Silver Stars CLASS For Toddlers-- Any Good?

[Anonymous]

Thinking of enrolling my 19 mo (who goes to the open gym) for the November session of littlest kids (18 mo-3 yos), but she's so little and it's spendy ($22/class for 45 minutes?)

Is it worthwhile? I'm reading mixed reviews, like there's not really much instruction or individual encouragement/attention, and then others that say it's fantastic. Thoughts?

[Anonymous]

I would not say that there is individual instruction, but the kids do have a lot of fun. They take the littlest kids through a bit of a toddler obstacle course in the small gym and they also do some stretching I think. There is plenty of supervision, and parents can watch much more easily than when kids are in the big gym.

[Anonymous]

It depends on the child. I liked the staff but our experience was they have one large class and if there are a lot of kids, they add more instructors but you still have long waits for each child to take their turn. My child really struggled to take their turn (you only got a few turns during the session where as Dynamite was much more active) and their answer was to hold my child till it was his turn. I tried it their way and he pitched a fit (then tried other ways...). We ended up leaving. They also don't let the younger kids on the bigger equipment. They should let you do a trial class. If it is closest to your house, it is worth trying. They were very nice and understanding when we left.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It depends on the child. I liked the staff but our experience was they have one large class and if there are a lot of kids, they add more instructors but you still have long waits for each child to take their turn. My child really struggled to take their turn (you only got a few turns during the session where as Dynamite was much more active) and their answer was to hold my child till it was his turn. I tried it their way and he pitched a fit (then tried other ways...). We ended up leaving. They also don't let the younger kids on the bigger equipment. They should let you do a trial class. If it is closest to your house, it is worth trying. They were very nice and understanding when we left.

OP here. PP, if you see this-- when (time and day of week) was your class? I noticed they have about a billion class times for this age group and so expected that the classes would actually be really small. Although if you went on Saturday at noon, I could see a big class? I WAH, so we'd do a mid-week, mid-day thing.

I was definitely going to do a trial class, for sure!

[Anonymous]

Gymboree also does a free trial class, and we enjoyed ours when DS had just turned 2.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Gymboree also does a free trial class, and we enjoyed ours when DS had just turned 2.

OP again. We had ours a few months ago and I wasn't impressed. I think it's a bit apples & oranges anyway, no? Maybe not at this age, but "real gymnastics gym" vs. play/music place...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It depends on the child. I liked the staff but our experience was they have one large class and if there are a lot of kids, they add more instructors but you still have long waits for each child to take their turn. My child really struggled to take their turn (you only got a few turns during the session where as Dynamite was much more active) and their answer was to hold my child till it was his turn. I tried it their way and he pitched a fit (then tried other ways...). We ended up leaving. They also don't let the younger kids on the bigger equipment. They should let you do a trial class. If it is closest to your house, it is worth trying. They were very nice and understanding when we left.

OP here. PP, if you see this-- when (time and day of week) was your class? I noticed they have about a billion class times for this age group and so expected that the classes would actually be really small. Although if you went on Saturday at noon, I could see a big class? I WAH, so we'd do a mid-week, mid-day thing.

I was definitely going to do a trial class, for sure!

Middle of the day, during the week. I would try a class and also try one at Dynamite (their classes are very specific to the instructor, some great, some not). I preferred a real gymnastics center too. The toddler ones were boring.

[Anonymous]

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

My Gym is more fun for toddlers, I recommend MyGym.

[Anonymous]

"....I preferred a real gymnastics center too. "

Odd statement since Silver Stars offers competitive gymnastics programs in both USA Gymnastics (level 6-9) and the Mason Dixon regional league (level A-D). Then again, so does Dynamite and others in the area.

Time of day make a huge difference at Silver Stars as Saturday morning is always a little cray-cray with all the kids and different ages.

[Anonymous]

OP thanks for posting this. I had questions about silver stars as well. I am thinking of putting my toddler in for a weekday class. I am dropping by this week to check out a class. I'll post my experience here.

[Anonymous]

We go to Power Tots at the Jewish COmmuntiy Center in DC. my kid is 22 months old. Its bascially a squash court filled with mats and soft climbing stuff. The kids can run around and jump on anything or take turns with the instructor doing something. its a half hour which is about right for that age I think. We are on our third session (6 week sessions) and my kid LOVES It.