Recently, as I watched a preschool class, I suddenly thought, “Wait…Should we be asking for permission to spot preschoolers?!” The coach I was watching was safe and positive, and the spot was perfectly done. The child didn’t seem to mind, but I couldn’t help but wonder…was that okay with them? I couldn't stop thinking about whether we should be doing something differently. So, for the next year, I went on a mission to figure out what supporting body autonomy in the gym looks and sounds like in a preschool gym setting. I talked with gym owners and directors, took notes at pediatrician visits (w ..read more

It can be tempting to push preschool gymnasts through a skill just to check it off the lesson plan. This, however, will not be beneficial in the long game of gymnastics. Without proper progressions and solid foundation skills, they may be able to complete a higher-level skill, but it won’t be pretty (or safe). If we want them to tumble out of a front tuck someday, we need to teach them perfect forward rolls in preschool. The better you plan progressions in preschool, the easier it will be for the gymnast to progress through your gym program (leading to better retention and higher enrollment nu ..read more

It can be tempting to push preschool gymnasts through a skill just to check it off the lesson plan. This, however, will not be beneficial in the long game of gymnastics. Without proper progressions and solid foundation skills, they may be able to complete a higher-level skill, but it won’t be pretty (or safe). If we want them to tumble out of a front tuck someday, we need to teach them perfect forward rolls in preschool. The better you plan progressions in preschool, the easier it will be for the gymnast to progress through your gym program (leading to better retention and higher enrollment nu ..read more

The holidays are a magical time to teach preschool! Here are some ideas for your Winter Wonderland end of year themes! We at HG hope you have a warm holiday season. Thank you for being part of our community! Happy Holidays from Happy Gymnastics! Get Winter Holiday Ideas ..read more

The rotation clock is ticking, the gym is busy and you don’t have much time to get all of your preschoolers going on their beam stations. One had to potty, another had to blow her nose, and another, well, she’s waving fanatically at her mom in the lobby- we’ve all been there!  It’s so tempting in that moment to dive right into showing preschoolers what to do on equipment, assuming that young children will watch you, then stay engaged in their work, and if they’re not, you will help them get refocused.  But, the problem with this approach is it opens you up to constantly reacting and ..read more

Welcome to Ages and Stages, where Happy Gymnastics’ founder, Sarah Fennell-Cooper,  shares insider tips about each age group in your preschool program. This mini series will help you lead your coaches in understanding what each age group can do in the gym. It can feel intimidating to create great lesson plans and connect with your students when you don't know about them and the stage they are in, and this series is here to help! Left or Right: Do Two Year Olds Have a Dominant Side in the Gym? Two year olds are ambidextrous. They are still experimenting and figuring out what side is going ..read more

Welcome to Tiny Training Tuesdays, where Happy Gymnastics’ founder, Sarah Fennell-Cooper,  shares insider tips and tricks to help you build a thriving (and wildly profitable) preschool gymnastics program.  In this episode, learn about the “New School” Preschool Mindset. In the past, preschool programs have been almost a stepping stone into the world of gymnastics, but not a lot of thought was given to the programs themselves.  Preschool Is It’s Own Program Preschool should be its own program not attached to rec at all. It shouldn't be thought of as a “rec light” or a “rec prepar ..read more

Preschool is a powerful, impactful, and vibrant program — when it contains the right ingredients.  Programs that grow the most focus on three big foundational pieces: a growth strategy and system, coach training, and ongoing support as they implement their system.  Some gyms have missing pieces. Others have everything they need but in the wrong order. Whether you’re starting from scratch or reevaluating where you’re at, putting three key pieces together in a specific way is the fastest way to level up.  Here are the three biggest mistakes preschool programs make and what to do i ..read more

It’s no secret that it’s a challenging time for preschool gymnastics. If you’re looking at your numbers, and quietly (or not so quietly) feeling anxious about preschool enrollment, you’re not alone.  Here’s the thing: we’re preschool people. We are tough. We know this is not a time to sit down, it’s a time to step into your power as a gym leader and keep. moving. forward.  Mo Regions, Mo Problems* The first step to increasing enrollment is knowing what objections are happening in your community. Knowledge is power, even if it’s tough to hear. When you know what your family's objectio ..read more

Often, when I ask a gym owner or preschool program director about their preschool program numbers, chances are they’ll say something like… “We have 500 rec kids or... There are 800 kids that come through the gym each week or... I’m not sure how many kids exactly, but we’re at 60% capacity in classes” All of these answers are positive (yay! The gym has kids!) but do not serve either of your programs when you’re looking to grow them (especially preschool.)  For many gyms, with so much going on, preschool is still sort of thought of as ‘rec but younger’ type of approach. Rec and prescho ..read more