My three-year old sits on the couch asking for the third time, “Is it time to go to Rompy yet?” It’s 7:30 a.m., and sadly we have four more hours to go.
We had our first experience with “Rompy” at Romp n’ Roll last summer, when she and her big five-year-old brother attended Chef Rompy together. Each week they gathered with other little ones and created yummy treats that they shared with me happily when class was over, beaming proudly at their masterpieces. Now, she is chomping at the bit to get back to Romp n’ Roll.
When her big brother headed off to kindergarten with our even-bigger boy this fall, our little princess enrolled in Princess Class (a perfect fit!) with much success. Now she’s enrolled in her own “big-girl” class called Rompy’s Adventure, where she spends two hours at Romp n’ Roll and even gets to bring her lunch “like the big kids do.”
It’s not just us. . .other Richmond moms love what Romp n’ Roll, a locally-owned business created by Michael & Babz Barnett have to offer, too.
Dana Atkinson, Richmond mom told us: “We LOVE everything about Romp n Roll! I enrolled my daughter in the Babies class, Virginia Center Commons location at 6 months. Our instructor was also owner, Roger Reynolds. With the classes and use of Open Gym time, we quickly saw our daughter improve her gross motor skills. With the guidance of the instructors, we have moved into several other classes and are now enjoying the 2 for 2 Gym / Art class with Rachel Reynolds, owner of their new location in Mechanicsville. Each class has shown us as parents how to interact and improve on our play time with our child. We can credit Tumble Tunes and “2 for 2” Gym / Art with teaching structure, listening, and waiting skills as well as introducing fine motor skill lessons. My family feels our daughter has opened up and become more confident since participating in Romp n Roll classes.”
Classes start when kids are three months old, and many Richmond parents keep their children enrolled for a long time, even after going to school. Our five-year-old always gets jealous when he knows his sister is going to Romp n’ Roll now that he’s in kindergarten, so I need to find a class for him, too!
Dana Atkinson adds, “Romp N Roll offers parents chances to learn more by providing speakers on healthy foods or how play time is learning time. We love the owners Roger and Rachel Reynolds, and the entire staff at the Mechanicsville location, they take a personal interest in each child’s development.”
Kristy Roy, Richmond mom of two told us that “Romp n’ Roll open gym is such a fun place for us to hang out: our three-year-old can run and play while I play in the baby area with our one-year-old, and I know it’s going to be safe and fun. We also get a nice chance to chat with other Richmond parents and have a little social time while the kids get to play on all the super-fun equipment in the gym.”
Romp n’ Roll isn’t just about the kids, it’s about Richmond families, Dana adds, “Probably the one thing I love most is the fact that my husband enjoys it as much as my daughter and myself. He loves to sign up for a class to take with her and we enjoy Open Gym as a family.”
About Kate Hall
