Kindergym

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Report by Jenny Stothard. click Vince & Jenny Stothard for more about Jenny.

Kindergym was set up in 1989 by Caroline Williams.

The business was subsequently bought by Jenny Stothard, who, being a resident of Lacey Green brought preschool classes to Lacey Green, running on a Friday, in the Village Hall in 2004.

At first classes were just gym classes for 1 year to 4 years, and then Kindergym took over Jingle Tots which was a music class for babies to 4 years running in the meeting room. This was rebranded as 'Melody Minors'.

Gym classes were expanded to include Reception and Year one. Themed drama and craft classes were then introduced, under the title of 'Imaginaton Station', and workshops were held in the school holidays for mixed age groups celebrating all the special times of the year. Pancake day was a particularly well-celebrated event! These were attended by many local children from Lacey Green, Loosley Row, Speen as well as many from Princes Risborough, and as far afield as Gerrards Cross.

Hallmark 2015. Kinder Gym report by Jenny Stothard. (click Vince & Jenny Stothard)

At Kindergym and Melody Minors we are all looking forward to our Summer holidays, even though several of the staff are working during our holiday workshops or The Gruffalo days on July 30th or August 30th for 3-7yr olds.

However we are always sad to say goodbye to some of the children. We meet them when they are as young as 6 months and they leave us at 4yrs old when the go to school, or at 7yrs old if they attend the 3.30pm after school class. It is a privilege to have been part of their learning experience.

| thought you would like to hear a little of Daniel's story:

Daniel started at Kinder Gym with his friend Oscar in the 1 - 2yr class, and whilst he always enjoyed Kinder Gym he was a bit worried about new people, situations and challenges.

When they were first left on their own with us, they were both very wary. It is a challenge to be without Mum for the first time, let alone making your own decisions!

We believe it is important that children voice their concerns, so whenever Daniel looked worried we asked him which bits of the course he wished to miss out. Within a few weeks, like his friend Oscar he was bravely tackling most pieces of the equipment. However the 6 foot yellow trestles were a step too far and he chose not to try them for at least a term.

One week we decided to turn the yellow trestles and planks into a pirate ship, and everyone became fierce pirates, Daniel included. He never looked back, and this last year we have seen them both grow in confidence, being the first to rush onto the new obstacle courses and enjoying laughing and playing with the other children, and showing the more hesitant children how to do forward and backward rolls.

On his last day Daniel drew us this picture of himself and his friend Oscar, and gave it to us as a thank you card. You can clearly see the yellow trestles and the blue squishy mat that is usually filled with imaginary sharks and/or crocodiles.

Daniel is swinging from the trapeze and Oscar is at the top (I am pleased to say he is holding on) his favourite grab ball, and target board are at the bottom. Of course we will miss them both, but how lovely to know we have played a part in getting them so ready and raring to go to school!

We wish all our leavers a productive and happy school life, and hope they remember us just a little!

Unfortunately Kindergym had to leave Lacey Green in 2015 because it was no longer viable to run classes here.