and excelled in the zigging and zagging of the noodles. Stella walked with help from her mother through the colorful foam maze, but was generally distracted. I tried to help Reese conquer the course, but she ran off to play on the other equipment in the room before I corralled her back to the group.
The children then sat on the floor and "stretched." I don't really know how any of the kids did because it took my full attention to keep Reese from running off to play on the other equipment. It seemed a little odd to me to stretch after the exercises, but what do I know?
Then it was free time. So the 45-minute course was maybe 10 minutes of organized activities and at least 35 minutes of do-whatever-you-want. It seemed a little steep to pay for such play, but Reese had a great time. Also, my sister in Long Beach said the gym classes her girls went to were more expensive than this, so I guess I should be happy about this deal.
Owen - the little showoff - climbed and jumped and swung and crawled over around and through every obstacle under the roof. He showed why he only has a few sessions left in "Pluto." The other kids don't need to be shown up like that. Owen was demonstrated superior agility, language skills and retention than Stella and Reese. I don't need my daughter reminded of what she can not accomplish, so thankfully Owen will not be an issue much longer.
Stella hung closely to her mother, obviously intimidated by the presence of another female her own age. Apparently Stella wanted to have Owen all to herself, but the addition of Reese spoiled her little plot. Reese offered an olive-branch of peace when she gave Stella the big tan teddy bear during free time, but Stella's conniving mind could not let go of the fact that Reese was younger (four days is a relatively long time with toddlers) than she was. Owen also took a liking to Reese, playing peek-a-boo behind a big cushy block. I guess Reese needs to learn about cattiness at some time, so she might as well get that lesson sooner rather than later since it seems like other girls will always be jealous.
Reese was fantastic, though, trying to make friends with Jealous Stella, but Stella apparently could not forgive. When Reese tried to join her in the bounce house, Stella rolled out and went to the trampoline.
I may bring Reese to the same class tomorrow morning to see if the social dynamics are different. But for now, it looks like Reese will learn a lot from this Pluto group.
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