Parental pride is a very strong emotion. When your child first smiles at you, or when she goes to her first day of preschool, or when he hits his first baseball -- your heart swells with pride. It's a fantastic feeling.
At The Little Gym, we provide the opportunity to be truly proud of your children every week. With our new Proud Parent Photo Contest, you can share your pride with other The Little Gym families, your friends, and have the chance to win a free semester of classes at The Little Gym of Lake Oswego.
Here's how the contest works: Send us a photo of your child at The Little Gym. We'll upload it for you to the contest photo album. Tell your friends to "Like" the photo, and the person with the most "Likes" by the end of the contest will will a free Winter/Spring 2011 semester of classes - a $351 value.
The contest runs from now until January 15, 2011. It is open to Members and Non-Members. Photos can be taken in classes at The Little Gym, or at Birthday Parties or Winter Camps. If you don't have a photo of your child at The Little Gym, schedule a free introductory visit, come in, and take a photo!
Instructions to submit an entry are below:
1. E-mail us a photo of your child showing off at The Little Gym of Lake Oswego with "Proud Parent Photo Contest" in the subject line. Send your photo to tlglakeoswegoor@thelittlegym.com. Please include your name, your child's name, and a contact phone number.
2. We'll upload it into the Proud Parent Photo Contest Facebook photo album, and we'll send you a link to your photo.
3. Tell all of your friends to "Like" your photo in our photo album. (Your friends will have to "Like" The Little Gym of Lake Oswego to be able to Like your photo.)
4. The photo with the most "LIKES" by January 15th, 2011 will win a FREE Winter/Spring 2011 semester! (Winner will receive 100% refund of what has been paid toward Winter-Spring tuition.)
Good Luck!
- Ron, Marie, and The Little Gym team!
Saturday, November 27, 2010
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Open Enrollment for Winter/Spring classes starts tomorrow - Monday, November 22nd. Enroll early and be entered to win a free birthday party!
After the conclusion of Priority Enrollment (current-member enrollment period), we are offering an "Early Bird Enrollment Period" for current members, inactive members, and non-members. It is extremely beneficial for us to know NOW how many students will be in Winter/Spring classes so we can work on our instructor schedule and recruiting plans - so this is our way of saying "thank you" for enrolling early.
All Winter/Spring enrollees (including those of you who signed up during Priority Enrollment) will be entered into a drawing towards a free birthday party at The Little Gym of Lake Oswego!
Early Bird enrollment will run until December 4th when we draw and announce the winner. Open Enrollment begins immediately, and is available for all classes that are still open after Priority Enrollment. This has been our most successful Priority Enrollment and several classes are full and others are almost full:
You may register by telephone at (503) 595-9702, in person, or online. Please call if you have any questions!
Early Bird enrollment will run until December 4th when we draw and announce the winner. Open Enrollment begins immediately, and is available for all classes that are still open after Priority Enrollment. This has been our most successful Priority Enrollment and several classes are full and others are almost full:
- Monday 1:30pm Jazzy Bugs/Giggle Toes - FULL
- Saturday 12:05pm Giggle Worms/Good Friends - FULL
- 4 other classes have 5 or less spots!
If your class of choice fills, we can put you on the wait list!
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
The Little Gym of Lake Oswego now has the best makeup policy in all of Portland!
Well.... unofficially, we *think* we now have the best makeup policy in all of greater Portland.
We're always looking at how we do business. The only way we can run our business and support our family and our instructors' families is through you - our customers. We recently reviewed our makeup policy and came up with a great way to have a makeup policy that provides our customers what they actually want and need.
We're always looking at how we do business. The only way we can run our business and support our family and our instructors' families is through you - our customers. We recently reviewed our makeup policy and came up with a great way to have a makeup policy that provides our customers what they actually want and need.
Up until now, makeups for classes would need to be scheduled within 6 months after the absence, and you were required to call in to get an excused absence that could be made up. Going forward, your makeups will never expire, and you will receive a makeup class whether you call in prior to your absence or not. In order to use one of your makeup classes, you will need to be currently enrolled in a class. So if you ever take a break from The Little Gym, when you come back, your makeup classes will still be available. We *really* do appreciate it if you can call us when you won’t be coming to class, so others can do makeups in your spot. But we realize that when you can’t make it to class, that is often the hardest time to actually call in. So if you can’t call in, you won’t lose that class.
