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Two, four, six, eight, who do we appreciate? Tumblebus, Tumblebus, Yay, Tumblebus!" That's the response whenever the gym on wheels rolls into preschools throughout Oahu.
A mobile gymnasium helps
preschoolers develop fitness
habits while having funBy Nancy Arcayna
narcayna@starbulletin.comBus driver and head teacher Sasha Leitner welcomed 12 kids from Nuuanu Baptist Preschool aboard the big yellow, red and blue school bus that has been transformed into a rolling gymnasium. The kids, eager to start their adventure last Tuesday, tossed their shoes in a cubby and lined up along the sides of the padded bus and began their stretching and warm-up exercises, including toe-touches, handstands and pushups. The lesson motif that day was "Happy Heart Week" in celebration of Valentine's Day. A week earlier, "Chinese New Year" was the theme.
The real escapade began with the "beanbag" freeze dance featuring music from "Greg & Steve's Warmin' Up" tape. Like a hokeypokey dance move, the keiki flung beanbags over their shoulders, under their arms, and even hopped on one leg with beanbags on top of their heads. "They love this song at every preschool I've ever been to," said Leitner.
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After that, each keiki went down the slide and lined up on magic stepping stones (colored plastic circles) for a chance to try the high bar."Look, I can do it," the children shouted as they tumbled, crossed the monkey bars and shimmied across the high bar. The children went wild as they were guided through the obstacle course, which ended with a tumble. After the course was completed several times by each child, a parachute game held their attention. The session ended with the kids' hands on their heads as they lined up to receive Tumblebus stamps and stickers.
"It's a dream job for us. ... It's so much fun," said Benjamin Voss, who owns the bus with his wife, Keri. "We get to play with kids all day.
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"It's amazing the different feeling you get from preschool to preschool. You can picture what the kids will be like as adults. The older kids (in the 4-year-old group) are more coordinated. You can actually see their skills improving," he added.Tumblebus is a national program with more than 200 buses currently in operation in the United States. The bus also incorporates a rock climbing wall, mountains, tunnel, bars, a vault, bars, a balance beam, ropes, rings and a zip line that cruises down the middle of the bus.
"My husband and I started it here because my kids used to take Tumblebus classes in California and loved them," said Keri. "We started the service in October of last year."
The concept caught on quickly. Tumblebus is now servicing more than 300 children at 18 Oahu preschools. "We hope to expand our services to Kauai soon," said Keri.
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"It's important to expose kids to a healthy lifestyle now. And at this age they are learning through play, not academics," said Keri. Too many kids are allowed to sit idle, watching TV, playing video games or using their computer, she said.Health professionals have long suggested that parents encourage movement and motor skill development at an early age to avoid the pattern of sedentary living and weight gain that plagues millions of Americans later in life.
A health notice published on Feb. 6 by Reuters said: "Parents should make sure that 3-, 4- and 5-year-olds accumulate at least one hour of structured physical activity per day. Kids can benefit from almost any activity that encourages them to walk, run, balance, throw, roll or kick."
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"With this program, kids get a physical fitness workout without a disruption to their parents' schedule," Keri said. "Many parents work until 5, and it's hard to get the kids to soccer or other activities."It also gives an introduction to tumbling to see if it's something they like. ... Some of them are really good at it," she added.
The structured classes include weekly lesson plans that are meant to enhance physical and motor development. The exercises used in each 40-minute session are intended to help develop coordination and flexibility, gain self-esteem and confidence and to develop skills that enhance other sports.
The Vosses' own children are now 6 and 7 years old. Keri said, "As soon as we come home, our children are saying, 'We want to play on the Tumblebus.' I'm so tired of the Tumblebus by the end of the day. We are out at the preschools every day and did six birthday parties last weekend. It's really funny -- some of the kids at the schools think we live on the bus."
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What: The Tumblebus is also available for birthday parties. Party Bus
Cost: $175 for up to 15 children ($5 each for additional children). Candy and party favors are provided for everyone and the birthday child gets a special gift.
Call: 230-8408
Click for online
calendars and events.
