Nate's "School"

Starting on Nov 7th, Nate started "school".  Well, that's what we call it anyway.  Living Social had a deal on joining My Gym which I couldn't pass up.  I had looked into My Gym before but didn't really want to pay all of the cost so the Living Social deal made it worth it.  We showed up for our first class however there was a miss communication.  It turns out that Nate and his friend Josiah were the only two to show up for class (even the teachers weren't there).  They decided since they were supposed to have class that they boys could come in and play, and play they did!  Nate has always been very hesitant and almost fearful when it come to heights or being out of control (Josiah is the opposite!)  Nate never wants to go up in play places, won't let you throw him in the air, freaks out when you try to put him upside down, etc.  Well we have been going to his school for three weeks and I can see a huge difference in this kid!  When they have class it is broken up into a song time, then play time, then skill time (work on gymnastics/balance etc), then play time, then a special game time, then a story time.  Nate loves every part of it!!  He talks about it for days afterwards and most mornings asks if it is a school day (hopefully this will be the case in three years when he has to really go to school!)  

 

The first time we went Nate just wanted to crawl through this ball...now he wants me to push him all around in it!  He also likes to hold my hand over the ball so I can roll him on top of it.

Nate was really hesitant to get in all these balls the first couple of times we were there...now he like it when they have a platform leading into the balls so he can run down it and jump in.

His all time favorite is the trampoline with the basketball hoop near by.  He is getting really good at catching the ball while jumping and then shooting the ball into the hoop.

Here is is trying to find Josiah...who has NO fear!  Nate couldn't believe Josiah would bury himself in the balls!

He wasn't too wild about all the ladders/slides to climb up during the first week.  Now it seems like he seeks them out to climb them.  A week before we went to his school I had taken him to the Elementary school playground where Nate would only go up the steps.  After a couple weeks of "school" I now have to play more attention to where Nate is at the playground because he is climbing up the hard rope ladders at the playground.

Josiah loved the rock climbing wall...Nate, not so much.  He still doesn't really care for it but I am working on him.

Coley even got to play in the balls.  She usually just gets to watch and cheer for everyone but since no one else was there they let her play.  She started clapping last week (Nov 21) and I think it's because we clap for Nate and his friends when they do their skills.