MLC Gymnastics Kindergym Information
Venue:
Parking is available in the surrounding streets of the College (207 Barkers Road, KEW).
Please follow the directional signage to the Physical Education Centre (PEC) where the Gym is located at the end of the hallway, on ground level.
What to wear/bring:
• Comfortable light clothing (even in winter the children will be warm in the Gym!).
o No skirts/dresses that can get caught or wrapped around the equipment.
o No clothing with any zips/buttons that can cause discomfort and damage equipment.
• Long Hair should be tied up.
• Children participate in bare feet (shoes and socks need be taken off at the start of the session)
• All belongings can be placed in an empty pigeonhole near the entrance to the gym.
• Water Botte
Class Format:
On arrival, please wait in the foyer area outside of the Gym until a coach calls you in to commence the lesson. Please be aware that there are multiple sessions of Kindergym running back-to-back throughout the day. This enables the previous class to put shoes & socks back on, gather all their belongings and exit the gym prior to the next class starting.
The session begins with a short ‘free time’ exploratory play period where you and your child may explore the environment and discover the activities and equipment set out for the class. During this time, you are required to supervise your child by following them around the gym as they decide what they would like to try. They may need a little guidance and encouragement and, most importantly, your supervision to ensure they are safe
When you hear the tambourine, this indicates that the ‘free play’ time is finished and we are calling all the children and parents/carers to assemble on the floor area in a big circle for a group ‘warm up’ activity. Please encourage your child to stay on the floor area. If your child is hesitant to participate in the group warm up, please either encourage them by participating along with them or alternatively sit with them in the group circle to watch. We do not allow children to continue playing on the surrounding equipment during this time.
Once the group ‘warm up’ has finished the children will be divided into smaller groups with a coach (Ratio 1:9). Each group will participate in 2 different activity circuits using equipment and props based around a changing fortnightly theme. The Jumping Joeys (2/3yr olds) will need you, as their parent/carer, to work with them through the circuit, helping them to follow the coaches instructions and giving assistance with the activities where needed. The Springer Roos (4/5yr olds) can be encouraged to work independently with the coach. We understand that this may take a little while for some children to be comfortable and encourage you as parents/carers to assist where needed for as
long as required. Once your child is comfortable working independently with the coach, you can observe class from the side of the gym.
Please be aware that the coaches still need the attention of the children and find this difficult if there is loud social chatter from the parents/carers.
At the completion of the 2 activity circuits, promoted by the tambourine sound, the group will once again assemble on the floor area in a large circle for a final short ‘cool down’ activity
Equipment Safety Rules:
Only 1 child at a time is permitted to jump on the large rectangular trampolines.
The long narrow trampoline (Tumble Trak) is a ‘one-way’ trampoline. Please ensure your child jumps following the directions of the arrows along the adjacent wall. If your child would like to have another turn, they need to climb off the landing mat and walk back along the floor to the start of the Tumble Track
Foam Pit – We encourage your child to jump into the foam pit. Please ensure that they are doing so in a safe distance from other children. Encourage your child to climb out of the foam pit on their own, using any mats/edging nearby.
The 4 x High Balance Beams in the centre of the Gym are NOT to be used by any Kindergym participants. These are too high and dangerous if a child should happen to fall. The low and medium height beams can be used at all sessions
Photos/Videos:
You are permitted to take photographs or video of your child during the class. Please do not film, photograph or otherwise record other members of the MLC community (gymnasts, coaches, parents, administration staff) without their permission. Please do not share, publish, or post film, photographs, or other recordings of members of the MLC Gymnastics community without their permission
We encourage you to limit the time you spend on your phone, and to be engaged and present, as much as possible during the session.
Siblings not enrolled in the program:
Whilst we understand that some parents/carers need to care for multiple children during Kindergym, we require your assistance to ensure that siblings who are not enrolled are not participating in the class circuits, taking up time and equipment from those children that are enrolled.
Siblings are welcome to join in the general free play time at the start of the session but it is imperative, for safety reasons, that you are directly supervising any children in your care during this time. MLC Gymnastics can not take responsibility for any children who are not enrolled. Once the class has started, children who are not enrolled should not be joining in during the circuit activities or playing on any equipment.