If you can find another program in Portland with a better make-up policy, let us know!
Monday, November 15, 2010
Last week of Winter/Spring Priority Enrollment -- Open Enrollment starts November 22nd!
Winter/Spring semester Priority Enrollment ends Saturday, November 20th!
This week (November 15 - 20) is the last week that members (enrolled and non-enrolled in classes) may reserve spots for the upcoming Winter/Spring semester before Open Enrollment begins. The Winter/Spring semester runs for 20 weeks -- January 24th through June 18th.
The following classes are either already full (noted below) or almost full for the Winter/Spring semester::
We have over $725 in raffle prizes being raffled off this week. When you enroll in classes, you're entered into every daily prize including:
Here are answers to some of the questions we've been getting this past week:
Q: Why should you enroll for the Winter/Spring semester now when it starts in late January?
A: By enrolling now, you will almost certainly be able to get a spot in your class of choice. If you wait too long, the class you want may be full.
Q: When is the current semester over?
A: There are still 9 more weeks to the Fall semester.
Q: Do I have to pay for the full Winter/Spring semester now?
A: You can pay one installment of the 3- or 5-installment options. The 2nd installment on either plan isn't due until February 14th.
Q: Are there benefits to paying the tuition in full?
A: You receive a 10% Value Plan discount by paying in full, plus 50 bonus Member Milestone points (our rewards program). You can also pay a deposit of $78 and pay the balance of the Value Plan by January 24th, and still receive the 10% discount and 50 bonus Member Milestone points. The balance amount would be $273.
Q: What are the prices for the Winter/Spring classes?
A: 5 installments of $78 (base price), or 3 installments of $119 (8% discount) or $351 for the Value Plan (inlcudes 10% discount).
Q: Who will be teaching class ______?
A: We have the final instructor schedule set about 2 weeks prior to the start of each semster. All instructors have gone through our rigorous screening and training processes. They're all great. If you feel you want to switch classes, you're welcome to as many times and as long as there's space.
Q: What do I do if my schedule changes?
A: You can switch classes as many times as you'd like to, provided there is space in a class. If you ever need to unenroll, we will provide a prorated tuition refund about 2-4 weeks after you notify us of your need to unenroll. If you unenroll before the semester actually starts, your tuition is 100% refunded. The annual family membership is not refundable.
Q: What if I am going to miss a class?
A: Classes can be made-up as long as there is space in a class and as long as you're enrolled. Your makeup classes no longer expire. If you take a class when your child is 2 years old and then take a break and come back when he is 8 years old, all of your makeup classes will still be available to you! (This is a change that we made 2 weeks ago and will be announcing in classes this week.) We believe we have the best and most flexibile make-up policy in all of Portland. (If we don't please let us know who has a better one!)
Q: This sounds great! How can I enroll?
A: If your membership is valid, you can enroll by calling us at (503) 595-9702, or by enrolling online from the Schedule tab on our website --- www.tlglakeoswegoor.com. Non-members may become members and enroll starting on Monday, November 22nd.
This week (November 15 - 20) is the last week that members (enrolled and non-enrolled in classes) may reserve spots for the upcoming Winter/Spring semester before Open Enrollment begins. The Winter/Spring semester runs for 20 weeks -- January 24th through June 18th.
The following classes are either already full (noted below) or almost full for the Winter/Spring semester::
- Saturday 10:15am Super Beasts (2.5 - 3 year olds)
- Saturday 11:00am Funny Bugs (3-4 years)
- Wednesday 3:30pm Giggle Worms/Good Friends (4-6 years old)
- Saturday 12:05pm Giggle Worms/Good Friends -- FULL
- Monday 1:30pm Jazzy Bugs/Giggle Toes (dance/gymnastics for 3-5 years old)
- Monday 5:15pm Giggle Toes/Good Leaps (dance/gymnastics 4-6 years old)
We have over $725 in raffle prizes being raffled off this week. When you enroll in classes, you're entered into every daily prize including:
- The Little Gym t-shirts, hats, winter camp, Parents' Survival Night, Annual Family Memberships, and more
- A brand new red wagon donated from State Farm Insurance agent, Matt Olsen
- A $25 gift certificate from Frog Pond Toys and Lily Pad Cafe' in Lake Oswego.
