The Alternative Press

G Y M! What do those letters mean to you? Here at the London Day School, the little ones faces light up as they shout in unison, “Get Yourself Moving!” Antonette Caporaso from Green Village, or as the kids know her, Miss Toni, began the Gym Program in January 2012. “It is imperative for preschool-aged children to begin learning at a young age healthy habits that will stay with them as they grow up,” she tells me as she puts on her whistle for the first class of the day. 

Each day begins with the selection of “Gym Teacher”. The child picked gets to wear his or her very own whistle and lead the class in certain exercises. This is a great way to boost confidence and diminish public speaking anxieties. “You see a typically shy child come out of his or her shell and announce to the class 10 jumping jacks!” says Miss Toni laughing.

In gym class, they learn the importance of moving everyday for a healthy mind and body. Learning to differentiate between healthy and unhealthy foods is a daily part of the gym curriculum. Miss Toni has a “Food Store” the young ones get to come shopping at and select a few items. Then they sit and decide which foods are healthy and which are not. The unhealthier foods are considered, “once in a while” foods.

And what else are they up to besides health? New sports are introduced each week. So far they have been introduced to soccer, basketball, and baseball. Basic exercises are combined with their imaginations. One exercise to the tune of “Rockin’ Robbin” entails them starting in a crouching position inside of their “egg”. Then they hatch and do squats around the room. Finally, they “fly” the room to get their heart rates going. Additionally Miss Toni incorporates the academics! With the change of each season, the children try out different actions to represent things they see in nature. This coincides with topics they speak about daily in their preschool classroom.

Every day ends with a round of freeze dance! The gym teacher plays a fun song while each class tries out their moves without a care in the world. Building confidence and strong minds and bodies is her ultimate goal. “It’s instilling a healthy lifestyle but in an exciting way!” 

The London Day School is located at 10 Ridgedale Avenue in Florham Park on the border of Madison.  973-377-0311  www.londondayschool.com