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Original poster

Tumble Tots - any good?

30 replies

KiteMarked · 04/01/2019 10:13

I've just booked 2 taster sessions for my ds (age 2-3 bracket). The actual costs of the classes plus the yearly membership fee make me wonder if other people think it's good value for money?

OP posts:
Original poster
KiteMarked · 04/01/2019 14:10

Guess we'll just have to find out!

OP posts:
Calmingvibrations · 04/01/2019 14:11

Hope so as I’ve booked a taster session too!

Original poster
KiteMarked · 04/01/2019 14:17
Grin
OP posts:
HollyBen · 04/01/2019 14:18

My daughter went from around 18 months until 4 and a half. She loved it. My son wasn't as keen and we only did a couple of terms (partially the timing didn't work and his dislike of structure). Best do the taster and see what you think

Quartz2208 · 04/01/2019 14:20

totally depends on the child and who runs the franchise to be honest

KatsutheClockworkOctopus · 04/01/2019 14:24

I think you will know from the taster. My son didn't really enjoy it as he was quite nervous about tunnels etc. Other kids loved it though! I think it is good value if your son gets stuck in - but for me it was a lot of money for me to watch DS avoid going on any of the equipment !

dArtagnansCrumpet · 04/01/2019 14:29

My dd did tumble tots when she was 3. She was really bored by the time she turned 4 and needed to go up a class but the instructor wouldn't move her, she spent most of the time waiting behind the much younger kids in line. I think it's probably good for really little ones.

IncomingCannonFire · 04/01/2019 14:31

I took ds1 from 20mo for about 6sessions. He mastered the equipment very quickly, then got bored and decided running around like a mad thing was preferable. He also didn't like structured activities. He claims at 4.8yo now that he loved going to tumble tots.
I don't think he really learnt anything other than what he would at a playground or soft play tbh.
I also tried him at proper gymnastic classes for preschoolers which he was alright at but still wasn't ready to sit still and listen.
I'm going to try again now he's at school (without his little brother to wind him up).
Try the taster and see if your kid likes it or not before committing.

Original poster
KiteMarked · 04/01/2019 14:37

He is very active and physical, so I'm hoping this will help direct his energies a bit. or teach him more efficient ways to scale the bookcase

OP posts:
BlackInk · 04/01/2019 15:20

I know a few people who love it, but my DD found it a bit dull. She was about 3 when she tried it for a couple of sessions. It just seemed like structured soft play - she wanted to learn tumbling and cartwheels and things. It seemed quite slow. Maybe ok for littler or less acrobatic ones.

ILoveChristmasLights · 04/01/2019 15:30

It depends entirely on a few things - your child, the franchise owner/leader and what else is available near you.

When we were really rural it was ‘ok’ for a winter term as there wasn’t much else around/going on nearby, but once the weather wasn’t quite so icy it didn’t offer much we couldn’t get in other ways.

I tried a winter term (different child) when we were in a village/near other villages and towns and it was a disaster really. Too structured & each ‘bit’ was too short. I found it FAR better to do a combination of soft play, rhyme time, story time, play groups etc or just meeting up with friends at the park.

All you can do is try the taster sessions and see. I’m not sure what the payment structure is like now, but I’d pay weekly if possible, if not, the shortest option available.

Bababoo13 · 04/01/2019 15:34

We love it. My dd was slow waking and definitely think it helped her walk j. The end she’s now nearly 3 and we are waiting on an assessment on asd and the instructor are brilliant with her. Ds now goes as well. And loves it to and think when he goes up a class next term he will do really well

madmum5811 · 04/01/2019 15:36

I think it depends on the leader. Ours was not that great, kept reading off a sheet. Was a small class. DC just wanted to do her own thing and keep escaping. Checked out the price of a franchise... woah...not cheap.

Original poster
KiteMarked · 04/01/2019 18:23

Thanks everyone. I didn't realise quite how structured the classes are - this could well be a disaster!

Costs are paid yearly membership and classes paid upfront termly.

OP posts:
DramaAlpaca · 04/01/2019 18:26

Blimey, is Tumble Tots still around?

I took DC1 to a taster session but he didn't enjoy it so we never went back. He's 25 now!

ILoveChristmasLights · 04/01/2019 19:26

There is some variation depending on who is running it, but yes it’s very structured with a ‘circuit’ they have to go around, they can’t just play on what they want. There are various activities (bean bag throwing, stories, parachute games etc) in the beginning, middle and end. A song. It just felt like there was a constant change of activity and no time to actually enjoy the activity. Plus the idiocy of making under 3’s follow a circuit and not be allowed to play on what they wanted. Some of the staff were incredibly pedantic too.

Never again personally.

StuntCroissant · 04/01/2019 19:36

I took DD when she was younger but TBH our local class was a bit shit.

Plus I refused on principle to lay the compulsory membership fee. They might consider it "great value" but as far as I was concerned it was a lot of money for a few crappy leaflets, an awful yellow t-shirt and so-called "insurance", which I as an individual do not want or require!

Withgraceinmyheart · 04/01/2019 19:42

My DD loves it. She started in the older class so I’ve never been in with her and have no idea what she does, but she tells me all about it on the way home and it sounds fun.

Our local franchise has stupid long waiting lists so must be doing something right. Think it defo depends on the person running it!

Bababoo13 · 04/01/2019 20:07

What area are you in op ?

MawkishTwaddle · 04/01/2019 20:11

Aah, I have lovely memories of my now-grown-up ladsin their little yellow t-shirts.

I’m all nostalgic. I can still sing all the songs...

Original poster
KiteMarked · 05/01/2019 07:41

I'm in Merseyside, Bababoo.

OP posts:
Luckystar1 · 05/01/2019 07:48

I took both my children from crawling, DS went right through to the independent class, DD stoppedearlier but only because we moved area. I loved it, and thought it was really, really valuable skills learned in a safe environment.

NoArmaniNoPunani · 05/01/2019 08:08

My DS has been going since he was 1, hes now 3. We've found it very good. The staff were so supportive of us both when my DH died and it's the one activity that we kept up because of their support

MimsyBorogroves · 05/01/2019 08:15

Ours was at the local leisure centre and great. Had proper trampolines and full size gym equipment as well as the soft play type stuff.

SuperDuperJezebel · 05/01/2019 08:20

My DD has been going for about 9mo and really enjoys it. She's quite physically confident (walked at 10mo, really keen on climbing from an early age!) and I've found it a great outlet for that! Ours doesn't do singing at the beginning, only once in the middle and one song plus a sticker at the end. The lady that owns it has had the same franchise for 20 years and I think that helps, she's quite good at recognising what support the little ones need as some are less confident than others, and they're not even remotely strict on making them follow the circuit at this age (DD is nearly 22mo). She's strict about safety and quite old school, but they're all lovely. I think it really depends on what the staff are like and what your children enjoy! I went a few years ago with a little boy I nannied, at a different venue, and he HATED it. looking forward to my DD moving up a class soon as I think she's about ready and everything is a lot higher 😂 They've said she could move up earlier if I thought she was ready but I'm going to stick it out a bit longer. I hope you enjoy it!