Between birth and two years old, your baby will develop at an extraordinary rate, and each milestone will be a new source of wonder for you. Discover with us the major stages of their development and how to communicate with them to help stimulate their learning.
Crawling, rolling, sliding, jumping, running… and developing motor skills and social interaction while having fun: that's the goal of baby gym classes, open to children between 6 months and 6 years old. A pure moment of fun and play to share with your little one!
From a very young age, babies are bursting with energy and need to move. They are also eager to explore the world around them, discover their body's capabilities, and interact with other children.
Led by psychomotor therapists or instructors specifically trained in this discipline, baby gym sessions perfectly meet all these needs: they help children develop their Motor skills , coordination, improved balance, and simply greater body awareness are all excellent opportunities for your child to socialize, especially if they are not in group care!
Baby gym - A safe play area for babies
At the baby gym, the environment is fully adapted to allow children to have fun safely: floor covered with brightly coloured foam mats, balls, fabric tunnels, small climbing structures… everything is designed to allow them to have a great time without ever getting hurt!
Both stimulating and reassuring, the presence of the father or mother (or grandparents, nanny, etc.) is of course mandatory for babies, but also recommended for older children: baby gym is a precious moment of sharing, exchange and play between parents and children.
Stimulating and varied activities
Depending on the club, baby gym classes may be open to babies as young as 5 or 6 months old, or once they start walking, and generally up to 6 years old. Children are divided into small groups of similar age, and baby gym sessions typically last between 45 minutes and an hour—a short timeframe adapted to the pace of the youngest children.
Generally conducted to music, the activities offered vary according to age. After a few minutes of contact between facilitators and children, the youngest (up to about 18 months) will do small motor exercises lying down or sitting on mats (pedaling, grabbing their feet, clapping their hands, etc.), then will work on walking, running, small jumps, rolls, somersaults, ball games, etc.
For older children, instructors can, for example, offer small obstacle courses, movement sequences, balance games, or climbing structures. The goal: to use all of their body's capabilities and learn to control them.
For all ages, the activities offered are not exclusively sports-related: nursery rhymes, circle games, group games , and even massages also have their place in baby gym. The sessions generally end with a calming down period, accompanied by soft and relaxing music.
Baby gym - Practical advice
Ready to embark on this adventure with your baby? Here are some tips to ensure your baby gym sessions are truly joyful moments for both of you:
- Dress him in soft, comfortable clothes that allow him to feel free to move (t-shirt and jogging pants or leggings for example) and leave him barefoot so that he has more direct contact with the ground and better balance.
- Choose a time when your baby is well-rested and fully awake: avoid nap time, of course, but also the time of digestion, which is not conducive to any kind of playful antics.
- If your child is reluctant to participate in the activities, let them explore the room freely instead. If they are truly resistant, don't insist and simply observe the others, or go home for the time, perhaps returning the following week: baby gym should always remain a fun experience.
- Remember to keep your child well hydrated during the sessions, and bring a snack for afterward as they are likely to get a little hungry after all that activity. activities !
- Finally, don't be surprised if he seems tired after the sessions. Plan a quiet activity or some rest time at home.
