Why is it important to come to Gymbaroo classes in each age group?
The Gymbaroo program is currently a 5yr program designed to follow the way that the brain grows and develops from birth through to reading and writing at school.
The program is designed sequentially from 6 weeks of age right through to starting school. I have heard parents say after one term that “I have done Gymbaroo” and not understanding that they have only completed a tiny part of the program. They have only stimulated the part of the brain that was active at that time.
The activities are specially worked out for each age group so that you can make sure that you maximise each 6mths of development for your child and understand the importance of that stage for learning. As you can see the next part of the brain activates about every 6 mths in the early years and then consolidates every 12mths through to starting school.
It is like building a house and if any part of the house has gaps then there can be problems at the next level of building.
Foundations of the house
IN UTERO AND BIRTH
- Medulla and Cord
Sub Floor
NON MOBILE BABIES
- Rolling and head control
- Cerebellum – 2 dimensional
Floor
MOBILE BABIES
- Commando crawling and creeping on hands and knees
- Pons and Midbrain – 3 dimensional
Framing
PENGUINS (12-18mths)
- Walking, body awareness and bilateral movements
- Early Cortex – upright
Roof
KOALAS (18mths-2yrs)
- Jumping, language, balance and increased independant movements
- Early Cortex – upright
Walls
WALLABIES (2-2.5yrs)
- Integration of the two brain hemispheres
- Cortex – critical for reading and writing
Doors and windows
KANGAROOS (2.5-3yrs)
- Completion of the integration, right and left awareness
- Cortex – able to cross the midline
Plumbing
POSSUMS (3-4yrs)
- Hopping, thinking and moving at the same time
- Neocortex – specialisation of each side of the brain (laterality)
Electricity
EMUS (4-5yrs)
- Skipping, follows sequential instructions, cross pattern marching
- Neocortex – school readiness program
Finishing off
SCHOOL
- Reading, writing, music, sport, language, art, emotional intelligence and more
- Neocortex