by Katie Davis Skelley from Rocket City Mom

When we moved to Madison in 2009, my five-year-old son quickly made several neighborhood friends. My 18-month-old daughter was a different story. Being younger, she was not as independent and I began to look for activities for her. In my search, I came across The Little Gym.

About The Little Gym

With more than 300 locations across the globe, The Little Gym is the worldʼs premier experiential learning and physical development center for kids ages four months through 12 years.

Each week, progressively structured classes and a positive learning environment create opportunities for your child to try new things and build self-confidence, all with a grin that stretches from ear to ear. (from The Little Gym website)

Basically, The Little Gym is a brightly-colored, kid’s dream. My daughter and I visited the Providence location (TLG also has a location in Jones Valley), and were so impressed that we signed up for a Mommy & Me class on the spot. My daughter loved all of the activities and her mom liked meeting other parents and making new friends in a new town. The instructors are always upbeat, knowledgeable, and very good with the children.

Happy Birthday

My daughter enjoyed her classes so much that we decided to have her third birthday party at The Little Gym. Being a veteran of kids parties, I arrived ready to work. Oh no, said The Little Gym staff, they would take care of everything. And they did!

The parties last 1.5 hours, which gives the children long enough to play, have refreshments, and open gifts. I kept hovering over the staff and asking if I could help. They were kind to the crazy mommy and assured me that they had everything under control. It was the easiest birthday party that we have ever thrown.

My son loves The Little Gym so much that he had parties there two years in a row. As a parent, I love the fact that they take care of everything and all I have to focus on is the cake. I also love that no matter how imaginative your child’s cake is, the employees at The Little Gym will have no problem cutting it. Click here to learn more about TLG’s Awesome Birthday Bash.

Parents Survival Night

When my daughter turned three, she became old enough to participate in The Little Gym’s Parents Survival Night. Every other Friday night, The Little Gym will open up their doors to members from 6:30-10pm. The children enjoy several fun activities, while their parents enjoy a kid-free evening. My kids cheer when we tell them that they are spending the evening at The Little Gym, and not staying home with boring old mom and dad. Click here for more information about Parent’s Survival Night.

There’s More!

These are just a sampling of the many activities offered at The Little Gym. They have a wide range of programs, ranging from dance to karate, and offer classes for children from age 4 months to twelve years. In the summertime, The Little Gym also sponsors camps with changing weekly themes. If you are looking for a safe, active, and positive atmosphere for your child, my kids and I highly recommend.

Visit the Little Gym

Location: The Little Gym at Village of Providence, AL
Address: 470 Providence Main Street
Phone: (256) 382-3123
Visit their website here

Location: The Little Gym of Huntsville
Address: 2124 Cecil Ashburn Dr.
Phone: (256) 883-9484
Visit their website here

About Rocket City Mom

Rocket City Mom is an online parenting website created in 2010 by a local mom who was new to Huntsville and looking for information on raising kids in the Tennessee Valley. The site now has more than 10 regular contributors, all local moms and dads, who share their insights and experiences with the goal of making life just a little easier for other local parents. On the site, you’ll find reviews of local attractions, a directory of services and businesses that have been mom approved, resource information (i.e. moms groups, support groups, birthday party planner, kids eat free) and much more!