Tumbling tots

ROUGH and tumble play with other children is an essential part of any toddler's development. It helps develop balance, motor skills, confidence and, perhaps most of all, the ability to get on with others.

In today's over-protective age, when children are driven to school for fear of the dangers that may lurk on every street corner and parents are reluctant to let their children go out to play on their own, it can be difficult for youngsters to find a safe environment in which to indulge in a little boisterous play.

Step forward Tumble Tots. If you're looking for an utterly safe environment in which your toddler can begin to explore the limits of their own body's potential, this could be it.

Tumble Tots sessions aim to provide "fun, excitement and challenge in a safe and caring environment." With mum or dad there to hold their hand, youngsters learn to crawl, walk, jump, climb and roll - as well as taking part in sing-a-longs and other activities.

A Monday morning session at Abbey Leisure Centre in Selby is typical. It's 9.45, the turn of toddlers aged up to two. The floor of the leisure centre's main sports hall is covered with colourful climbing frames, crawl-ways, footbridges and ladders. They are arranged in a mini adventure course, around which mums are leading their tiny charges.

Toddlers are scrambling on hands and knees up a soft ramp, over a padded barrel, then doing a forward roll down a soft ramp the other side - looking up at mum for approval as they land on a padded mat.

Elsewhere, they're stepping carefully across a set of coloured stepping stones, clinging to mum's hand for balance; wriggling through a blue canvas tunnel with a little peephole set in one side; or negotiating their way along a low swinging bridge, clinging to a handrail for support.

All the equipment is soft, it's low and close to the ground - and mum is there to provide a helping hand when needed.

So in complete safety, and without any pressure, the youngsters are learning how to control their bodies.

Val White, who owns the York and Selby franchise of Tumble Tots and runs sessions every week in Selby, Acomb and at York's Barbican Centre, says it is all about helping children to build confidence and self-esteem.

Tumble Tots is great preparation for PE and gym at school, Val says - and because of the organised sing-a-longs, also helps prepare toddlers for listening and the kind of structured activity they will take part in at playschool.

Since some parents can be overprotective, part of what Tumble Tots is also about is providing a safe environment in which parents can learn to let their children go that little bit, and be a bit more adventurous - essential if they are to grow and develop properly.

"It increases mum's confidence to let their children do something," Val says. "Otherwise, quite often they will stop their child from doing it."

Gillian Robinson, from Monk Fryston, has brought two of her children to Tumble Tots. The oldest, Clare, who is now five, was a bit clumsy at first, she says.

"They learn balance and co-ordination skills, but also some sort of discipline and social skills," Gillian says. Clare in particular learned to climb safely and improved her co-ordination, she says. "She's more confident now, and her co-ordination is a lot better."

Clare has finished Tumble Tots now - but Gillian was so impressed that Clare's little sister Sarah, who's nearly two, is now a regular.

One of the most obvious things about Tumble Tots is how much fun everyone is having - and not just the youngsters themselves. Mums are loving it too.

"It's real quality time with the children," says Val. "It's great fun."

With their 45 minute session over, toddlers gather round one of the session leaders to collect their 'I did it' stickers - small, round, Tumble Tots stickers they get at the end of each session, which prove they have success-fully completed the adventure course. The stickers go on their T-shirts and watching the tots rush about showing their stickers to each-other and to their proud mums, it's obvious how much this little token of achievement means.

"There may be something they've been trying to do for weeks and weeks," says Val, "and now they've been able to do it, and they are so pleased."

Tumble Tots sessions are held for five age groups: babies; up to two years; two to three years; three to school age; and school age to seven. All classes, held at Abbey Leisure Centre, Selby, York Barbican Centre and the parish church hall and Methodist church hall in Acomb, are supervised by trained and qualified staff. There are a maximum of 24 children per session, who must all be accompanied by an adult. For more information call Val on 01757 630391.