The BumbleBee Tiny Toddler Program (ages 2-4 years) is ideal for any child who is interested in tennis and having fun. We teach real tennis, introducing them to the basic core tennis fundamentals with an emphasis placed on hand-eye coordination and footwork exercises.
Class Details
Class Description: The Tiny Toddler will have a mix of hitting drills, tennis volleys, footwork drills, and tennis skill building exercises. A stronger focus is placed on hand-eye coordination building activities.
Lessons are coordinated to be a mix of hitting tennis balls, tennis coordination exercises, and stroke development. This lesson setup uses the Quickstart method and the appropriately sized mini tennis net on 1/4 of a full court. Activities are imaginative and fun, so that learning tennis is relevant and enjoyable to even the youngest tennis players!
Examples of The Tennis Games They Will Play:
- Tennis Hockey: Using the ground stroke swing, we pass the ball back and forth to develop the concept of a ralley, the foundation of low to high, and a perpendicular racquet face.
- Tennis Volleys Wild Animals: Students choose an animal name and each time that name is called, the student must volley the shot. This works on improving reflexes and teaches volleying in a fun way.
- Around the World: A set of spots are placed across the court, based on the students’ choosing. The student then goes around the world taking tennis shots in different locations. This begins to add movement to the students’ tennis game.
Class Size: All classes have a student to instructor ratio of 2-3:1. In addition, all instructors are trained tennis professionals, experienced in dealing with young children and your child’s specific age group.
Class Length: All classes are 30 minutes long. Lessons typically consist of dynamic stretching with a focus on core body movement and coordination. The students spend time learning new tennis skills and fundamental technical practices by hitting balls, playing hand-eye coordination games, running, and lots of smiles. There are also 2-3 water breaks during every lesson.
Awards: At the end of the school year, medals are given to all students, reminding them the importance of practicing and working towards a goal.
PARENTS
Parental Involvement During the Separation Period
It’s fun and exciting for these little tykes to be playing tennis on their own. For many 2-4 year olds, Tiny Tennis is their first out-of-home activity, causing great excitement and sometimes a bit of adjustment in following directions and being attentive. We are aware that for this age group this is considered the Separation Period. In order to enable a smooth transition into this new structured setting, it is vital for a parent, nanny, or guardian to be present and involved in the lesson to assist, encourage and refocus the student.
What to Expect as the Guardian
Parents are required and encouraged to step into the class anytime the child becomes unfocused or needs help with the activity.
This is not a mommy and me class. Guardians do not have to be next to the child the whole time, just when it’s obvious the student needs extra guidance. We hope that by the end of the class season, students will be self sufficient 90% of the time. When the child doesn’t need assistance, guardians can wait to the side on the benches.
Additional Assistance
If we find that behavioral issues persist throughout a session and are disruptive, we will work with parents to resolve the situation so that everyone ends up happy with their BumbleBee Tennis experience. This may include moving from group lessons to private lessons, but we’ll cross that bridge if we get there.
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Prices
To stay consistent with our pricing information, please go to our Pricing page to look at the most updated pricing for Manhattan, Queens and Brooklyn.
Pro-rated Forward Enrollment applies to everyone so your child can sign up for tennis with us anytime during a session! (space permitting)
Levels
Groups are available during the school year at all of our locations. There is a student to instructor ratio of 2-3:1.
Ideal for: Older two year olds to younger four year olds. Group classes are 30 minutes long, so students should be able to follow directions well and focus for an extended period of time.
There are now five different groups within the Purple level, based on age. They are all for beginners:
- P1: 2 -2.5 years old
- P2: 2.5-3 years old
- P3: 3-3.5 years old
- P4: 3.5-4 years old
- P5: 4-4.5 years old
Playing Space
We have outdoor tennis courts as well as indoor locations (large gymnasiums), in which we setup a complete Tiny Tennis Pro tennis court that matches the skills, sizes, and abilities of young children. Using the Quickstart method established by the USTA, the shorter nets and smaller racquets and balls enable children 10 and under to learn tennis in an easier, more fun way. Scaling down the game enables children to feel overjoyed, instead of overwhelmed and provides them with the confidence and ability to cover the entire court.
- Racquets- In all of our youth tennis programs, we ask that youth racquets be used not only to prevent injury, but to also make it easier for students to have control of their movements. For children 8 and under, 19″, 21″, or 23″ racquets are used.
- Balls- Regulation tennis balls are too heavy for smaller racquets, in addition to being too fast and bouncy. Foam or low-compression balls move slower and bounce less, so students can practice volleying and work on hand-eye coordination.
Cancellations
Weather Cancellations
If your class is canceled due to bad weather, we will contact you via email and automated phone message that day prior to class. We hope to notify you 1.5-2 hours before the class. However as much as we try, we don’t always get it right, so thank you for your understanding with the fickle nature of rain. Read our entire weather cancellation policy.
For youth classes, the rained out class will be added to the end of your session at the same time and place. Please pencil into your calendar the 2 weeks after the “technical” end of your child’s session for rain make ups. The dates are included in your class notes.
Student Cancellations
We strictly follow our cancellation policy if your child has to miss class. Please read it over thoroughly.
FAQs
How do I sign up my child to a private lesson?
Submit a private lesson schedule request by clicking the button below:
Can my child do a trial lesson?
Sure! You can create a BumbleBee Tennis profile for your child and make payment for the class ($34), however we would not enroll your child in the lesson of your choice until 2 days prior to the week in which you’d like him/her to take the trial lesson. This allows those who would like to sign up for the full session to do so.
Will you find a tennis partner for my little tennis player, so that they can do a half hour semi-private?
If we know someone offhand we will try to match you up. Generally, however, it’s hard to match up the exact schedules and levels. It’s best if they have a friend that they can do a lesson with.
Read Why Choose BumbleBee Tennis… Free Tennis or Not and let us tell you why. You might also want to read and see where we’ve been seen in print or on the web. So check out our BumbleBee Tennis as seen in post!
Thank you for your interest in and for choosing BumbleBee Tennis!
Get more information on our affordable Youth Tennis and Adult Tennis lessons in NYC where we have locations in Manhattan, Queens and Brooklyn!
Interested to sign up to our Spring Youth Tennis Program, Adult Spring Tennis Program or our Summer Camp 2011? Let us know. Fill out our Spring 2011 Sign Up Interest-Youth, Spring 2011 Sign Up Interest-Adult or Summer 2011 Sign Up Interest forms.