- A $75 gift certificate from Flourish Pilates in West Linn
- Children's books from Goodnight Room at the Bridgeport Village
- Men's shoes from Dockers
- A $30 gift certificate to Pampered Chef
- Grand prize of a free Fall 2011 semester of classes at The Little Gym of Lake Oswego!
Here are answers to some of the questions we've been getting this past week:
Q: Why should you enroll for the Winter/Spring semester now when it starts in late January?
A: By enrolling now, you will almost certainly be able to get a spot in your class of choice. If you wait too long, the class you want may be full.
Q: When is the current semester over?
A: There are still 9 more weeks to the Fall semester.
Q: Do I have to pay for the full Winter/Spring semester now?
A: You can pay one installment of the 3- or 5-installment options. The 2nd installment on either plan isn't due until February 14th.
Q: Are there benefits to paying the tuition in full?
A: You receive a 10% Value Plan discount by paying in full, plus 50 bonus Member Milestone points (our rewards program). You can also pay a deposit of $78 and pay the balance of the Value Plan by January 24th, and still receive the 10% discount and 50 bonus Member Milestone points. The balance amount would be $273.
Q: What are the prices for the Winter/Spring classes?
A: 5 installments of $78 (base price), or 3 installments of $119 (8% discount) or $351 for the Value Plan (inlcudes 10% discount).
Q: Who will be teaching class ______?
A: We have the final instructor schedule set about 2 weeks prior to the start of each semster. All instructors have gone through our rigorous screening and training processes. They're all great. If you feel you want to switch classes, you're welcome to as many times and as long as there's space.
Q: What do I do if my schedule changes?
A: You can switch classes as many times as you'd like to, provided there is space in a class. If you ever need to unenroll, we will provide a prorated tuition refund about 2-4 weeks after you notify us of your need to unenroll. If you unenroll before the semester actually starts, your tuition is 100% refunded. The annual family membership is not refundable.
Q: What if I am going to miss a class?
A: Classes can be made-up as long as there is space in a class and as long as you're enrolled. Your makeup classes no longer expire. If you take a class when your child is 2 years old and then take a break and come back when he is 8 years old, all of your makeup classes will still be available to you! (This is a change that we made 2 weeks ago and will be announcing in classes this week.) We believe we have the best and most flexibile make-up policy in all of Portland. (If we don't please let us know who has a better one!)
Q: This sounds great! How can I enroll?
A: If your membership is valid, you can enroll by calling us at (503) 595-9702, or by enrolling online from the Schedule tab on our website --- www.tlglakeoswegoor.com. Non-members may become members and enroll starting on Monday, November 22nd.
Monday, November 8, 2010
Priority Enrollment for Winter/Spring semester starts today!!
Today, Monday, November 8th is the first day that currently enrolled members may reserve their Winter/Spring class spots. Enrolling early helps us to determine which classes will be the most popular, so we can plan our staff scheduling and hiring needs. Plus it helps us pay the bills during the quiet enrollment period of November - December. :-)
As the economy picks up, this first week of Priority Enrollment gets more valuable for members as popular classes and times will fill during ealy. Currently enrolled members can reserve their spots with any of our payment options and be assured they will get into the class of their choice. Already, at 1:45am on Monday the 8th, a large number of current members have taken advantage of early enrollment. Over 75 members have re-enrolled, and several of our Saturday classes are already half-full.
To thank members for enrolling early, we will be serving refreshments for every class for the next two weeks, including snacks such as bagels & cream cheese, cookies, pretzels, juice, and coffee. Plus members who enroll during Priority Enrollment get 50 bonus Member Milestone points (our loyalty rewards program). And we'll be raffling off 21 different things, totalling $1100+, such as tickets to see Yo Gabba Gabba Live, dinner out, pizza, children's books, toys, and more. See our post from
As the economy picks up, this first week of Priority Enrollment gets more valuable for members as popular classes and times will fill during ealy. Currently enrolled members can reserve their spots with any of our payment options and be assured they will get into the class of their choice. Already, at 1:45am on Monday the 8th, a large number of current members have taken advantage of early enrollment. Over 75 members have re-enrolled, and several of our Saturday classes are already half-full.
