Geez, I'm trying hard to remember what I typically do with my beginner class (currently ages 6-9). We're on summer break as of this week (the gym is closed and getting a much needed makeover) so for some reason all gym related knowledge has fled into the very back of my mind, haha!
Do you work towards skills at all? I always try to make the class fun, but have the girls learn something new they can show off at home or at school (at least that's what I say in order for them to get motivated on a bad day!). I let them do forward and backward rolls down a wedge mat (spotting the latter, because some kids really struggle with it), cartwheels on a line (or on hands and feet I draw and cut out, or draw on the floor with chalk) and inclined handstands against a wall (easy version: feet on floor, hands on wall; hard version: hands on floor, feet on wall).
- For fun, I sometimes let the girls hang on the bar, one at a time, and have them play goalkeeper. Aka, I throw a soft ball at them (another child could do this at well, if told beforehand not to throw too hard) and they try to block it using their body, mostly their feet. A lot of kids love it and don't even notice it's conditioning!
- Oh, and there's a nice drill for both the forward and backward roll that includes a ball as well. The kids form pairs and stand facing eachother, probably a good 15 inches apart, sort of depends on the size of the child. One of them is holding a ball. They then attempt to simultaneously roll onto their backs, come back up and transfer the ball to their partner. Repeat as often as you see fit. They could also start from a squatting position, if they aren't quite ready to roll back from standing.
- If the kids can hold a push up / full plank position, you can pair them up and have them try to catch the other child's arm(s) with their own and make them fall. Make sure they're on a soft surface though, and test their planking abilities before attempting this game. I once had a girl fall and start crying hysterically. No fun.
- Using a larger, medium high, solid mat, you can once again have them get into a push up position, feet on the mat, hands on the floor, and make them walk around the mat (if the younger ones can't quite hold the plank, allow them to rest their shins on the mat, makes it a little easier on them). This can also turn into a chase if you let the kids do it in pairs.
- Any kind of jump is always an easy option. A combination that's fun and challenging is straight jump, tuck jump, straddle jump, straight jump with full turn (or half turn, depending on the child's abilities).
Also, because I currently don't have any 4 or 5 year-olds in my class (youngest just turned 6), I can't guarantee you that all of these stations would work for that specific age group. Just a general warning, I don't want any injured children because of me
