Isabelle attends gym class

15 Jan- Isabelle attended her first gym class. I registered Isabelle for a trial session with The Little Gym at Forum. I've been hearing friends & colleagues talk about gym classes for their little ones and how fun it was, so I tot why not give it a try? Honestly, I wasn't expecting much... I mean how much can a 9 month old do rite? Still curiousity kills, and so we went to the gym!

We were greeted with big & friendly smiles from the gym administrator. They registered us quickly, briefly introduced the gym instructor for the class, took Isabelle's temperature, checked her hands & feet etc, so all seemed really smooth. Then I saw the gym...well, it was just full of padded mats, some climbing bar frames, sloping mats...errms that's about it! Hmm...I wondered, where were the bouncy castles, slides, tunnels etc??? Hahah....obviously I had gotten it wrong, this is not a indoor playground, but a GYM!!!!

So anyway, class started and we did simple warm up exercises for the hands & legs, we did the fireman's lift & various types of carry, and ran in circles around the room. Then we moved on to more difficult exercises like doing an assisted forward roll and log rolls and forward hold on the beams to train the upper body core muscles. It was interesting, and actually quite amazing how much strength a baby has. Isabelle had a great time. She was allowed to crawl anywhere in the gym, it was kinda like freedom for her, unlike being at home where the space was mostly confined and we had to stop her every 1m or so that she crawls for fear of her getting herself injured.

Isabelle laughed happily, and had a great smile on her face. It was absolutely priceless. $42 per session is not cheap, but that joy on her face - its nothing money can buy. After the session, I was totally convinced that we should send her to gym class. I know its not a necessity, and I may not be even rank this as important as music or even art class, but then again, who am I to say what is the best activity for her. I should let her choose what she enjoys rather than what I think she should enjoy. So yes, I think I will register her in the coming semester, when she turns 1 year old cos I think she will enjoy it more. We're going to be $450 poorer, but I think we can sacrifice one less meal outside per month, less shopping, less treats.... all for our precious one.