To thank members for enrolling early, we will be serving refreshments for every class for the next two weeks, including snacks such as bagels & cream cheese, cookies, pretzels, juice, and coffee. Plus members who enroll during Priority Enrollment get 50 bonus Member Milestone points (our loyalty rewards program). And we'll be raffling off 21 different things, totalling $1100+, such as tickets to see Yo Gabba Gabba Live, dinner out, pizza, children's books, toys, and more. See our post from
- Monday, Nov 8
- The Little Gym Parents’ Survival Night
- Three “Have one on us” 3-topping pizzas from Papa Muphy’s Take 'N' Bake of West Linn and Oregon City (3 individual winners of one pizza each)
- Tuesday, Nov 9
- The Little Gym T-Shirt & Baseball Cap
- Wednesday, Nov 10
- The Little Gym Winter Camp
- 4 Tickets to see Yo Gabba Gabba! live at 2pm on Sunday the 14th at the Memorial Coliseum ($200+ value)
- Thursday, Nov 11
- The Little Gym t-shirt, slo-mo ball and Foam Flyer
- Friday, Nov 12
- The Little Gym Annual Family Membership renewal
- $25 gift certificate to Bamboo Grove Hawaiian Grill
- Saturday, Nov 13
- Parent’s Survival Night
- $25 gift certificate to Players (dinner and bowling next door!)
- Monday, Nov 15
- The Little Gym T-Shirt and Baseball Cap
- Matt Olsen of State Farm Insurance donated a red wagon ($100 value)
- Tuesday, Nov 16
- The Little Gym Winter Camp
- $25 Gift Certificate to Frog Pond Toys and Lily Pad Café
- Wednesday, Nov 17
- The Little Gym Annual Family membership
- $75 gift certificate towards classes or personal training at Flourish Pilates in West Linn
- Thursday, Nov 18
- Set of children’s books from Goodnight Room ($36 value)
- A pair of Men’s Dockers Shoes. You choose the size and style! ($50+ value)
- Friday, Nov 19
- $30 gift certificate for Pampered Chef from consultant, Angelika Heidelberger
- Saturday, Nov 20
- Grand Prize – free Fall 2011 semester of classes (~$333 value)
Friday, November 5, 2010
It's happening... is my daughter a "tween"?
It's interesting being a parent and seeing your children grow up. My 9 year old daughter said to me yesterday, "I don't think I need [quiet time] with you or Mom anymore. I like to go to sleep right away and when you stay in my room, you talk to me when I'm trying to sleep. Maybe you can just kiss me good-night and not stay."
We've had various bedtime rituals that have changed over the years. I had one favorite rock CD -- Cool for August -- that I would dance around to while holding Freya when she was an infant and not quite ready for bed. We had a dozen or so songs that my wife or I would sing to Freya and her brother while rocking them to sleep. (It was cool watching The Sound of Music and having they see Eidelweiss sung in the movie.) We included books as she got older, and now, with "quiet time", we hang out with her in bed for a little bit before leaving. I like "quiet time" because that was when she would talk to us about what was really going on at school -- things she liked and things she needed advice with.
She's growing up... she saved up and bought herself an iPod touch. She has her own email address and texts our babysitters and one friend. Is she a "tween?" I don't know... I do like being able to shorten the bedtime ritual, but I'm sure I'm going to miss our "quiet time." Luckily her younger brother still likes to snuggle before bed.
So enjoy your evening rituals while you have them!!!
We've had various bedtime rituals that have changed over the years. I had one favorite rock CD -- Cool for August -- that I would dance around to while holding Freya when she was an infant and not quite ready for bed. We had a dozen or so songs that my wife or I would sing to Freya and her brother while rocking them to sleep. (It was cool watching The Sound of Music and having they see Eidelweiss sung in the movie.) We included books as she got older, and now, with "quiet time", we hang out with her in bed for a little bit before leaving. I like "quiet time" because that was when she would talk to us about what was really going on at school -- things she liked and things she needed advice with.
She's growing up... she saved up and bought herself an iPod touch. She has her own email address and texts our babysitters and one friend. Is she a "tween?" I don't know... I do like being able to shorten the bedtime ritual, but I'm sure I'm going to miss our "quiet time." Luckily her younger brother still likes to snuggle before bed.
So enjoy your evening rituals while you have them!!!
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
The Little Gym philosophy in action
The Little Gym philosophy is to allow children to participate in an activity or try a skill when they're ready. Just last night we had a breakthrough with one child that I thought I'd write about. But first a little bit about our philosophy...
We start when they're in our parent/child classes. Several times each semester, we talk about how parents should look at a child's face when they're doing skills with them. If a child is showing that they're fearful, we recommend backing off and giving them praise for what they did allow you to do with them. We don't recommend forcing them through the skill just to have them do it.
