Gymnastics for School-Age Kids
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Parent Q&A
Archived Q&A and Reviews
- Gymnastics for low-income 7 year old girl
- Seeking gymnastics class for 5 year old
- Gymnastics for a Less Physical 5 year old
- Gymnastics party for 8 year old
- Gymnastics Class for 5 year old boy
- Gymnastics class for 6 y.o. with special needs
- Windmill Gymnastics vs Head over Heels vs Albany Village
- Birthday party at a gym
- Birthday party at a gym for 7 year old
Gymnastics for low-income 7 year old girl
Jan 2013
What gymnastics classes are there for 7-year old girls in Berkeley/Oakland? Weekends would be preferable, and financial support/scholarships would be very helpful.
The University of Berkeley has a great gymnastic program for children of all ages and is very affordable. Here's their site: http://camps.berkeley.edu/youth (I think it is $70 for January - June. Another parent
I recommend Golden Bear Gymnastics (on the Cal Clark Kerr Campus in Berkeley) with great enthusiasm. My daughter has been taking classes there for nearly two years and has loved every teacher she has had. The teachers are kind and very attentive and well trained. The kids learn a LOT. They have a very full range of classes from beginners to serious high level competition. But the gym feels very low key (which I like) and the kids always seem very happy. I am not sure about financial support but I do know the Golden Bear costs are lower than those of commercial gyms. gymnastics mom
Try one of the YMCAs. I believe they do offer scholarships and sliding scale classes.
Seeking gymnastics class for 5 year old
Dec 2012
We're looking for a gymnastics class in Berkeley, Albany or Oakland that is appropriate for a 5 year old with no prior gymnastics experience. We also belong to the Berkeley Y, but their offerings are meager for movement-based classes for his age group. I appreciate any suggestions. Thanks!
My child went to Flips-n-Flops Gymnastics, he loved it. Great talented teachers, reasonable price, not too big place. We tried other places and prefered over there. www.flipsandflops.com/ Flips-n-Flops Gymnastics. 5327 Jacuzzi Street, Suite 3-I Richmond, CA 94804 (510) 525-3313. fax (510)525-3315.
If you're located nr. highway 24 then a trip through the tunnel to Lafayette is as close as Albany or Oakland. Offering classes for 5 yr olds. www.flipnfungym.webstarts.com good luck in your search
Gymnastics for a Less Physical 5 year old
Sept 2012
Hi there, My 5 year old son has just ''graduated'' from occupational therapy aimed at helping him with gross motor skills. He's very bright and not considered special needs, but has been very reluctant to be physical, although he desperately wants to be. The OT recommended that we try a smaller gymnastics class for him to continue to encourage him to be physical. I'm wondering if anyone has a recommendation for a class where the instructors would be patient with a 5 year old who a little scared of the physical stuff. He really blossoms with a patient teacher, but would likely shut down in the face of impatience. Any recommendations? Anne
My kiddo tends to be the less physical type and went through a phase of being afraid to try *anything.* We had a good experience at Head Over Heels once I found the right class and teacher for her. (She is almost 5, this was just last spring.) It may depend on how full their classes are and maybe their Feb - March sessions are less crowded (I'm not sure...), but the first class my daughter tried was too large for her and the teacher (I think Anthony?) wasn't sensitive to what she was going through. But then I switched her into a small class (2 kids!) with Brittany and that ended up being one of the best things we've ever done for our less-than- physical child. Brittany was amazing with her - playful, patient and upbeat and it really helped that it was such a small class. After that class, my daughter really made huge strides in being more physical and trying more things: climbing, jumping, etc. So that is my recommendation: HOH w/ Brittany and if you can enroll your child in a class no bigger than 2-3 kiddos. Good luck! anon
My 4 year old has been taking gymnastics for the past 2 years at University Village in Albany, and it is wonderful. Matt Schwey and Victoria Bryant are the teachers, and the classes are small. Matt and Victoria are both very patient, and there are always all different skill levels in the class and Victoria will often sit with a child and be more one on one with them if they need that extra support. I would email Matt and ask him your questions and what class he would recommend for your child -- he is very helpful and responds quickly to emails. You can look up the classes online as well as his contact info if you google university village Albany recreation program. Cara
