Budokwai Gym

Throughout these early months babies are exploring the new world around them and developing their own cycles and rhythms.

It is important that they feel safe, happy and content.

Our aim is to help develop confidence and co-ordination and encourage independent exploration at babies' own unhurried pace.

We introduce language and social interaction through imitation, repetition, describing and fun, sensory experiences.

Our method/structure:

  • We always welcome you with our very own hello song.
  • Using songs and rhymes with accompanying, simple movements to:
    • introduce participants to one another and their surroundings;
    • develop familiarity with language and interaction
    • Physical co-ordination and confidence
    • Awareness of the human singing voice, pitch and rhythm.
  • Simple group dances and movements to well know nursery rhymes. (Parent/Nanny participation essential. It's a work out for you too!)
    • Songs are standing and moving with mum/carer so the babies get to feel a new group energy and can view the world through motion a nd movement to music.
  • Using a musical instrument
  • Putting sound, rhythm and co-ordination altogether.
  • As the weeks progress we develop from just shaking To patting our body parts with our instruments and pointing to the featu res on our face
  • What's in the box? Sensory exploration/Free play
  • We have four boxes which we rotate each week bringing you a new sensory experience to explore with your child. Sound box, sight box, Touch and feel box, and activity box.
  • Parachute – underneath and on top with songs and peek a boo!
  • Puppets - gentle interaction with puppet characters on old Macdonald's farm. Introducing animal names and noises
  • Bubbles
  • Goodbye song!

Budokwai Art

Led by two instructors our art sessions allow your child to explore the joy of creativity at their own pace. Using different themed projects each week we learn how to paint, stick, draw and stamp.

We discover the world of texture through play dough and open up our imagination with free painting at the easel. Maintaining the process of repetition in our structure, punctuated with songs, our art classes are a brilliant introduction to a world of organized mess!

18 - 21 months

At this stage it’s about “getting our hands dirty" rather than having to produce a finished piece. It is about the joy of really engaging and exploring with the materials.

22 months - 3 years

At this stage your child will naturally engage with the theme more and want to choose his/her own colours, techniques and use their own imagination. We guide and listen always respecting the child's vision for the piece.

Art Rules

  • 8 children maximum in a class
  • Parent/Nanny interaction
  • No hot drinks
  • No eating
  • Have fun!

Budokwai Clay

We offer one clay session per week for older children who enjoy working quietly and steadily with one material.

Using coloured air dry clay we learn how to squish, cut, mould, roll and shape it, eventually creating themed pieces to take home with us.

The clay part of the session lasts for approx 30-35 minutes with play dough exploration and a few songs at the end.