If you have children, you probably have considered signing them up for gym class at some point. Yet with so many available classes and programs out there, it is hard to decide which class is right for your child. Instead of being able to rely on the advertisement, or maybe even the word of mouth referrals, savvy parents very often decide to visit the class a few times to get a feel for the way it is run, how the children and the instructor interact, and just overall how things are looking.

Yet how can you spot a well-run gym class? It is not as easy to discern as a well run classroom, since the latter thrives on the idea of silence and restricted movement. As a matter of fact, a well-run gym class should exhibit all kinds of movements and also some noise. Do not despair; there are some surefire ways to find out if your child’s class is indeed a good one.

A well-run gym class should consist of children that are close in age. If the gambit runs from six to 12 years of age, you will have too many developmental factors and the little ones might be overly challenged while the older ones could easily be bored. So look for age grouping. Secondly, you will want to see a good teacher to student ratio. It is not uncommon for one head teacher to have one or two assistants who may be running the class. This will ensure safety and also give the personal interaction to each child as needed. Numbers in the class should be limited so that the wait for equipment is not too long. Last but not least, look at the equipment: a well-run class will have up to date equipment that is in good working order and not held together by duct tape. Additionally, there should only be a minimum of “out of order” equipment items.