My son (6 years old) also graduated from OT last year and the therapist suggested either gymnastics or judo. He, like yours, is not special needs, but had gross motor skill problems. We decided to try the judo place she recommended because her own son went there for many years and she had great things to say about it: (Hanabi Judo in Albany). My son has been going there for almost a year now and it has been so great for him. He has developed a real confidence in himself physically that he never had before, as well as being able to do all kinds of things physically that were hard for him before. I love the atmosphere here because it's not high pressure at all. The teachers take each kid where he/she is at and work with them. Also the older kids help the younger kids in a way that is really nice. I think they have created such a warm, accepting family-like feeling here it has been exactly what my son needed. Good luck to you! Mom
Gymnastics party for 8 year old
Feb 2012
I'm looking for a place to have my daughter's 8th birthday party that focuses on circus arts, gymnastics or similar activities. Head over Heels, Kinetic Arts Center, Skilly Circus, and Big Island Gymnastics all do parties. Would appreciate hearing good/bad experiences or strong recommendations for any of them (or any others!). Thanks Mom of an active 8 yr old
I only know head over heals and kinetic arts center of those you listed. Head over heals teaches good classes, and has some fun teachers. However, the venue is a large hall, and I cannot imagine a birthday party in that place in between other people still taking classes. Kinetic Arts Center is much more intimate. I have been to a birthday party there. It was lovely. Nice atmosphere since it's a small place. The staff is very friendly and accommodating, and very eager to make this a special event. The guests were welcome to participate in all or some or none parts of the program. There was no pressure, but a lot of support. My child who is a year younger, would prefer a venue where her's is the only party. But yours might like the sports hall atmosphere better. Have a fun party.
Gymnastics Class for 5 year old boy
August 2008
Hello, We showed our 5 y/o boy gymnastics and diving from the Olympics and he seems to have the bug! All the reviews about different places are a few years old. Where should go, which should we avoid? We live in Oakland. Many thanks, Bobbie
Hi, I had great luck with Kids in Motion on Piedmont Avenue. My daughter was 3 and 4 when she went there (last 2 years), and she loved it. The teachers were very enthusiastic and attentive, the class sizes were small, the difficulty of the exercises was age-appropriate, and they kept things moving along and lots of fun. I highly recommend it. Oakland Mom
My boys (3 and 5) have done a few sessions at Head Over Heels in Emeryville and love it there. They do gymnastics and also circus classes, which include some trapeze, clowning, juggling, etc. More info at www.hohgymnastics.com Gotta Tire Them Out Somehow
My daughter has been attending gymnastics at Head Over Heels in Emeryville for a year now. They have great coaches from beginners gym tots to the competitive classes. happy with Head Over Heels' offerings
This isn't straight gymnastics, but very fun for a 5 year old. Trapeze Arts is a wonderful circus school in Oakland, where he can learn tumbling, trapeze, trampoline, etc. It's non-competitive and fun, with close attention paid to safety. The family that runs the school are wonderful, caring people who hire the same. Have fun! Heidi
Our son took a week long gymnastics camp at BayIslandGymnastics.com . I was a bit apprehensive but he LOVED every minute of it. I've since taken him for a weekend class and he chose not to participate until Ashley coaxed him to the mat. She proceeded to give him a private lesson that day. All the other staff have been fantastic with my son, too. Don't let the location avert you, they're near the 24hr fitness/Home Depot at 880/High St. Tumble Heaven Close to Home
Gymnastics class for 6 y.o. with special needs
Nov 2005
Hi, I'm looking for a great, fun, small gymnastics (or lively uncomplicated dance) class for my energetic 6 year old son who has some attention and social deficits, but who is also a very exhuberant and friendly guy. He loves to tumble, jump and hop around, and since his O.T. at school has recommended that he better his lagging gross motor skills, we thought a gymnastics class might be a great way for him to use his abundant energy and learn some skills in a fun way. I'm particularly looking for a really good teacher, ideally with some experience with special needs kids, but much more importantly skilled and sensitive and patient! Thanks, Julia
My 6 year old son has been taking gymnastics classes at Kids in Motion (kimgymnastics.com), on Piedmont Ave., for a few years now and the staff seem quite aware of a variety of developmental issues and have been able to help redirect my son (sensory intergration issues and language delays). He's been in classes just slightly under his actual age-level which has worked out fine for us socially and developmentally (eg. he's in a class for 4-5 yr. olds right now). I would avoid Sat. midday classes because the studio is quite noisy and distracting, and try for a day when there is maybe only one other class going on at the same time. Good luck. Tracy
