Kidigym is educational fun gymnastics, which will enhance your child's physical and mental development by improving flexibility, strength, co-ordination and spatial orientation. Kidigym was originally compiled by the South African Gymnastics Federation, and further enhanced by the Natal Gymnastics Union and the various continuous renewed lesson plans from Kidigym Instructors; inspired by ongoing workshops and research.  The programme used has been intensely researched by sports leaders of our country in conjunction with Australian authorities (Leaders in this field).

Our mission
To be the best service provider in the field of physical education of children, aged 2 to 9 years.

Our vision
To give your child the advantages of a physical and mental head start in life.

Goals

• At Kidigym it is our aim to present exercise in a fun way and to encourage the child to develop an interest in continuous training.
• Children are encourage to progress at their own individual pace.
• Children are taught the basic principles of gymnastic movements.
• Encourage children to develop in a safe environment under the watchful eye of a qualified instructor.
• Stay abreast of the latest development in physical training and movement.
• Kidigym coaches to be continually trained and to be leaders in the field.

Activities

• Kidigym covers a wide variety of activities to introduce youngsters aged between two and nine years to fun gymnastics. This is the most important development period of each child.
• The activities include exercises on gymnastic apparatus like trampolines, beams, bars and fat mats.
• Exercise games are also played to develop flexibility, strength, co-ordination and spatial orientation.
• Kidigym develops and stimulates the following sensomotor abilities as well as perceptual abilities:

Body images
The child learns to identify his/her body parts. Then he/she learns to place his/her body in his/her environment.

Bilateral Integration
The ability to distinguish between and use the two sides of the body together in a well co-ordinated manner.

Gross Motor Skills
The development and control of large muscle groups of the body. This includes the ability to walk rhythmically, to run, to jump and to skip  In general the muscle tone of the whole body will improve.

Balance
Balance is the child's ability to sustain control of his/her body in various positions. The ability to balance is essential to all basic loco motor tasks. If a child has good balance; his/her body can act in an integrated manner, freeing his/her mind to concentrate on more intricate manoeuvres.

Spatial Orientation
The ability to see the relationship between objects and also between oneself and an object. This has an influence on sport participation and achievement. This is the base of mathematics in school.

General Motor Imitation
The ability to watch a demonstration of a body movement and copy that movement. This improves sequential memory.

Eye-hand co-ordination and hand function
Planned activities with balls, hoops, bean bags, ropes and ribbons are used to develop co-ordination between eyes and hands. It also strengthens various hand grasps.

Emotional and Social Advantages
Children have fun! They learn to be proud of the physical achievements of their own bodies. They experience a feeling of success and develop a positive self-image. They learn to work with others in groups and they are taught to wait their turn. We will never criticise negatively, but always encourage them positively.

Coaches

• Kidigym is registered as Club Kidigym at the Natal Gymnastic Union.
• All Kidigym coaches are registered and trained by the Natal Gymnastic Union and the South African Gymnastic Federation.
• All coaches are obliged to have basic first aid training and CPR qualifications.

Classes

• The duration of each class is 45 minutes and includes a warm up game/activity, strength and agility exercises and the coaching of skills on different gymnastic apparatus.
• Classes are run at most pre-schools and schools (Grade R, Grade 2 and 3).
• Classes are run in accordance with the school terms (on average 9/10 classes per term).
• Not only are we involved in almost every pre-school in Richards Bay; but Kidigym is run as part of the school curriculum in some of the primary schools such as Arboretum Primary, Richards Bay Primary (Grade 0) and the Richards Bay Christian School.
• Club Kidigym has also developed a fitness programme called Kidifit; which is presented in some schools in replacement of the physical training classes.
• Kidigym also runs yearly kidirobics marathons as fundraising projects in some schools.

Evaluations

• Kidigym gymnasts are continually evaluated and receive a progress report as well as a prestige gymnastic award every year.

Competition

• Kidigym competition/parent day is held in the fourth term to demonstrate to the parents, the skills acquired by the children during the year.
• A prize giving is held at the event and gymnasts receive medals for participation.
• Medals, trophies and certificates are also awarded in several categories.