Kindergymnastics Teach Confidence

It is early afternoon in the MIU recreation center and 15 pre-schoolers are crowded around one end of a balance beam. They watch the three-year-old in pigtails who is carefully crossing the bar with her arms out to each side. When she reaches the half-way point, the next child jumps up and follows her. The rest of the group wait anxiously, stepping up closer every few seconds like people crowding into a movie theater. But this is no show—this is Kindergym. "Kindergym is the first group expression of sports, exercising, stretching, and organized rambunctiousness the children get," says Marilyn Sutherland, whose four-year-old son Michael is in Kindergym. "They learn to take turns, move around, and do things with their bodies—all under the direction of an athletic expert who understands children."

A Popular Program

Ken Daley and his wife, Juliett, offer the Kindergym program as a part of the MIU Gymnastic Center, which they started together seven years ago. Kindergym is a "pre-introductory" gymnastics class for children ages two to five. Although the center offers a successful program in gymnastics and dance, the Kindergym program is the most popular. "We found it natural to begin a child-based program in Fairfield," Ken says. "We saw a need for more sports and recreation in the community and were supported from the very beginning." "I don't know any child who doesn't like Kindergym better than anything else. Josh would come everyday if he could," says Sandra Adams, a Kindergym mom.

No Room for Failure

Since it began in 1984, Kindergym has given over 4,250 preschool children a basic gymnastics experience using top-quality equipment. Each class lasts 45 minutes and is taught once per week for ten weeks. Every child has three teachers: Ken, mom or dad, and the child himself. The most important aspect of Kindergym, however, is that it takes place in an environment that reinforces success. "In the Kindergym program there is no room for failure," Ken says. "We see the child as a growing and evolving person. We want to develop a pattern of consistent, gradual, and realistic growth with each child in the program."

To ensure this growth, Ken teaches what he calls "fundamental movement patterns." These are gymnastics basics like rolling, landing, and springing. For instance, rather than learning handstands, a difficult gymnastic position, the children learn other ways to support their weight on their hands. "This is so that they can say, 'I did it!' which equals success."

Coordination &Confidence

Ken helps each child to develop this sense of accomplishment. When three- year-old Riana Koppel realized that she was too short to get up on the high horse, she became distraught. However, rather than help her up, Ken plopped down some mats until Riana was high enough to reach the horse and then made her get up by herself. "Ken is very interested in helping the kids develop confidence and find their own sense of balance," says Michelle Koppel, Riana's mother.

Now it's Christopher Poole's turn on the balance beam. He walks along slowly, passing his mother and several other moms who are holding out their fists. Christopher starts to lose his balance. Quickly, he rests his hand on Marilyn Sutherland's fist to help get his control back, and then keeps walking to the end of the beam where Ken is nodding encouragement.

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