And how do we make sure that the workouts in The Little Gym Hall go through the notes

When someone asks us "What is The Little Gym", we most often start by saying that it is a sports and educational program for children from 4 months to 12 years. However, the truth is that The Little Gym is much, much more! And one of the reasons for this is the constant presence of music in our classes - from the popping hands for the little ones, to the rhythmic tunes that help the girls and boys in the upper classes concentrate and perform every movement perfectly. 

Music occupies a very important place in training and this is far from just because of our desire to create a good mood in the gym. Our coaches use the rhythm of the songs to help the kids concentrate and do their best. We trust the power of tunes because we know that they play a role in every aspect of childhood development and build skills that help children be more successful in school, especially with regard to language learning and reading.

How is that? Generally speaking, music helps the mind and body to "work" together. In the earliest years of a child's life, music helps him learn the sound and meaning of words. In our case, since all the songs in The Little Gym program are in English, the children get used to the melody and "absorb" the vocabulary in Shakespeare's language, which is an added bonus! The music, which is played in the hall, was created especially for the program of The Little Gym and is adapted to the age of the children in the respective group, as well as to the topics of the classes, which are divided into different modules during the school year. Dancing, on the other hand, enables the youngest to develop motor skills, expressing themselves in the most fun and artistic way possible.

And if you are still not quite convinced of the power and meaning of music, here are some more reasons to change your mind.

Music enhances children's social skills. "Listening to music and dancing with other people somehow makes you feel connected to them. Even at a young age, babies interact with each other in such a way that they "respond" to the sounds they hear, jumping, rocking and clapping their hands, "says music expert Dr. Ibrahim Balatti, a lecturer at Lebanese International University . "There are various mechanisms through which music influences children's ability to communicate, affecting the brain connections responsible for empathy, trust and collaboration."

Music develops the imagination. The sounds and melodies that babies learn to make before they speak, help them build neural connections that help their hearing and speaking abilities. Do you know, for example, that if you talk to your baby and respond to his or her babbling, he or she will probably have a richer vocabulary in the first years of your life? The facial expressions used by the little ones to reproduce the tunes they hear help them understand and adapt to the world around them.

Music makes children happy. Well yes! In fact, this statement applies to us, the elderly, but it applies with full force to children. Music and dancing are great ways to lift your spirits and drive out bad thoughts and even physical discomfort. They also allow the little ones to discover the magic of laughter and to experience good emotions such as joy, satisfaction and attachment.

If you have not yet had the chance to feel the rhythm of the workouts at The Little Gym, we invite you to come to a test lesson with us to sing, have fun and learn a lot of new and interesting things together, under the sounds of music, of course!

Sources used:

1. How music affects your baby's brain: Mini Parenting Master Class

2. Children and Music: Benefits of Music in Child Development

3. 5 Reasons Why Music is Important for Early Childhood Development