While it can be hard to see the bright side during these changing times, there are still plenty of things to be grateful for. Warm weather, the health of ourselves and our family — the list goes on.
Most recently, we’ve been grateful for the opportunity to bring health and happiness to your home, thanks to our virtual learning classes!
We started offering online dance, gymnastics, and NinjaZone classes when we closed our gym and dance studios at the beginning of the pandemic. They’ve been such a hit that we’ve decided to continue to offer virtual classes through the summer!
Not only that, but we’ve revamped our offerings to more closely emulate the structure of in-person gym classes. Every week, your little athlete can attend a live virtual class that’s appropriate for their age and skill level, for four weeks at a time.
While our gym will be opening for live classes soon, our virtual classes will keep going strong. Not only does virtual learning help keep your family and others safe and healthy, but it provides a way to stay active even on days when your kids are cooped up and need to release some energy.
After all, when it comes to having a healthy and happy family, the mental and physical benefits of exercise are necessities!
So while it feels odd to be logging in to your child’s gymnastics class, remember you’re doing it for a good cause.
The Physical Benefits of Virtual Learning
Exercise is crucial for the physical health of all of us, your children included.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, only 24% of children ages 6 to 17 meet the recommended 60 minutes of physical activity per day.
The current circumstances create a higher risk for our children to have stagnant lifestyles: No recess, no P.E. classes, and less neighborhood adventures with friends.
That’s where virtual learning comes in handy. Your kids can enjoy a fun, engaging course lead by our professional and experienced instructors. They’ll get active, be entertained, and learn new physical skills.
It may even give you some time to rest and rejuvenate, too!
The Mental Benefits of Virtual Learning
Your brain is a muscle. It gets stronger with physical exercise, just like the rest of your muscles!
Regular exercise can increase the rate of your child’s brain growth, which improves their capability to learn and grow. And their overall mental health can also be improved with exercise, too.
Studies have shown that children in physical health classes reported having deeper social connections and happier mindsets. Physical movement produces a boost in dopamine levels, which helps fuel your child’s ability to stay engaged and learn new things.
It also increases endorphins, adrenaline, and endocannabinoid. The mixture of these chemicals sets your child up for success with a boost in confidence and a decrease in anxiety and depression.
Virtual Learning is Adaptive Learning
Parents of infants and toddlers are encouraged to let children learn and develop at their own pace. They’re learning a vast variety of skills in their first 12 months, and the pace and order of skill development varies a bit for each child.
Our on-demand classes put more power in your child’s hands, no matter the age. If you notice your child falling behind or struggling during a lesson, you can pause and work on the skill before moving on.
If they’re feeling unwell or overwhelmed, you can continue the class when they’re ready without missing out on any important pieces. This allows your child to learn at their own pace, and ensures that they get the full benefits of every class.
You’re Contributing to Public Health
While the stay-at-home and safer-at-home orders can be a challenge, it can help to know you’re doing your part to contribute to the community’s health and safety.
According to the American Medical Association, “Physical distancing is the only effective mechanism to slow the exponential spread of the virus and decrease the anticipated spike in COVID-19 cases across all states.”
By choosing virtual learning for your children, you’re not only helping keep them healthy, but you’re making sure the rest of your community also stays safe and healthy, too.
How Our Virtual Classes Work
We’ve changed up our virtual learning program a bit since our first offering earlier this year. Every week your little athlete can attend live Zoom classes with our talented instructors as well as on-demand virtual classes on your watch.
You and your children have the choice between NinjaZone, gymnastics, dance classes or a mixture of them all. Classes are divided by age range and skill level, just like at our gym and dance studio.
We’ve been hard at work determining the most convenient, straight-forward method for building an online curriculum, and we’re excited to share it with you.
You can have the whole family signed up for classes in just 3 easy steps:
- Choose a NinjaZone, dance, or gymnastics class that meets your children’s age and experience level.
- Along with their weekly live class, your child gets unlimited access to all our on-demand Mountain Kids gymnastics, dance, and NinjaZone videos!
- Once you’ve registered, just log in to your Parent Portal, scroll down to the selected class, and click on the Zoom link to get started!
This summer break is bound to be a little different than last year, especially for your kids. But we’re here to help your family still find ways to have fun, learn, and connect. And while they’re enjoying class, maybe try and catch a breather for yourself!