When founder Carol Kay Harsell’s dance studio tripled in size in a matter of months, she wondered why her preschool dance program enrollment wasn’t growing as well. After discussing the matter with CFO Bernard Friedman, Harsell realized the problem was that many young children were in child-care centers and preschools. When Friedman suggested they take [...]

My Gym was founded in 1983 when partners Yacov and Susie Sherman and Bill Caplin opened their first centers in Van Nuys and Santa Monica, California. The founders soon expanded their business throughout Southern California and there are now locations throughout the United States.My Gym offers movement, tumbling and exercise classes for children aged 3 [...]

San Francisco mother Joan Barnes created the Gymboree Play and Music Program in 1976 when she couldn’t find a safe place for new parents and children to play and exercise together. There are now locations across the United States and throughout the world.Gymboree Play and Music centers offer different classes each week for children ranging [...]

Upon finding out that she was pregnant, fitness enthusiast Jill Manly began directing her attention to infant and early childhood fitness. Through her research, Manly discovered a lack of fitness in young children and decided to do something about it. In 1992, after developing a curriculum for her classes, Manly started Stretch-n-Grow in Galveston, Texas.Each [...]

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After teaching grade school in public schools for years, Robin Wes used his physical education, psychology and motor development degrees to open The Little Gym in 1976. Although it started out focusing on physical education, the program has evolved to focus on children’s intellectual and social development as well.Today Little Gym offers programs for various [...]