The Little Gym of La Canada

We’ve been going to this gym since summer and my son absolutely loves it. I don’t know how many instructors there are, but he’s been taught by Erin and Mr. Giles. Both teachers are awesome. Very attentive and caring. There’s plenty of parking and the place is big enough for your kids to roam around. This place was recommended by my husband’s co-​worker and I’m really satisfied with the staff, the class, and the facility. My son is 14 months old and this is a perfect place for my son to play with other kids. All the parents in the class seem to be sweet and caring. I never worry about my son getting hurt or anything. And unlike the kiddie indoor playgrounds, the class sizes are small which makes it ideal. They have different times available and the staff is great at being flexible if you miss a class. I read some reviews about bullying, but I have never witnessed this here since the parents/​staff are attentive. I have, however, seen plenty of bullying at other indoor kiddie playgrounds where the staff/​parents ignore the kids. I would highly recommend this place for anybody who wants their kids to increase their social interaction. Plus, it wears my son out as well

My kids went to The Little Gym on and off for a few years. For the most part the experience was ok. I would have liked more gym time and less circle time, but overall it was fine. I also felt it was a bit pricey, but it’s LaCanada, I get that.
This past year my daughter graduated into a class where the parents wait outside. I had just prepaid for the entire coming chunk of classes (over $ 800) and she was unhappy being in the class alone and wanted nothing to do with it anymore. This was in part due to the frequent change in teachers. She never had a chance to get comfortable with one before things changed. There were also not enough teachers to students so that the kids were being cared for individually. I get this with older kids, but not three-​year-​olds. I tried for two months to see if I could get her willing to be in class without crying the entire time. She happily watches me leave for PK and other kid-​only activities, so she’s usually very easy. After a few months of crying and wasted time I asked to have a refund for the remaining classes. I gave it a really good try and it wasn’t happening. I also wasn’t getting much help from the teachers because they were too overloaded with kids. The owner was oddly reluctant and told me they could only credit after deducting the full price for each class she had «attended» (i.e. sat on my lap crying for 30 mins before we gave up and left). This left only a very small amount and then it took almost four months before I received a check in the mail. I had used a credit card for my large payment, but still there was «processing» that apparently took months and a check had to be issued. I don’t know if the fault is with the Little Gym chain, or this one in particular, but I will not be going here again. We’ve had wonderful experiences elsewhere since. I wish I’d left sooner and not wasted close to $ 650 on classes that my girl did not benefit from.

My oldest son started at the Little Gym in 2011 when we moved to LA and we have been there ever since. My boys have both been enrolled in classes during the regular season and have also enjoyed attending camp, enjoyed birthday parties there, and parent survival nights. There was a period of time when the turnover rate of teachers was high, but the owner has really found some quality employees and I am hopeful they will be there for a while. The curriculum is perfect for my busy boys and also has built up their confidence and improved their social skills. We love the Little Gym. The owner has also been very supportive of our local MOMS Club and we all appreciate the relationship that has formed.

I was given a $ 200 certificate for my daughter. I went in and they charged me a membership fee that’s good for a year. She had seven classes to use and I believe a credit of $ 10. She used five and was sick two days. I called and they gave me two make up classes. After the summer session was over I called and spoke to Arin to schedule her last two make up classes. She said I couldn’t use them until I signed up for next session and that she needed to make sure revenue was coming in and not give away free classes. I guess the two hundred dollars in cash she received from my brother wasn’t enough revenue. How is this place even able to put an expiration on a gift certificate??? It’s against the law to do that. If try to con me into paying another $ 86 month or a large sum off $ 800 dollars. Don’t come here. They are rip off. I will be filing with the better business bureau. They will either give me the classes I’m owed or my money back. Rip offs.

The kids love this place. They have so much fun. I gave the place 3 stars because I have noticed some bullying that doesn’t get addressed by instructors, and I also don’t really like the way the owner speaks to her employees.

This place has a bully problem. We started bringing our son to class here on and off about 6 months ago. Occasionally, another child whom I will call «Julia», because that is her name, would also show up. «Julia» is a menace. She pushes other children out of her way, grabs balls from them, scowls at them. Often, her parents are preoccupied with other things, and do not have their eyes on her. The teachers seem incapable of dealing with this problem. We showed up last week for a Sunday class and it was just my son and «Julia» (real name) and one other child. The third child was bigger than «Julia», so my son got her undivided attention. You would think, with so few kids, the teacher would be able to effectively intervene. Not so. We did get an apology after the class from the teacher (and her mother was fairly apologetic the whole time, although also ineffective in getting her child to cut it out.) But if a major point of these classes is to build one’s child’s confidence, it is hard to see how that will be fostered when a bully is allowed to push other kids around.
Previously, there was a really great teacher named Zane, and he was a little more on top of the situation. He was also a really great instructor, which made it worth dealing with «Julia». He had to go back to his home country, and the new guy isn’t capable of dealing whatsoever.
This morning, a week later, my son asked if we were going to see «Julia» today, with a tone of dread. I said we don’t have to. He said she is a bad listener. I agreed.
We intend to ask for our money back for the remaining classes which we don’t intend to attend.

