Sports Day at Sporty's Joe

Angeline decided to try something new for Sports Day this year. Instead of the regular routine of getting young children to experience different outdoor stations, Angeline brought this bunch of toddlers to Sporty's Joe at Turf City. Well, it was definitely worth the price that Angeline was quoted by Joe, who was one of the gym instructors. Oh ya, any smart ass would also have guess correctly that Sporty's Joe is owned by JOE himself. Therefore, no prizes for those got it right. However, if you got it wrong, Angeline is wondering why?

Upon arrival, the children were asked to start with the warming-up exercise. They were quickly joined by other children from the same age group. Nonetheless, they were not shy and were keen to participate in the exercises with their new found friends. All the children were seated in a circle before Joe began to direct them to do their shaking, bending and jumping.

Joe was leading the children in their warm-up exercises.

S-t-r-e-t-c-h

Alvin was trying to touch his toes.

Nikkie and Kylene were trying to stretch their hands.

Jump! Jump! Jump!

After warming up, the children were guided through the obstacle course where different shapes and sizes of soft foams were wating for them. At this station, they got the opportunity to climb, jump, crawl, roll and flip. Some of them got tired and decided to use the soft foam as a chair for them to take a rest. They were indeed belong to the new generation.

Kylene was trying to jump over the hoops.

Alvin was trying to do a somersault, of course Joe was there to help.

Alvin and Nikki were trying to overcome the soft foam in the shape of the waves.

Rui Kang and Royce were trying to crawl through the tiny tunnels.

Here was Caden stealing a rest!

Royce was unaware that Alvin was trying to crawl through the tunnel.

Nikki was trying to crawl down the slope.

Kylene did her best to over the waves!

Rui Kang gave up crawling through the tunnel.

After 15 minutes of the obstacle course, Joe challenged the children to the swing bar, where they have to grap hold of the bar and swing to and fro. It was indeed a tough test of their arm strength and co-ordination to latch on the bars. Well, nothing is really too tough for this bunch of energetic toddlers!

Royce was trying to latch on the swing bar.

Kylene managed to latch on at her first attempt! Way to go, girl!

Caden tried to latch on with Joe's help.

Alvin enjoyed the swing bar immensely.

What's next? All the children were still full of excitment when Joe announced that balancing beam was the next station. There were 2 balancing beam at the station. One is just for the children to practice walking to get a feel of it, thus it is rather low. The next one is almost reaching Angeline's waist, so it should be at least 1 metre off the ground. But the children were not intimidated by the height and they were rather keen to jump off when they reach the end. Bravo!

Royce's first attempt at the lower balancing beam.

The twins took a quick and steady walk on the balancing beam.

Royce's first attempt at the higher balancing beam.

Kylene was slow but steady at the balancing beam.

Now that the children have all warmed up with Joe and their new friends, they were ready for MORE actions at the trampoline, where they can jump and jump and JUMP! Joe was even complimenting that these children could jump as well as the Kangaroos from Australia. WOW! Imagine that?

Kylene was first to start!

Alvin tried to jump on it with Joe's help.

Kylene loved it so much that she wanted to try again and this time she tried it together with Royce.

Caden looked happier jumping at the other trampoline with the girls.

Nikki in action!

That was a lot of hard work from everyone. Angeline got tired just looking at all the bouncy pouncy troucy Kangaroos jumping up and down and the trampoline. It suited Angeline perfectly when Joe annouced that it was time for the next station, the swing hoops, where children have to grap hold to the 2 hoops and use their arm strength to swing to and fro. Although this station was similar to the swing bar, Angeline thought it was more challenging, as it wasn't as easy as it seem to grap hold of the 2 hoops at one attempt for the young children. All the best!

Royce did it at his first attempt.

Kylene needed some help from Joe.

Alvin was in love with the swing hoops, he just love to swing to and fro.

Caden tried and didn't make it. He must be still trying to recover from his flu bug.

Finally, the children were gathered on the soft carpet for cooling down exercises. Honestly, Angeline thought they were more excited than before when they saw the parachute that Joe brought with him. What's more exciting for them when they could go on top and beneath the BIG and COLOURFUL parachute?

Everyone was shaking the parachute with great force.

Now, LIFT the parachute up!

Everyone, go on the parachute!!

And under the parachute!!

Last but not least, the gym session ended with a song entitled "Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes". This was the children's favourite song in school when they did body parts as January's theme. They were so familiar with the song and had no problem catching up with Joe at all. Well done!

"Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes"

Alvin tried to touch his toes.

Rui Kang tried to follow the actions in his own way.

After all the hard work, Joe rewarded everyone with a sticker!

Angeline was very glad that she has brought the children to Sporty's Joe. Not only it was fun and exhilarating, it also helped to promote children's gross motor skills spontaneously. Angeline made a wise choice. Indeed, indeed.