Welcome to Salto Gymnastics Club!  We are pleased that you have chosen our gymnastics program for your child.

At Salto Gymnastics, we feel we have one of the finest Tiny Tot Gymnastics programs in the Midwest. All of our staff is highly qualified and has had years of training and experience teaching children gymnastics. We know that you and your child will thoroughly enjoy and benefit from our program.

The following information will help you understand the structure and format of our gymnastics program. Please take the time to read it carefully and discuss any of the information with your child.

If you have any questions, comments, or suggestions, feel free to discuss them with any of the staff members. Good parent-teacher communications is vital to the success and continued growth of the program.

"We feel that each child should be given the opportunity to explore a variety of movement concepts in a save and positive learning environment.  We recognize that all children are individuals and learn in different ways, therefore, activities and lessons are individualized and personalized to give each child a chance to develop to his/her greatest potential."

Gymnastically Yours,
The Salto Tiny Tot Staff

PROGRAM PHILOSOPHY AND OBJECTIVES
"We feel that each child should be given the opportunity to explore a variety of movement concepts in a safe and positive learning environment. We recognize that all children are individuals and learn in different ways, therefore, activities and lessons are individualized and personalized to give each child a chance to develop to his/her greatest potential."

Several objectives have been identified which follow this philosophy:

1. To develop the child's self-concept and self-esteem
2. To instill physical activity as a daily need or life style
3. To equip the child with basic fundamental movement skills during their developmental stages.

PROGRAM CONTENT
The Fall and Spring Sessions are 16 weeks in length, while the Summer Session is 8 weeks in length.

Basic units of activity:

1. Gymnastics - The purpose is to develop total body awareness, strength, and coordination in addition to introducing basic gymnastics skills, safety falls, and equipment orientation.
2. Ball Handling - The purpose is to acquaint the children with properties of balls (size/weight relationships, trajectory), visual tracking, and hand/foot manipulation.
3. Perceptual-Motor - The purpose is to introduce skills which involve motion and perception (visual, tactile, auditory, kinesthesis).
4. Hand/Body awareness - The purpose is to develop kinesthetic awareness and fine motor coordination.
5. Rhythms - The purpose is to develop a sense of rhythm and timing and to acquaint the children with movement to music.

PROGRAM AGE GROUPS
Toddler: Walking to 24 months (with parent)
Munchkins: 2 to 3 years (with parent)
Kinderkiddies:  3 to 4 years (with parent)
Kinderkids 1:  4 to 5 years
Kinderkids 2:  5 to 6 years
Superkids: Superkids is in the Developmental Program.

PAYMENT PROCEDURE
The class fee balance should be paid before your child's class begins. Payments may be made at the office or by mail. If the full balance can't be paid by the beginning of class, please make special arrangements with the office. If the balance is not paid on time, a $10.00 late fee will be added to your balance EACH MONTH the balance is delinquent.

BRING A FRIEND
The children are invited to bring a special friend and parent to his/her last regularly scheduled class each term. This "play day" is special to the children because they can be a teacher to their peers.

MATERIALS SENT HOME
From time to time, we will send home information, notes, etc .... , with your child. Please keep this information for handy reference. Copies of all materials sent home will always be posted on the bulletin board.

INFORMATIVE ARTICLES
Whenever we come across articles in magazines or periodicals that we feel will be of interest to you, we will give each child a copy to take home. If you come across interesting reading material, please pass it on to us. This can be about any area of child development, from activities to nutritious snacks.

PARENT POINTERS

1. We encourage communication between teacher and parent. Feel free to contact your child's teacher before or after class, or during office hours. If necessary, you may contact them at home. We encourage you to share any and all ideas you might have for our program. Our program cannot grow unless there is open communication between teacher and parent.
2. "Kinderkids" Parents, we ask that you do not coach your child from the sidelines. This only serves to distract your child and disrupt the flow of the class.
3. Only registered class participants are allowed in the gym. Siblings and or friends must wait upstairs in the waiting area.
4. Exercise with your child at home, and encourage them to practice various activities presented in class at home. This can be a fun time for both you and your child.
5. Our program emphasizes exploration and freedom to create movements. We do not expect the children to perform the skills we present in class at a proficient level. Reinforce the children positively for any and all efforts. Our goal is to allow the children to feel comfortable with movement and acquire basic fundamental skills which can be refined in later school years. Encourage them to act upon their own ideas. Allow them to be creative. Remember:  We are not only building their bodies, we are also building their minds.

SUGGESTED APPAREL
GIRLS - 1 piece leotard, footless tights only
BOYS - Gym shorts and a T-shirt, also socks

INCLEMENT WEATHER POLICY
In case of snow, ice, or severe cold weather, we will notify WTMJ (620AM), WQBW (97.3FM), WISN (1130AM), Channel 12 TV, WKLH (96.5FM), and WHQG (102.9FM) to broadcast a closing bulletin. Cancelled classes will be made up. Salto, Inc will not be responsible for errors broadcast on radio or television.

MEDICAL FORMS
There is a medical form enclosed with this packet. Each child must have a medical form on file at the club. Please fill out the form and return in to the gym office the first day of classes.

FREE TIME POINTERS FOR PARENTS

1. Make sure there are sufficient mats around in case of falls.  Teach your child the proper way to get down from a high surface. Put them on their stomach and swing legs down towards the ground.
2. When walking on an elevated surface like a beam, hold your child's hand until he/she is ready to let go.  Then you should still remain close to make sure a fall does not occur.
3. Always "SPOT" your child near his/her center of gravity, usually the hip region.  Do not trust children this age to tell you what they are going to do or when they are going to do it.  Be prepared for unpredictable moves.  Remember that toddlers learn best by modeling (visual rather than verbal instruction) so be creative.  You are the primary model!
4. The Open Gym provided by Salto is for registered class participants in the TINY TOT PROGRAM.  Please do not bring siblings or friends.

OPEN WOUND POLICY
Any student with a pre-existing open wound must have the wound appropriately bandaged. A student with an uncovered open wound will NOT be allowed to participate. They may observe from the side. If the student wishes to participate, the wound must be appropriately cleaned and covered by the parent.

We have printer-friendly versions of the Registration and Participant Agreement forms for you to print out from the website and send in or bring to the office.  We do not take registration or payments online at this time.

Tiny Tot & Developmental Gymnastics Photo Gallery