Took me a long time to write this review. Pretty angry after first class but I figure — I better tell other moms what they are in for at this place…
Paid for the three class «trial»… Did not go back after the first class. In my opinion, kind of mean to let the kids go into a great play space and have to start with a long «circle» time! The kids are there to go to a «gym» after all, right? Not sit on the floor for like 20 minutes and look at the gym equipment. That’s like giving them a cookie and telling them not to eat it for 20 minutes while we sit around during circle time singing songs!
The owner is very nice but really is spending a good deal of time correcting childrens’ behaviors (must sit during bubble blowing time, must sit during parachute time, etc) and psycho-​analyzing the kids (telling everyone the key to «success» is money, education, and patience). My goodness! The kids are only 2 years old after all! (Owner is a psych major). Not appropriate in my mind.
They said I could use the three classes any time (meaning I could do week 1, 3, and 4 in the month but I was out of town week 2). Owner made a *huge* deal out of me not doing «continuous» weeks.
After such a great experience (not!) I asked them to stop calling me and that I would not be finishing my 3 classes I paid for — they must have called me about 4 times more. Politely I asked to not be called further. Had to finally block them on my phone after the 5^th call — they call too often!
Not my cup of tea. Places like this should be fun and not stifling and psychoanalyzing. They get the one star only because of their excessive use of bleach — place is OCD clean.

This place used to be great. However, over the last few years it seems like their emphasis has shifted from coaching to more talking and playing around.

Love this place! We have been sending our 3 kids here since they were babies and they love it! Warm, enthusiastic teachers. Friendly staff. We have had and attended many, many birthday parties here as well. I will be sad when my kids are too old for this place!

The staff is awesome with kids! My niece has been coming here for a year & a half; she loves it. They are quick to keep the kids attention & they work with them where they see them struggle. My niece remembers all the lessons Miss Gail taught her from a year ago! «We do not hit or solve our problems with violence» Gracie went thru a phase where she would hit out of frustration but after coming here she remembers those words & after learning this she was able to communicate better with us. (Plus it helped to switch preschools) I definitely recommend coming here with little ones.

We LOVE the little gym! I brought my little Chloe here when she was 10 months old and within less than a month she was crawling and trying to walk (she didn’t crawl yet when we took her). We had been going for months to another baby gym and we were very dissapointed with the lack of attention or any real structure so we were a little skeptical about the entire baby gym scene but Little gym has met all our expectations. The staff at the little gym make sure to take time for each child regardless of how large the class is, and their staff are extremely friendly and very helpful.

We LOVE the Little Gym. I have been taking my son there since he was 4.5 months, and he absolutely loves every class! The weekly «Bugs» class taught by Sarah (the owner) has been instrumental in the development of his motor skills and coordination. Now, at nearly 9 months, my son has reached every milestone months early. His pediatrician even comments on how advanced he is. We owe it all to the Little Gym.

I wanted my then 16 month old son to learn to play and get along with other kids and found that they offer a free intro class and signed him up right away. I have attended 18m — 2 ½ yr class on friday saturday and sunday classes with 3 different teachers: Gail, Arpi and one more i don’t recall the name since I only went once. All the staffs are great at making the parent and child feel welcome. Friday class has less people so they get more attention. The main class my son and I went to was the Friday class with Gail. Gail alway remebers every child in her class and tries to get everyone involved at least try to get each child to at least try one gym equipment even if a child is on the other side of the gym not paying attention. After few classes, my son understood the routine (sit and sing, run around in circle & warm up, free play, gym equipment activities, sit and closing song) and became really good at following it. He learned how to jump, foward roll, walk on balance beam, swing on a bar, etc.
I can’t emphasize enough how wonderful the staffs are.

My 4year old and 8year old both loveeee the Little Gym. Great way to burn some energy right before bedtime. My kids especially love Parent Survival Night. Of course I love it more since I get some adult time. Mr Alex is my kids favorite teacher. The gym is always very clean and all the teachers are super duper great, very energetic, very attentive to the kids.

We love the Little Gym. Our 6-​year-​old son Mose has been going there for two years, since we moved to the area — and it’s fantastic. The teachers are wonderful — full of energy, totally engaged, and motivating to the kids… and in addition to the weekly classes, they have «Parent Survival Night» every couple of weeks, which we and our son all adore… also we just had Mose’s birthday party there and it was great. All the boys got completely worn out and exhausted in the best way — tons of running and jumping and parachute games and bouncing on the Air Track… and the parents were delighted. Mose said, «The Little Gym has a lot of fun in it… and I have to HAVE THAT FUN!»

Sareh and her staff are amazing. My daughter had been going there since she was 6 month old and because of that she started walking at 10 months. Her joints are very strong and her cordination is amazing. She is now 2 yrs old and is in the beast class and now she is starting to do splits! I recomend this gym to all mommies.
P.s The first visit is FREE!

My daughter loves Little Gym. I’ve taken her a few times to spend a Saturday afternoon/​morning. The people that work there are very friendly. I started going after we were invite to a little girls birthday party. I have to say that this is one of the most convenient ways to host a birthday party. The kids do really enjoy it. They seem to work really hard at keeping it clean and germ free.

Our children took classes here (Mommy and Me and individual classes once they were older) and we were very happy. Clean, staff is knowledgable and enthusiastic. It is a bit pricey, but well worth it and there membership rewards points program has some great perks. The owner is super friendly and involved.

Over last year, attended Mommy and Me and Boys Gymnastics for 7 – 8 year old. My kids LOVE going. The staff seem to understand children and respond to them as unique individuals. This is unsual-​boys are NOT berated for being annoyingly silly. The philosophy of the Gym is very positive and seems to be put in practice.

This is a great place to take your little kiddies for socializing, confidence building and exercise. The girls who work here are not only friendly and very professional but excellent with tapping into kids whether they are extroverts or super shy.