St Charles Gymnastics

I love this gym the coaches are very experienced and always willing to address any question or concern I love how the staff makes me feel at home I have a daughter on GIJO and a son on USGA I’m there every day of the week my daughter is challenged and push but always has fun and wants more I have noticed that the coaches change their coaching styles per each child personality which is awesome my son has a peanut allergy and all the coaches keep his safety in Mind I trust the staff and I feel blessed to have them keep up the great work!

I read on
that the St. Charles Gymnastics Academy offered an open gym on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays (hours vary, so check the web site). My five-​year-​old future stepdaughter is always disappointed when she can’t go to gymnastics when she visits from Phoenix, so this seemed like a good compromised.
Best of all, the web site said“Parents are welcome to help build towers out of foam blocks, create forts with mats or just sit back and watch the smiles,” which was perfect for us because Miss S always wants us to join in the fun and has a very hard time playing independently.
Upon walking into the gym, we signed a sign-​in sheet that was supposed to serve as a waiver. I was a bit surprised the gym didn’t require me to actually fill out forms with our address, phone number, and Miss S’s age. Nonetheless, we proceeded to go into the gym, and were immediately captivated by a large foam pit kids could jump or slide into. I immediately noticed the foam was leaving little bits of purple on Miss S’s tights (no child was wearing gym wear), so I declined to get into the pit. It’s probably for the best considering what was to happen next.
Because we so rarely get to spend time with Miss S, we take a lot of pictures of her when she’s with us. I pulled out my camera to get a few shots of her having fun in the foam pit. Within 20 seconds, a staff member was yelling at me to put the camera away, as they do not allow photos «for insurance reasons.» Really? I can’t take pictures at open gym because you’re worried I’m going to sue you? I do not appreciate that at all, and have since found that is not the policy other local gyms use.
Moving on, Miss S was having a hard time selecting an activity, and wanted me to play with her, as she didn’t know anyone, and most of the children were much younger. I demonstrated how to use one of the trampolines to her while she watched from the side, and was immediately scolded by one of the staff members. I later heard this same staff member say, very condescendingly, to another parent who was doing the same: «I know it’s very tempting to show off your skills on the trampoline, but we don’t allow adults to use them.» As if this woman was eager to «show off» on the trampoline.
In the end, parents weren’t really welcome to build towers out of foam blocks or create forts with mats — they were watched like hawks. I do not jest when I say I heard the staff members at the gym reprimanded four different parents in the hour we were at the gym. Although Miss S absolutely loved the experience and wanted to come back for more, I am simply not willing to return to this place. It left a bad taste in my mouth and we’ll go elsewhere the next time Miss S is in town.