A CHILDREN’S gym that opened earlier this year is helping youngsters to enjoy being active.
Esprit Kids, in Winnersh, welcomes children from as young as four months up to 12 years.
A range of age appropriate activities, including hanging upside down, helps even babies to explore their physical world.
“I really want to inspire youngsters to have a healthy and active lifestyle, to make friends, and to enjoy a sociable sport,” said owner Courtney Howe.
“Young people have so much pressure on them at school – even more if they’re not sporty.
“”Here we want them to enjoy exercise and have fun while getting their heart rate up.”
Courtney helps even the very youngest Esprit gymnasts to develop body and sensory awareness.
“”The babies and toddlers enjoy a lot of free play,” she said.
“We sing songs, we enjoy colour matching and number games, and we play handbells – a particular favourite with the children.
There is also a bar, a beam and floor mats, where youngsters can learn to cartwheel and perform handstands.
“One of our youngsters, Ellie, is going from strength to strength,” said Courtney.
“At 19 months she was too little to follow instructions, but she’s learning so much.”
Courtney says that going upside down can be really daunting for young children.
“I have to get to know them, and they need to know they can trust me,” she said.
“One little boy took six weeks to pluck up the courage, but with tiny babies we usually like to get them upside down as early as possible before they learn to be afraid.”
While toddlers explore in the downstairs hall, upstairs older children benefit from a fully equipped gymnasium, and more advanced activities.
“We have an in-house award system for our older children,” Courtney said
“If they want to, they can learn everything they need to be able to train further with other clubs when they leave us.”
But Courtney is clear that Esprit Kids is not about competitive elite sport.
“It’s about allowing our kids to enjoy being a child,” she said.
“Yes, we teach them to follow instructions, to try again when something is difficult, and to enjoy working hard, but we don’t put pressure on them.
“It’s important to me that they develop good friendships, grow in confidence, and enjoy a few years having fun being children.”
Courtney comes from a family of gymnasts.
Her mother teaches rhythmic gymnastics with ribbons and balls, and her father has owned and taught at a gym in Swindon.
“My dad and my sister both help out at Esprit Kids,” she said.
While children enjoy weekly gym classes, parents can enjoy tea and coffee in a waiting area.
“Often parents stay on afterwards to chat, and members can drop in at any time,” said Courtney.
“The aim is to be a hub, and to grow a community of healthy kids.
“We currently have 172 members.
“But we’d love to reach our maximum 500, and to have that many children each week enjoying sport and being active.”
For information visit: www.esprit-kids.co.uk