Windmill Gymnastics vs Head over Heels vs Albany Village
August 2003
Can anyone offer comparisons between gymnastic classes at Windmill v. Head over Heels v. Albany Village? My 6 y.o. did the Albany Village program last year, and while she enjoyed it, there seemed to be an awful lot of sitting around. I'm wondering if the other programs are superior. Thanks, Monika
We were disappointed in Windmill gymnastics. Briefly the instructors were young (in their early teens), distracted and bored. My child left after completing one session even though she wanted to leave after the third class. Most everyone in my child's class left and went to Golden Bear gymnastics at UC Berkeley. By comparison Golden Bear is so professionally run and they have unrivalled equipment and sp Liking the Gold Bear
Birthday party at a gym
Feb 2000
We recently went to a great party at Bay Island Gymnastics (BIG) in Alameda for a six year old that was terrific. Check them out. Curryville
Birthday party: The Golden Bear Recreation Center , east of Clark Kerr Campus at UCB has a fun gymnastics birthday packet. Their number is 642-9821. Aleta
The past couple years I reserved the gym at the Albany YMCA (on Kains and Solano): that way the kids have a great indoor place to play, a brief time for refreshments and gift opening, and presto! it's over. Two years in row is enough for my little one, though, so this year I'll have to come up with something else.
Birthday party at a gym for 7 year old
Nov 1997
Our daughter wants to have her 7th birthday party at Head Over Heels Gymnastics in Emeryville. Head Over Heels is quite expensive--$280 for 25 kids; we're willing to spend this kind of money if the parties are staffed by interactive, well-trained party teachers who are able to create a fun, well-paced celebration.
Last year we had a very disappointing experience with a gymnastics party at Golden Bear Gymnastics (low energy teachers, no effort made to make the birthday girl feel special, kids spent a lot of time standing around, etc.).
Has anyone hosted or attended a birthday party at Head Over Heels? What was the overall quality of the event? Thanks for your help! Karen
we haven't used head over heels, but we've used the albany YMCA, just off solano, for two years running. the teacher is great, there's a separate party room for food and presents, and the activities and equipment keep the kids engaged for the duration. the organized activities single out the birthday boy or girl.
it's a good deal cheaper than head over heels, as well. tipping the teacher is recommended -- twenty bucks at the end of the session is conventional. Michael
My daughter had a birthday party at Head Over Heels when she was a student there. As I recall, the kids had a great time and the teachers at that time were a group of energetic, young people who really organized the kids well and gave them a workout. I have also been to a couple of parties at the Albany YMCA on Kains and they did a pretty good job but it is better at the level of Kindergym because it is small. This was a number of years ago but, for that price, I think Anne Marie would tell you how many teachers will be with your kids and you could ask for the activities you want. They played lots of fun games (very active). Barbara
Re: Head Over Heels
We went to a party there for 6 yr olds and I really didn't like it, nor did many of the kids. The teachers were TOO involved--tried to make it like a gymnastics class, rather than a birthday party. All structured activities and no time to just play around on the equipment (supervised of course). We've had 2 parties at the kids gymnastics place on Piedmont Ave (can't remember the name but in yellow pages) and liked it much more. Deborah
We have no experience with Richmond, but we have done the Cal program and Kids in motion, and a neighbor has done the head over heels program. I'll bet kids in motion is your best bet. Both the Cal program and head over heels are located in big, cavernous rooms which can be really great for the energetic, whooping-it-up type but if your child is shyer than most, probably a more intimate atmosphere might be better. Also the Cal program is staffed by a number of different Cal students and a very jolly no-nonsense older woman -- Tamara, who is great, but a shy child might not respond to her that well. Good luck.
Alison
I would be shocked if you found this. I imagine liability for gymnastics classes is high and requires certain safety practices that you aren't going to get outdoors, especially if you are talking about kids who aren't beginners. Uneven bars are tethered to the ground for safety, floors have spring systems under them that make moving them difficult, I could go on and on here. Moving equipment outdoors then indoors each day so they don't degrade overnight in the dew, is time consuming and tiring, even it was possible. Better to find a place where they have industrial garage doors that open wide for ventilation, and with fans during the day.