The Little Gym Offers Children's Enrichment Programs that Deliver Olympic-Sized Grins

SCOTTSDALE, AZ--(Marketwired - August 02, 2016) - The Little Gym offers non-competitive gymnastics and enrichment programs that teach children between the ages of four months and 12 years that they don't have to be the best... they just have to try their best. The child development specialists at The Little Gym say this is an important concept for children to understand in this Olympic year.

"As the Games of the XXXI Olympiad get underway, adults and children alike will be spellbound by the grace and skill of the elite athletes who have gathered to compete in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil," says Ruk Adams, president and CEO of The Little Gym. "For these men and women, the ultimate reward for their hard work and dedication is an Olympic medal, which is an extraordinary achievement. At The Little Gym we measure success by improvement, enthusiasm, and most of all, fun! For our instructors, earning a giant grin from their students is like winning a gold medal."

While the Olympics shine a spotlight on physical feats, the child development specialists at The Little Gym are equally focused on the impact that physical activity can have on a child's overall health and performance in school. Adams points to a recently published report that concluded that regular physical activity, ranging from organized sports to walking, not only benefits children's physical fitness, but also their overall cognitive, mental, and social health -- and even their self-esteem. A study published in 2015 reported that kindergarteners who participated in extracurricular sports were "identifiably better" than their non-sports-playing peers at paying attention and following instructions when they reached fourth grade.

"Research continues to support our approach to children's development. Our programs combine physical activity with lessons and games that promote things like sharing, listening, concentration, and decision making," said Adams. "These critical life skills are all learned in a fun environment that provides a different context for learning. In the spirit of the Olympic Games, we celebrate the importance of camaraderie over competition, helping your child kick, shoot, leap and laugh their way to newfound confidence and friendship."

The Little Gym celebrates its 40^th anniversary in 2016, serving thousands of children in more than 300 locations in 30 countries. For more information, please visit www.TheLittleGym.com.

About The Little Gym
The Little Gym is an internationally recognized program that helps children build the developmental skills and confidence needed at each stage of childhood. The very first location was established in 1976 by Robin Wes, an innovative educator with a genuine love for children. The Little Gym International, Inc., headquartered in Scottsdale, Ariz., was formed in 1992 to franchise The Little Gym concept. Today, The Little Gym International has over 300 locations in 30 countries. For more information, visit The Little Gym at www.TheLittleGym.com.