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F. Wan

With summer around the corner, here are 10 activities that can enable young children to let off steam – and learn important life lessons with their parents:
Swimming – Harry Wright International
Swimming can be loads of fun, and it offers much more. Babies develop motor coordination skills as they learn to be comfortable under water. A parent will assist the child in the pool. Children also learn water safety and build confidence as their swimming techniques improve.
Harry Wright International offers infant aquatics for babies from four months, and swimming lessons for older children. Adult assistance is required for tots under four.
Six sessions for HK$1,560. Various locations, including Kellett School, West Island School and clubs.
Yoga – The Yoga Room

Do you want a moment of peace while your toddler learns something new? Do you need to look after your body after pregnancy? Mom and baby yoga is the perfect playtime for mums to relax and strengthen their bodies. Gentle yoga poses and stretches can help babies’ digestion and relieve gas and colic. The exercises’ touching and non-verbal interaction help mothers bond with their babies. Classes are offered to babies from six weeks old until crawling age.
A course of 10 classes is valid for three months for HK$2,000. Sheung Wan area.
Yoga and healthy eating – Little Yogis
Yoga is not just exercise, it is a way of life. Yoga and other activities help the young improve their focus and manage emotions. At Little Yogies, yoga is practised through fun activities that unleash youngsters’ imagination. Each class consists of 40 minutes of yoga and 20 minutes of cooking in a child-friendly kitchen. Little Yogies welcomes two- and three-year-old toddlers and children aged up to eight. Tots under three are accompanied by an adult in the class.
10 classes over three months for HK$3,000. Area: Wong Chuk Hang.
Ballet with mummy – Twinkle Dance Company

Baby ballerinas from 18 months to two and a half years can learn ballet with singalong songs, tip toes, arm positions and other activities. Mommies can help their tots’ moves at the beginning and then watch their toddlers develop their movement memories. The babies then gradually learn to dance by themselves. This course can prepare toddlers for ballet classes from the age of two. Twinkle Dance Company also offers jazz dance classes for children over three.
Seven classes over two months at HK$1,960-HK$2,520. Various locations including Central, Wong Chuk Hang, Causeway Bay, Wan Chai and Kennedy Town.
Movement and gymnastics – The Little Gym

Parents can celebrate every discovery and developmental milestone with their babies at The Little Gym. “A Perfect Start” classes are designed for tots as young as four months to 3 years old. The tinies are accompanied by a parent in fun activities in which they learn muscle control, motor skills and mental skills such as colour, number and letter recognition. Preschoolers aged three to six can also take gymnastics classes that allow children to channel their boundless energy into cool moves and improve their flexibility, coordination and self-confidence.
Area: Tsim Sha Tsui
Football – at EpicLand, offered by Progressive Sports Asia

Tots aged from two to four can improve their physical development when they learn dynamic movement patterns, balance, speed and spatial awareness. Football combines physical control with teamwork and play, making it an ideal sport for young boys and girls. Classes at EpicLand include an hour of free play after each session. EpicLand is an indoor children’s entertainment centre in Discovery Bay, with an obstacle course, rock walls, minigolf and toddler’s area.
HK$1,440 for eight weekly sessions. Area: Discovery Bay
Football – TinyTots
Parents and tinies as young as 18 months can participate in football classes for under threes. The tots learn basic soccer skills and also about colours, numbers, shapes and body parts, and classes also highlight the concepts of sharing and taking turns in a team sport. TinyTots also teaches youngsters from the age of four to focus on complex motor skills and football-specific skills.
Prices vary. HK$1,760 for eight sessions for 18 months to three-years old; HK$1,980 for 11 sessions for children over four. Various locations including Pok Fu Lam, Discovery Bay and Happy Valley
Tennis – Hong Kong International Tennis Academy
Tinies aged from two to six can join the Monster Tennis programme, which uses a smaller court and specialised equipment to introduce them to the game. Parents can participate in the lessons too, and enjoy how the game improves their children’s hand-eye coordination, concentration and ball-tracking skills.
Prices vary by coach and locations such as Happy Valley, Lok Fu, Tseung Kwan O, Ma On Shan and Sha Tin
Wing Chun martial arts – Mindful Wing Chun

In a world full of tech and distractions, what better way to cultivate mindfulness, respect and discipline in your children than through martial arts? Wing Chun is taught as games to children aged three to six, and classes are filled with fun and excitement. Lessons offer the physical benefits of exercise, while their martial arts aspects help build children’s self-confidence.
Weekly sessions start at HK$800-HK$1,000 per month for six months. Area: Central
Trampoline Jumping – Ryze
Trampolines can a fun, adrenaline pumping experience for the whole family. Every morning, from 9am only children aged six and under are allowed to jump with an accompanying adult in an indoor space with 7,000 square feet of trampolines. Trampoliners of all ages risk injury when they jump, however, so parents might take a closer look at this activity before they and their young take part.
HK$746 for one hour, HK$1,177 for two hours. Area: Quarry Bay


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Photo: Tinytots

PhotoL Twinkle Dance Company

directory education 2012. When children learn yoga they can become more flexible and it helps them develop their mental focus and concentration. **unlimited use** bernice.chan@scmp.com

Photo: Mindful Wing Chun

Photo: The Little Gym

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Hong Kong

Education

Several activities in Hong Kong broaden children’s education and help parents build a stronger personal connection with their young.


10 activities that broaden children’s education and help parents bond with their young in Hong Kong

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Several activities in Hong Kong broaden children’s education and help parents build a stronger personal connection with their young.

Swimming – Harry Wright International

Several activities in Hong Kong broaden children’s education and help parents build a stronger personal connection with their young.