WONDERKIDZ BY DANZ PEOPLE
#02-18 Pomo, tel: 6884-9072. Open Mon to Fri, 11.30am-9.30pm; Sat, 11.30am-6.30pm; Sun, noon to 6pm. www.danzpeople.com
FOR KIDS... Aged six to nine
WHAT Think glee club – where kids practise group song-and-dance routines to pop hits
by the likes of Demi Lovato and One Direction. This one-and-a-half-hour class has two instructors taking turns to conduct vocal training and dance choreography – simple jazz and hiphop moves – each week.
Kids learn how to sing scales, correct their pitch and harmonise with their group; some will be given solos. By the last few classes, they’ll have completed the routines for two songs. It’s a great way to help your kids gain confidence to speak up, and learn to work well with others.
HOW MUCH $350 for a 10-week term
CHEER KIDS BY JWT KIDS GYM SINGAPORE
#02-12 UE Square, tel: 6333-8511. Open daily, 9am-6pm. www.jwtkidssingapore.com
FOR KIDS... Aged six to eight
WHAT There’s more to cheerleading than waving pom-poms. From understanding how to place their weight correctly in a pyramid formation to creating their own cheers, it’s fun all around for young children – the instructors will also coach them in simple choreography. Aside from improving fine-motor skills like balance and coordination, cheerleading also helps build trust and teamwork.
The workshop – which lasts two to three half-days, depending on demand – is held during the school holidays in March, June, September and December.
HOW MUCH $55 for every two hours
KIDS PARKOUR TRAINING BY A2 MOVEMENTS
Classes are held at 80 Stamford Road (Singapore Management University SIS Big Steps), tel: 9184-9744. Sun, 5-6.30pm. www.a2movements.com
FOR KIDS... Aged five to 13
WHAT A cool but little-explored activity for kids, parkour is about navigating your surroundings with your body – by rolling, jumping, landing, climbing, running, vaulting
and balancing. Kids learn how to control their movements and be more agile in these weekly classes.
To ensure that they don’t hurt themselves, instructors first teach proper techniques to break a fall and land correctly. Don’t worry, as there are no stunts involving leaping over tall
obstacles. Kids start with very low heights, under strict supervision from the instructor, and progress only when they’re physically conditioned enough. Parents are free to sit by the
side and watch.
HOW MUCH $25 for a drop-in session; $200 for a 10-class membership (valid for three months)
CHILDREN’S PROGRAMME (LITTLE SAMURAI) BY EVOLVE MMA
#03-11 Pomo, tel: 6337-0082. Open Mon to Fri, 6.30am-10.30pm; Sat & Sun, 9am-7pm.
www.evolve-mma.com
FOR KIDS... From four to 15 years old
WHAT A martial arts class for three age groups: four to seven, eight to 10, and 11-15 years. The
instructors make the class fun for the youngest group by using animal moves like the crab-walk
and frog jumps, while teaching them the basics – when teaching Brazilian Jiujitsu techniques like
grappling, for example, kids lie on top of each other and try to hold down the “crocodile”.
For the four-to-seven age group, it’s about encouraging them to come out of their shell and participate in the class, but kids eight to 10, who can understand the techniques better, will be taught more challenging moves.
There are strict safety rules – no kicking, punching or throwing. The kids are taught, right from the first class, how to fall without injuring themselves. Drills are practised on safety mats and parents are welcome to sit in and watch. There is no sparring, but kids will pair up to practise the drills they’ve learnt.
HOW MUCH $249 a month for unlimited access to any Evolve-MMA kids’ classes
This article was originally published in Simply Her March 2014.