A Fun Gyminis Afternoon
On Friday afternoon, we had an action-packed session of Gyminis for our little ones – and boy! were they excited! With Christmas coming up, we wanted to do something special for our tamariki and decided - what better than a gift that supports well-being and movement!
They noticed a van coming into the driveway – one they had never seen before and as they watched with anticipation, they couldn’t quite figure out who it belonged too. A smiling face soon greeted their curious faces and they watched as Cherie, the Gyminis instructor began transforming our front play space into an amazing outdoor gym! 😊
Making their way to the mat area, the beginning of the session involved a special mat time song focused on warming our bodies and moving to a fun rhythm and beat. Our tamariki love music and movement so it was no surprise that they watched and followed Cherie very carefully and listened to her instructions on different ways to move their bodies.
It was then time for the next part – a skills session. There were three different tasks set out in a row and each one had a purpose. The first task was a bat and a ball balancing on a stand. Our little ones were invited to use the bat to hit the ball off the stand. Cherie remained closeby to coach them on how to hold the bat with two hands and the right technique in moving their upper bodies. It was fantastic to see our little ones’ concentration and coordination skills.
The second task was a throwing one, with a bucket full of beanbags and a hoop. As each child threw the beanbag, they had to really focus and aim towards the hoop. Even if they missed, they were encouraged to keep going and have another turn. This promotes perseverance, determination and a can-do attitude of trying – all qualities we want our little ones to have! 😊
The third task was similar and involved another hoop-like structure - but this time, using balls and with the focus being on hitting the orange squared backboard. It was good to see such great hand-eye coordination skills and it looks like we may have some future basketball players in the making!
During this whole process, our little ones had to wait patiently for their turn as only two tamariki explored the tasks at a time. Being patient and waiting can often be hard for younger children, but with opportunities to practice being patient, our little ones will be able to develop this crucial skill to support future social and group interactions. 😊
The second part of the session involved free play with the different pieces of equipment and wow! was there a lot to choose from! In one corner we had an obstacle course set up, involving a tall ladder, balancing beams and foam shapes. In another corner there was a frame with suspended rings for acrobatic movements.
As our tamariki moved around the space, trying and testing different pieces of equipment, we could see so much learning occurring. Research mentions the important link between movement and learning; and how through movement, the body is teaching the brain to think. Having ample time and space to explore movement and challenge their bodies will support our tamariki to unlock the potential in their brains and discover new things about the wonderful world around them.
A big thanks to Cherie from Gyminis for preparing an amazing and energetic session for us! We look forward to extending on these skills throughout our outdoor spaces. 😊