While some kids go down the street to Diamond Gymnastics, you’ll find that The Little Gym is a lot more “personal”. If you want a crazy, busy factory type program for your child that needs LOUD, a little chaotic environments, then Diamond Gymnastics is the place.

If you have a child that would benefit from a smaller controlled environment with a LOT MORE personal “love and attention” approach in teaching, then The Little Gym is the place to be. Claudia – the owner gets to know many of the parents personally, she KNOWS your child. And the culture she has set with all the teachers is pretty impressive.

We like The Little Gym because the main gym is safely enclosed and used only by one group at a time. Parents are free to stay and watch through the ceiling to floor windows to the gym. Chairs are even provided around the glass for you stay and watch.

The staff-student-ratio is great (right now there are 3 teachers inside the gym for 15 kids plus one outside). Which means that one teacher can help corral, attend to, or coax that one or two kids that typically are challenged with joining groups or following directions in a group setting.

Mr. Paul leads the way most days and is very good. Trained in “The Little Gym way”, he uses overdose of politeness and courtesy to manage the kids (and parents) into good behavior so that everyone follows the rules.

One of the most surprising programs is the Anytime Summer Camp during the summer weeks in July and August: For toddlers age 3 and up, they offer camp 9am-12pm mornings + lunch option and an afternoon session from 1pm-4pm as well.

The surprise is that you don’t have to register for the week. You can select just one day if you want. (When was the last time a business offered something that was THAT convenient to you instead of trying to lock you into something that maximizes their own revenue?)

Of course, your kids will have more continuity in knowing other kids at the camp if he is there for more than 1 day at a time, but it’s perfect for those weeks when you’re returning from a family vacation and need something for your child for the remaining days of that week. Of if they are going to another program / VBS that lets out early on Fridays or doesn’t have Friday sessions at all.

If you have a bunch of friends from school and are tired of rotating playdates this summer, just have them all sign-up for a single day to try it out together.

Typically they do circle time at the beginning to get to know everyone’s names, rotate through 3-4 gymnastics stations, do some dancing/hide&go seek/free-play activities throughout, and there’s always an arts & crafts time with snack too.

If you register for the lunch bunch, the menu changes throughout the week….one day bagels, another day chicken nuggets, pizza days are always popular, etc. You can always send your kids in with their own lunch bag if you want.

To keep things fresh for kids that register more than 1 week in a row, each week has a different theme. This week’s theme is WIZARDS & MAGIC. Even the crafts that come home have that flavor.

Here’s the number for The Little Gym, Livingston NJ (behind Circuit City/Linens & Things): 973-422-1722 or e-mail tlglivingstonnj@thelittlegym.com

Tell Claudia (the owner) that Kenny sent you their way!