Preschool Program

As an introduction to gymnastics, Elite's  offers a range of motor skills classes that quite simply are FUN FUN FUN!. The preschool program is designed to encourage  exercise, including development in strength, flexibility, and coordination. Children learn social skills, develop motor skills, and learn problem solving skills all in a fun safe environment filled with new experiences - oh yeah, all while mom and dad are there to encourage, support them and take lots of pictures!

Elite's preschool gymnastics classes feature weekly themes to stimulate imaginative play and exercise. Our staff, skilled in both gymnastics and child development, begins each class with an opening activity designed to facilitate participation and creative movement. Following the opening activity, our instructors lead the class into "circle time" for some focused gymnastics instruction. Here our gymnasts learn the gymnastics positions, follow the instructor's specific directions, and stretch their muscles through a series of theme-related games. Once their muscles are warm, the instructors assist their classes through a series of gymnastic activities which provide a variety of motor skills exercises and gymnastics skills. Our preschool classes end with a fun and challenging closing activity, like parachute, rhythmic ribbons or trampoline.

Class Descriptions

(Parent Participation Class: Walking -18 mos./ 18 mos - 3 years.) This introductory level class is designed for the very young gymnast who still requires a parent or guardian to accompany him or her out on the floor. We have divided this class up into two age groups to facilitate different attention spans.   These classes follow the themes and obstacle courses of our other preschool classes, but children are assisted at each station by his or her parent.

Target Skills:

1. Climbing Ladders
2. Crawling through Tunnels
3. Jumping with 2 feet together
4. Bear Walks (hands and feet crawling)
5. Galloping
6. Walking across low balance beam (sideways)
7. Jumping off of an elevated surface (1-2 feet high)
8. Forward Roll down an incline mat
9. Hang/swing on bar and jump to feet
10. Swing on rings
11. Donkey Kick on mat (mini-handstand)
12. Jumping on trampoline
13. Jump to seat drop on trampoline

Tiny Tots Class: 2 1/2 - 3 1/2 years. For many of our gymnasts, this is their first class experience without a parent. To make this transition as smooth as possible, our student teacher ratio is 6:1 for this class. Our primary objectives for this group are following the teacher's instructions, taking turns, and playing well with others within the gymnastics setting. This class develops the skills featured in the parent participation classes, in addition to introducing more challenging ones.

Target Skills:

1. Galloping sideways
2. Frog Jumps (jumps from squat position)
3. Jumping feet apart and together (straddle)
4. Balancing on one foot
5. Forward Roll on floor
6. Standing Straddle Roll down incline
7. Cartwheel with hands and feet on mat
8. Donkey Kick on floor (mini-handstand)
9. Handstand against wall
10. Walk across low balance beam (forward)
11. Front support on single bar and parallel bars
12. Bell Swing on bar (hands and feet on bar)
13. Jump on and off of springboard

Tots Class: 3 1/2 - 4 1/2 years. At this level gymnasts are able to follow directions more easily and are able to learn more advanced motor skills and gymnastics skills. Each gymnast should be working towards mastering the skills in the lower levels as well as developing the strength and coordination for the following skills.

Target Skills:

1. Hopping on one foot
2. Tuck Jump
3. Crab Walks
4. Seated Straddle Roll down Incline
5. Standing Straddle Roll on Floor
6. Cartwheel starting from "Star" Position over a mat
7. Jump to Front Support on Low Bar
8. Forward Roll over Low Bar
9. Straddle Bell Swing
10. Walking forward on elevated Balance Beam
11. Run, jump and safety landing off springboard
12. 3 bounces to straddle-on position on block from springboard
13. Seat Drop to standing position on trampoline

Tumblers Class: 4 1/2 - 5 1/2 years. At this age gymnasts are able to concentrate for longer periods of time so we extend the class from 45 minutes to one hour in length. As a transition into our after school program this class includes focused activities on the individual gymnastics events. For example, after working on an obstacle course a Tumblers class might line up on the floor for a tumbling rotation to learn their rolls, handstands and cartwheels.

Target Skills:

1.  Skipping
2. Straddle Jump
3. Bridge Position
4. Seated Straddle Roll
5. Backward Roll down an Incline
6. Cartwheel from "Star" Position on the floor
7. Lunge Handstand on a panel mat
8. Through the Window on a bar or the rings
9. L-Hold on the Parallel Bars
10. Monkey Walks sideways across a bar
11. Pull-over on a bar against wall
12. Backwards walks on low balance beam
13. Forward walks on high balance beam
14. Seat Drop, Doggie Drop on Trampoline
15. Tuck-On to Block from Springboard