The senses
- Sight
- Hearing
- Touch
Focus for this ageActive focus
BangkokParent / Child · 10–19 months
Birds
From crawling to confident first steps
Birds is built for newly mobile children who are busy pulling up, cruising and walking. With a caregiver nearby, each adventure develops balance, coordination, communication and confidence in a safe group setting.
BR10–19 months
Best for10–19 months
Class length45 minutes
How the class worksA parent or caregiver joins as an encouraging role model.
BR
Why this age matters
Constructing the foundation of learning
As children become vertical, their view of the world changes quickly. Climbing, squatting, pushing and walking give the body and brain practice working together while simple choices and group routines build early independence.
Body + brain together
The developmental focus for this age
The original program framework connects sensory processing, reflexes, language and motor development. The emphasis changes as children grow.
Body & Brain · Relationship Development10–19 months
Balance · Vestibular
- Posture
- Balance
- Alertness
- Concentration
- Stillness
Focus for this ageStrong focus
Body intuition · Proprioception
- Body awareness
- Spatial awareness
- Sub-conscious movement
- Strength management
Focus for this ageStrong focus
Language
- Verbal
- Physical
- Musical
- Symbolic
Focus for this ageActive focus
Coordination
- Midlines
- Dominance
- Body rhythm
- Timing
Focus for this ageActive focus
Power
- Strength
- Stamina
- Flexibility
- Agility
Focus for this ageEmerging focus
Control
- Positioning
- Pacing
- Pressure & force
- Eye–body coordination
Focus for this ageSupporting
Four connected outcomes
Gymnastics is only the beginning
Every activity has a physical purpose and a wider developmental purpose. The goal is confident progress that children can carry into everyday life.
Balance for walking
Low obstacles and changing surfaces strengthen postural reactions for early steps.
Whole-body coordination
Climbing, cruising and carrying objects ask both sides of the body to cooperate.
Early communication
Songs, gestures and one-step directions connect words with meaningful action.
Courage to explore
A trusted adult provides a secure base while children try something new.
A purposeful rhythm
A normal class, step by step
Familiar structure helps children feel secure, while new weekly themes and skill progressions keep curiosity alive.
Weekly class approach
A 45-minute class built around a different weekly theme — from body awareness to core strength
01Opening Circle5 minutes02Warm-Up5 minutes03Group Activity10 minutes04Exploration15 minutes05Ball Time2 minutes06Bubbles2 minutes07Closing1 minutes
01Opening Circle
5 minutes+Open details
Opening Circle
5 minutesWhat children do
- Hello Song — a calm, familiar rhythm that helps children settle into class
- Name Song — every child is welcomed by name and introduced to the group
- Perceptual Motor Song — moving body parts to music, such as Twinkle or Put Your Finger on Your Nose
What it develops
- Language and early number concepts
- Listening, anticipation and musical rhythm
- Body awareness and a positive first social experience
02Warm-Up
5 minutes+Open details
Warm-Up
5 minutesWhat children do
- Sit Ups
- Upside Down
- Helicopter
- Wheel Barrow
- Fireman Carry
- Forward Rolls
- Sack of Potatoes
- Donkey Kicks
- Log Rolls
- Backward Rolls
- Flagpole
- Finger Hang
- Baby Trade
- Rocking Chair
- Back Whoop-Dee-Doo
What it develops
- Builds trunk and core strength for sitting, standing and moving with control
- Stimulates the vestibular and proprioceptive senses that support balance and body awareness
- Develops locomotor, spatial-awareness and early tumbling skills
03Group Activity
10 minutes+Open details
Group Activity
10 minutesWhat children do
- Parachute
- Rhythm sticks
- Stretch rope
- Scarves
- Air mat
- Hoops
- Bean bags
What it develops
- Listening, rhythm and moving with music
- Whole-body exercise, strength and movement development
- Early social development through playing beside and with other children
- Perceptual concepts such as high/low, under/over, right/left and through
04Exploration
15 minutes+Open details
Exploration
15 minutesWhat children do
- Walking and running pathways
- Low balance beam
- Bar activities — hanging and turning
- Climbing
- Rolling Hot Dog
- Sitting in the donut
- Balance Beam
- Land Surfing
- Donut Rides and Donut Walk
- Hoop Walk
- Hot Dog Walk
What it develops
- Fine- and gross-motor practice through climbing, balancing, walking and rolling
- Age-adapted challenges make new experiences feel safer and more inviting
- Supports more stable sitting, standing and walking
- Stimulates vestibular and proprioceptive awareness
05Ball Time
2 minutes+Open details
Ball Time
2 minutesWhat children do
- Throw, catch and pass balls using hands and feet
- Follow simple directions and move to the musical rhythm
What it develops
- Hand–foot and foot–eye coordination
- Listening and responding to a cue
- Early ideas of direction, force and distance
06Bubbles
2 minutes+Open details
Bubbles
2 minutesWhat children do
- Track floating bubbles with the eyes
- Walk or crawl to reach, touch and catch them
What it develops
- Improves visual tracking
- Develops hand–eye coordination
- Promotes body awareness and motor perception
07Closing
1 minutes+Open details
Closing
1 minutesWhat children do
- Return to the group for a short, predictable goodbye
What it develops
- Helps children transition calmly out of class
The original Bangkok program deck
See the complete class presentation
Move through the original slides to understand the developmental focus, weekly structure and activities parents and children experience during a normal class.
Use the arrows, thumbnails, or your keyboard to move through the deck.The slides are presented in their original form. Use the page language switch for the bilingual guide around them.
Age-right development
Milestones we support
Development is individual and rarely linear. These are common signs of growing confidence, not a checklist or promise.
Milestones we support
- ✓Pulling to stand and lowering with control
- ✓Cruising along a stable surface
- ✓Independent steps and direction changes
- ✓Squatting to collect an object
- ✓Imitating a simple movement or sound
Skills children explore
- ✓Low-beam walking with support
- ✓Climbing over soft shapes
- ✓Pushing and pulling
- ✓Supported hanging
- ✓Stop-and-go movement games
What parents may notice
- ✓More stable standing and walking
- ✓Greater willingness to explore away from a caregiver
- ✓Better response to simple words and gestures
- ✓Growing interest in other children
See Serious Fun
See a Birds class in action
A real Bangkok class clip gives you a feel for the pace, coaching and joyful atmosphere.
View class presentationBefore your first visit
Questions parents often ask
Must my child be walking already?+
No. Birds supports a wide range from confident crawlers and cruisers to new independent walkers.
Why does a parent join?+
Your presence gives security, models the activity and helps the instructor adapt each challenge safely.
What if my child explores instead of following?+
That is developmentally normal. Teachers use repetition, invitations and simple boundaries while allowing safe exploration.
This guide preserves and expands the original The Little Gym Bangkok program presentation. View class presentation →
The journey continues
Explore all seven classes
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