Gymcats Gymnastics At The Point

My son has been going to Gymcats for almost a year. He just turned 4 and has been in Coach Kate's class for almost his whole time there. He started in her Super Cubs class and just moved to his Cubs class. Kate is a preschool teacher and is absolutely the BEST with the little ones. She keeps them focused, but in a kind, gentle, and supportive way. She teaches them skills while making sure they have fun and building their confidence. It's also just so clear that she enjoys her time with them, which is so nice to see as a parent. Teaching the littles definitely requires a specific skillset - I can't really speak to any other classes or instructors, but if you have a little one, and have the chance to get them in with Kate, I wouldn't pass it up!

I’m really disappointed in this place. We’ve been going here for 2.5 years and my son had a great experience but not my daughter. My daughter is 3 and was in Ms. Laurel’s class. It started out great but then one day they were doing the bars and Ms. Laurel flipped my daughter over the bar and it scared her and she started crying. I came downstairs from the upstairs area and went out onto the floor and my daughter ran to me crying. I was giving my daughter a hug when Ms. Laurel walked past us with the other girls and said, “(my daughter’s name) you need to wait outside so the other girls don’t see you and think they get their mom whenever they cry.” So first thing, I understand that she wanted us to wait outside the doors because parents aren’t supposed to be on the floor. But here’s my issue. She directed her comment at my 3 year old daughter and she said it in such a cruel way. Ms. Laurel has yelled at the girls in that class multiple times when they’re not doing what they’re told. Most of the time it looks like the girls are confused about what to do and Ms. Laurel just gets impatient. But come on, they’re 3! I talked with other moms that also had daughters in that class and they said they had all noticed how impatient and strict Ms. Laurel was as well. My daughter recently aged out of her class and I was excited for her to have a new teacher and move on from Ms. Laurel. My daughter was placed in Carmen’s class. She’s only been once to Carmen’s class and I’m just pulling her out of Gymcats for good. All Carmen did with the girls was point, yell, and she didn’t smile once during the whole hour. Because it was my daughter’s first time in the class she was confused what she was supposed to do. Instead of showing my daughter what she was supposed to do she just yelled and pointed. My daughter came out of that class nearly in tears and told me Carmen had said that if she didn’t listen she would go get her mom and tell her she wasn’t listening. I’m done with this place. I wish we could stay after being loyal for 2.5 years but it’s not worth sacrificing my daughter’s self esteem and confidence. So disappointed.

I’m sad to say that we had to withdraw my four year old from her gymnastics class at gymcats today. Her teacher has made a few comments to me after classes which haven’t made me feel the greatest, but my daughter was enjoying the class and learning so I brushed them off. Today that teacher, (miss Laurel) crossed the line and really hurt my feelings and broke my mama heart. After class, in front of all the other parents and my four year old herself, she asked me if she was my oldest and I responded yes, and she proceeded to tell me “that she won’t always be this difficult” which was shocking to me since my child is amazing (and I’ve never had a teacher complain about her). I was like oh, I mean she’s actually pretty great for me! And then she told me that MY child has adhd, and lots of energy (made that seem like a bad thing) hmmm that’s funny because her pediatrician has always told me she is brilliant and I would have to agree (she can sit down for hours and practice reading). Oh and SORRY my four year old has energy, she is FOUR and in a gymnastics class to USE that energy. Then if that wasn’t enough, and as I was holding back from crying she told me again (still in front of my child) that she is “the most difficult child she’s ever coached” and that “she’s been doing this for over 20 years”. I left in tears. My husband called and canceled right after, and of course voiced his complaints. Laurel did call back and apologize, which I appreciate, but the damage was done and we will not be going back. I want my child to have a coach who thinks highly of them, someone who coaches them up, and helps them gain confidence. Not someone who talks down on them in front of their face to their parent. She might be good at teaching your child gymnastics skills, BUT she will not teach them their worth.

My niece attends this camp, and I'll never recommend anyone go there ever again. I highly suggest finding a different place to send your kids. My niece is 4 and the certified "gymnastics" coach Laurel has the audacity to try and tell me that my niece has ADHD and is the worst performer and student she's had in 20 years. She is FOUR years old. And she did this in front of my niece and in front of 8 other parents. Incredibly unprofessional and I can't think of a more absurd thing for a gymnastics teacher to try and give medical advice and tell me how much my niece sucks compared to the other kids. Run the other way.

I did the mini cubs and me class with my 15 month old. The class says it’s for children ages 1-3, but it is NOT age appropriate for kids ages 1-2. They expected all the children to stand in line, stay with the group the entire time and do all the exercises, most of which my child can’t do because he’s just too little. I felt a ton of pressure to keep my child with the class and do everything the coach wanted them to do. I was doing the best I could to keep him participating even though the expectations were outrageous. As I’m doing that the coach tells us parents to control our children better because if we don’t they will never learn to follow instructions. My kid is one 😂 after that I left in the middle of the class. The instructor does not understand child development and what is appropriate at what age. This class is fine if your child is three, but one and two year olds are not fit for the expectations they have.