Ellsworth tots taught to tumble

  • Published
  • By Airman Ashley J. Woolridge
  • 28th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
ELLSWORTH AIR FORCE BASE, S.D. --  Much like their Airmen moms and dads, many Ellsworth children now start their Wednesday mornings with a physical training routine - not at the Bellamy Fitness Center or Pride Hangar - but aboard a bus.

Children ages 2 to 6 of base personnel now have the opportunity to learn basic gymnastics techniques and routines while perfecting their fine motor and listening skills during Tumbling Tots classes aboard Katie Welch's Tumble Bus.

Welch, Tumbling Tots instructor, is an experienced gymnast who has been involved with the sport in one way or another since she was 5. Helping children get this kind of early start on an active lifestyle is one of her main goals for the class.

"I love little kids," Welch explained. "I think fitness needs to be fun for kids so they enjoy it and stay active for the rest of their life. I teach them how to catch, how to throw a ball, preschool gymnastics, fine motor skills and how to follow directions from someone other than a family member."

At the beginning of each class, Welch involves the children in a group activity - pumping their arms to lift up a large colored tarp and smile at each other from underneath it - before sitting them down to explain the rules of the class. She stresses the importance of listening to the coach, as well as vital safety tips including being careful not to hit their heads.

Ana Welle, spouse of an Ellsworth Airman, said her 3-year-old son, Anthony, enjoys learning gymnastics.

"He likes to swing (from the trapeze)," Welle said. Welch has one hanging from the ceiling of the bus.

Besides the trapeze, the Tumble Bus also features a balance beam, miniature rock-climbing wall, horizontal bar, hopscotch pad, monkey bars and a springboard. Welch uses the remaining floor space to teach the tots different positions like "C" and "present" when landing a jump, and "tuck" when preparing for something like a somersault.

Welle said she enrolled her son in the class to give him more than just physical exercise.

"It's good for him - it gives him something to do and gets him moving," Welle said. "He works out some of that energy and it's educational, too. She (Welch) practices colors and numbers with them."

Welch has been teaching gymnastics on and off since she was 16, and consistently for the past two and one-half years. Though she is helping the children she instructs learn valuable skills, she added her own life is enriched with every new child she meets.

"Every kid is different, and every day I learn something new from them," Welch said. "They teach me how to enjoy and work with every kid, and learn more about their different personalities and myself. "

The techniques she teaches are important, but Welch said she hopes her class rewards the children - and their entire families - with more than just a few gymnastics skills.

"I hope families can spend more time together," Welch said. "I think it's very important to have your kids involved in several different activities, but that can make it challenging for a family to be together at night. I hope making one less trip to town for a gymnastics class will allow them to spend more quality time together."

Welle, who has two active young children and a husband with a busy Air Force career, knows just how precious family time can be.

"I like to keep both of my kids involved in sports and educational activities," Welle said. "We like it, because we live on base and this is closer for us than going downtown."

The previous owners of a local gymnastics studio were the only Tumble Bus operators in Rapid City, S.D., before they sold their business, but Welch said there are similar mobile gymnastics studios all across the country. After mulling over the idea to have her own Tumble Bus operation for more than a year, Welch decided to start offering classes in Rapid City in September of this year. She parks the Tumble Bus in front of the Child Development Center to give parents a chance to keep up with their busy work schedules without compromising their children's opportunity to learn.

At the conclusion of the class, Welch endears herself to the tots by rewarding them with two hand stamps for being good listeners. She added little moments like those are what she loves most about her job.

"The first day they come in and they're scared - they don't know who I am or anything about gymnastics," Welch said. "Then, over weeks and months, you just see huge changes and a transformation in them. It's fun to see them grow as little people and be stronger kids."

For more information, or to enroll in the class, contact Welch via phone at (605) 391-8881 or e-mail at katie.tumblingtots@gmail.com.