To be honest, I was very disappointed with my experience at Kids Co-op.
My daughter is still only in preschool, so I didn't expect too much to begin with. But since I just moved to the area, I thought it was important to enroll my little one in something where she could make new friends locally. I thought it would be a wonderful opportunity for some good exercise, learning to follow multiple-step instructions, learning about thinking positively/feeling a sense of achievement, healthy eating, etc. But none of my hopes came to fruition at all. (And I know what I was looking for wasn't over-the-top, because I've seen this sort of positive environment before at a different location, and also experienced it myself at my adult trapeze class.)
- After 6 classes, the coach NEVER introduced herself to me. I learned her name the last day because I asked. She also never introduced the kids to one another. My daughter only learned the names of any other kids because when week 3 rolled around and I asked her who her favourite friends were at the class, she couldn't tell me any names. I said, "Oh, well go introduce yourself! Just say, 'My name is X, what's your name?'" She left the class with 4 names that day. When you're in gymnastics, isn't one of the biggest goals to develop a good team mentality? How did the kids go un-introduced the entire time they practiced and played together?
- I only knew the name of the receptionist/business owner because of a purchase confirmation. She never said hello when we came into the building. She DEFINITELY never asked if my daughter was enjoying the class. She never apologized after a scheduling mix-up. She spoke poorly to me of her own daughter right in front of her, in a facility that supposedly is supposed to encourage kids to have a good self-image. Put a bad taste in my mouth, for sure. Her kid wasn't even much older than mine.
- Apparently, parents were supposed to receive a progress update every couple weeks, but, like I said, the coach never so much as introduced herself.
- They sell soda, cookies, chips, and other junk food as a snack for after a class that's supposed to promote good health.
- Dust is caked on everything. There are these huge vents that are painted jewel-toned primary colours, which you can see from beneath, but even so, you can't see through the dust on the top halves of the tubes. At first, I thought that only the bottom halves were painted!
- The bathrooms are always gross. I didn't feel comfortable getting my daughter changed for class in there.
- The coach is nice enough to the kids, but isn't able to give any of the kids any sort of individual attention due to there being too many kids per class. Since they do activities in "rotations", the coach will often be distracted by a single activity while the kids wander to the other rotations without instruction. Typically, the kids watch whichever kid is in front of them for direction.
The only reasons I have to NOT rate it 1 star are: because my daughter had fun there, anyway; because it seems like the competition classes have more skillful coaches; and because a lot of kids benefit from the activity days there, where at least they're socializing instead of being parked in front of a TV. I don't suggest enrolling your 3-4 year old there. read more
