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Our
Programs > Terrific Tots Program
The
Little Gym introduces a creative, movement-oriented pre-school program
that is built on its motor development and developmental gymnastics curriculum
for children, while incorporating story time, arts and crafts, and pre-reading,
pre-writing and math skills development in an environment of pure fun!
Statement
of Philosophy
The Little Gym Terrific Tots is a unique curriculum that uses a safe and
stimulating environment and resource materials of the highest quality
to enable children to learn about themselves, their families, and their
environment through play and exploration. Through activities and practices
that are developmentally appropriate, the Terrific TotsTM Program is in
the best position to promote not just some, but ALL aspects of a child’s
development. We believe that children, especially older toddlers between
the ages of 2 and 3, and young pre-schoolers between the ages of 3 and
4, learn to think, know themselves, express themselves and get along well
with others when they have what The Little Gym can offer:
- An interesting,
fun and safe environment within which to FREELY explore and to FREELY
create;
- A rich
variety of materials with which to FREELY work;
- Loving,
caring teachers who serve as mere mediators of the children’s interaction
among each other, and as their guides to learning, rather than as the
ONLY source of learning.
How
Terrific Tots is Different
The Terrific Tots Program does not pay lip service to the child’s physical
and motor development. Research shows that neglect of motor development
could possibly result in clumsiness and a low level of fitness in children
thereby preventing the successful development of their other faculties.
Terrific Tots is built on The Little Gym’s motor development and developmental
gymnastics programs for children. Those enrolled in this program shall
spend 25% of their time inside the Gym, where these energetic tykes are
provided with opportunities to build their gymnastic skills — the foundation
of all physical education — and to engage in creative, dramatic play.
In addition, the teacher-to-student ratio for this program is a very low
1:4 or 1:5, depending on the ages of the children in each section. There
shall only be a maximum of 8 to 10 children in each class. These low numbers
ensure that the maximum benefits of the program can be attained by every
child enrolled.
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Mission Statement
The mission
of The Little Gym Terrific Tots Program is embodied in its aims:
- To help
develop independent, confident children with high self-esteem, who are
curious about the world, and who love to learn and solve problems;
- To enhance
the children’s physical fitness and motor development;
- To give
children positive first experiences in a school-type environment so
that they will regard "big school" as a happy and safe place;
- To introduce
preliminary skills in reading, writing, and math through interesting,
fun and appropriate learning experiences; and
- To help
children become interested in making friends and in keeping them.
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