Turbo Tots Hit High Gear
Club 3- to 4-year-olds find friendship and fun in class

“I’M HERE!” The little boy in the green T-shirt screamed as loud as he could. But he wasn’t misbehaving. In fact, he was doing exactly what his teacher asked.

That’s because he’s part of the Bellevue Club’s Turbo Tots class. Every Thursday afternoon, Club parents bring their 3- and 4-year-olds to the gym for a structured time of play, friendship and skill development.

After the raucous roll call, today’s class features a packed agenda of stretching, silly walking, bunny hopping, hula-hooping and basketball playing. Taught by beloved Recreation Coordinator Amy Condie, known as “Miss Amy” to her students, all eyes are on the teacher as she outlines the plan for the hour-long class.

“It’s nice to have someone else’s energy at this time during the day,” says Laura Barnes, nanny for a particularly engaged junior member named William Crain. “You can tell they spend a lot of time planning.”

A former teacher with a bachelor’s in elementary education and a master’s in teaching, Laura has spent a lot of time studying early education. When asked, she definitely approves of the Club’s Turbo Tots curriculum.

“It’s great because Amy sets limits and boundaries, but there’s still a lot of empowerment for the kids in the class,” she says. “Plus, they work on all those large motor skills that are so important when the kids get to kindergarten.”

William is currently focused on practicing his basketball bounce pass with three other children and another Recreation instructor. Although there’s a few errant tosses among the class, all of the students eventually master some form of the skill.

“The social part of it is huge for him,” says Laura. “He talks a lot about his friends from class. When we’re at the Club on other days, he’ll point out kids from the class saying ‘that’s my friend from Turbo Tots.’ ”

At one point in the class, Will runs over and whispers to Laura: “I’m doing so good aren’t I.”

She smiles and affirms him.

At the end of class, the kids get stickers—which apparently are very important.

“The stickers are the biggest deal ever for them,” says Laura.

Young Guns Run Away with Title

No subs, no problem for the young squad of Danny Razore, J.R. Ashe, Tony Bacon and Scott Sulman (l-r) in the Club’s Fall Basketball League Finals as they breezed to a 72-49 victory.

SCHEDULES
Gymnasium Schedule (PDF)
Kids' Activities Newsletter (PDF)
Birthday Party Information (PDF)

For additional Fitness information, please visit the Classes & Events page.