The Little Gym: Three-Dimensional Learning For Kids In The Heart Of Denver
The Little Gym: Three-Dimensional Learning For Kids In The Heart Of Denver
The Little Gym: Three-Dimensional Learning For Kids In The Heart Of Denver
The Little Gym is a children’s fitness franchise offering developmentally appropriate, non‑competitive classes for kids aged 4 months to 12 years. It focuses on gymnastics, dance, karate, sports, and imaginative play — built on a philosophy they call “Three-Dimensional Learning,” which includes physical, cognitive, and life-skills development.
The Little Gym was founded in1976 by educator Robin Wes and franchising began in 1992. Wes still remains highly involved in curriculum development, including lesson plans and music creation. Aida Cruickshank is the franchise owner of the location on South Colorado Boulevard in Denver and another in Park Meadows. Cruickshank was motivated by the quality of the curriculum and recognizing a need for such child-focused programs in Denver, she decided to open a new location seven months ago.
Aida Cruickshank opened The Little Gym on South Colorado Boulevard in Denver in January 2025.
The Little Gym is the place where children ages 4 months to 12 years learn and grow through movement-based learning and imaginative play.
“The programs are music based so there’s a lot of dancing involved,” said Cruickshank. “We focus on the whole child, so it is recreational gymnastics and there’s no competitive aspect to it. We don’t just focus on the physical component of gymnastics, but also the whole child. We learn about colors and hand eye coordination, and numbers and the world.”
Cruickshank grew up in the Virginia Village neighborhood so she is familiar with the demographics and what parents look for. She also has a great sense of community which is one reason she joined the Glendale Chamber. She formed a partnership with fellow chamber member Esters Neighborhood Pub to pprovide a dedicated menu for The Little Gym birthday parties. This partnership reflects a
commitment to supporting local and small businesses. Ester’s, owned by fellow Virginia Village resident Paul Sullivan, is a familiar name to many The Little Gym families and also supports local Denver Public School events.
Cruickshank also expressed enthusiasm for developing further community partnerships and wants to increase awareness, with a strong belief in the power of word-of-mouth referrals.
The Park Meadows location has been operational for over 15 years, demonstrating the long-term appeal of the programs, with many families enrolled for 5 plus years and multiple children per family participating over time. Cruickshank is looking to build upon that success and generate more awareness of her gym in Denver.
The Little Gym’s activities are designed to support physical development alongside cognitive and social skills, such as learning colors, numbers, hand-eye coordination, and understanding concepts like recycling (e.g., through parachute games with sorting). The approach is recreational gymnastics, emphasizing fun and development over competition.
The Little Gym offers Parents’ Survival Nights, a drop-off program offering a few hours of gymnastics, games, and pizza for children. Currently held once a month, with potential for increased frequency based on demand. Parents are encouraged to stop in and check out the facility to see if it is right for them. Mention this article and The Little Gym will give you $20 off your first month membership for each child.
The Little Gym is located at 1485 S Colorado Blvd, Ste 425 in Denver. For more information, visit www.thelittlegym.com/regions/denver.
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