In our Preschool/Kindergarten age classes, we let children know that if they don't want to try an activity, they can just sit by the "watching wall" and watch. Eventually children will learn the procedure and often they'll go directly to the watching wall and tell us, "Teacher Ron, I'm just going to watch today." Usually when we get into small groups for the station portion of class, they'll join in. The group activities at the beginning of the class can be the most intimidating and it can take weeks or months until they're ready to join in.
If children don't want to go into class by themselves, we allow parents to sit by the watching wall to provide support. We ask parents to be as silent as possible and allow the teachers to interact with their children and invite them to join in "when they're ready," or "when they change their mind." When parents whisper in their ear, "Doesn't that look like fun?" or encourage them to participate in the activity, it ususally backfires. Children join in when they're comfortable. And the best way to make a child comfortable is to allow them to watch the activity for a while, and join in when they're ready. And it could be the next week, or in several weeks.
For our grade school classes, we will see some children who don't like to do specific skills. Some children are terrified of doing somersaults. Some are afraid of doing a forward or backward rotation on the bars. And some are scared of the high beam. For these children, our goal is to break down the skill into simpler variations that they would be comfortable doing, such as doing just the beginning of the skill, or doing it with a very "heavy spot" or possibly with two instructors spotting.
We have one such child in one of our evening grade school classes. The almost-seven-year-old is a bit frightened of the bars and has refused to do backward rotations (pull-overs) or forward rotations (tummy rolls) on the bars. Her dad had expressed concern, thinking that his daughter might even be slowing up the class. We talked about giving her daughter the room to try these skills when she was ready, making sure that she didn't feel pressure from her parents to do the skills even though she didn't want to. Last night she decided the she was ready. She did a tummy roll on the low bar with the help of two instructors. After doing it, she said that it wasn't so bad. She, the instructors, and her dad, all felt a surge of pride. This is what we aim for in every class every week.
This morning when I came in to work, Teacher Angela was excited to tell me about this breakthrough, and I'm excited to share it with you too!
-Ron
We start when they're in our parent/child classes. Several times each semester, we talk about how parents should look at a child's face when they're doing skills with them. If a child is showing that they're fearful, we recommend backing off and giving them praise for what they did allow you to do with them. We don't recommend forcing them through the skill just to have them do it.
In our Preschool/Kindergarten age classes, we let children know that if they don't want to try an activity, they can just sit by the "watching wall" and watch. Eventually children will learn the procedure and often they'll go directly to the watching wall and tell us, "Teacher Ron, I'm just going to watch today." Usually when we get into small groups for the station portion of class, they'll join in. The group activities at the beginning of the class can be the most intimidating and it can take weeks or months until they're ready to join in.
If children don't want to go into class by themselves, we allow parents to sit by the watching wall to provide support. We ask parents to be as silent as possible and allow the teachers to interact with their children and invite them to join in "when they're ready," or "when they change their mind." When parents whisper in their ear, "Doesn't that look like fun?" or encourage them to participate in the activity, it ususally backfires. Children join in when they're comfortable. And the best way to make a child comfortable is to allow them to watch the activity for a while, and join in when they're ready. And it could be the next week, or in several weeks.
For our grade school classes, we will see some children who don't like to do specific skills. Some children are terrified of doing somersaults. Some are afraid of doing a forward or backward rotation on the bars. And some are scared of the high beam. For these children, our goal is to break down the skill into simpler variations that they would be comfortable doing, such as doing just the beginning of the skill, or doing it with a very "heavy spot" or possibly with two instructors spotting.
We have one such child in one of our evening grade school classes. The almost-seven-year-old is a bit frightened of the bars and has refused to do backward rotations (pull-overs) or forward rotations (tummy rolls) on the bars. Her dad had expressed concern, thinking that his daughter might even be slowing up the class. We talked about giving her daughter the room to try these skills when she was ready, making sure that she didn't feel pressure from her parents to do the skills even though she didn't want to. Last night she decided the she was ready. She did a tummy roll on the low bar with the help of two instructors. After doing it, she said that it wasn't so bad. She, the instructors, and her dad, all felt a surge of pride. This is what we aim for in every class every week.
This morning when I came in to work, Teacher Angela was excited to tell me about this breakthrough, and I'm excited to share it with you too!
-Ron
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