There’s an abundance of options in Raleigh that offer classes for toddlers. So many, in fact, that it can be overwhelming to decide what classes to sign your tot up for! Over the years we’ve tried music, pottery, swimming, dance, gymnastics, cooking, art, healthy living, science, bike riding, horseback riding, outdoor nature classes, and even a princess class! But what about a generic physical education class? Enter Triangle Kidokinetics sports and fitness classes!

We attended our Kidokinetics class at the Joyner Park Community Center in Wake Forest, but it’s a national business and you can find classes all over the triangle. Coach John has been teaching Kidokinetcs classes for over a decade. He let the parents know that it was his goal to introduce the children to as many sports and fitness concepts as possible, so that when they enter kindergarten and attend P.E. class they can tell their teacher that they have done that movement before in Kidokinetics! Honestly the class is a great way to introduce your kid to lots of different sports so they can be well-rounded in fitness. From there they can decide if there’s something specific they really love and want to pursue further.

It was also a bonus that our class was held indoors during the winter months. When the weather is bad we are less likely to get outdoors and get exercise, but this class takes care of that!

Class Experience

Our class started with a warm-up to get the kids moving and listening to directions. We all spread out and sat on the floor to stretch in different ways. Then we played a follow the leader game where we flew like a bird, hopped like a bunny, and crawled like a bear.

After that, we split up and practiced throwing a ball and swinging a bat, using hula hoops, whiffle balls, traffic cones, and pool noodles. I thought it was kind of genius to use a pool noodle instead of a regular bat so no one can accidentally get hurt! Why hadn’t I thought of that before?!

The class ended with a fun game of “What time is it Mr. Fox?” which got the kids counting and running. It’s a Simon Says-styled chase/tag game in which players cautiously approach ‘Mr. Fox’ and try not to get caught when it’s time to run home.

The whole class lasted 45 minutes and the kids were moving the whole time. Our class was only for children age 5 and under so we had a wide range of ages and abilities that were accommodated. Some of the 2 year old’s didn’t fully participate since it was their first class, but that’s okay! Coach John said it might take a few classes for them to feel comfortable.

Parent Participation

The class is technically designed to be a mommy and me class, but a few of the parents didn’t participate the whole time and that was totally fine. I didn’t realize it was parent participation so I didn’t really dress appropriately, but I did participate in the beginning warm up. Heads up you may want to wear your workout clothes and tennis shoes to this class. It’s not a full workout or anything, but you’ll want to be able to move easily.

The only thing the parents really had to do during the class was hold the hoop for their child to throw a ball through. Some parents also acted as fielder and retrieved the balls after their child hit them with the pool noodle. I figured my kids always need more exercise so I let them handle that on their own, but I did assist with their batting form. Coach John floated around during this time to give tips and tricks to each student, which was very helpful as well.

Pandemic Policies

The class we attended was for kids under the age of 5, so face masks were not required for the children, just the parents and coach. We spent most of the class socially distanced and spaced out, and each child got their own equipment to minimize cross-contamination. During some of the games the kids would congregate together, so heads up if you’re not ready for that. Overall we felt safe and had a lot of fun!

Sign up for a class

Interested in signing up for a class? The town of Wake Forest is hosting Kidokinetics at the Joyner Park Community center this Winter. You can sign up on their RecDesk for a month at a time. Cost varies $40-$55 a month depending on if you are a town resident or not.

Is Wake Forest too far for you? Contact Triangle Kidokinetics directly to find a class near you!