Business Spotlight
TUMBLE TIME XPRESS
Let the Good Times Roll!
BY MICHELLE LASSLE
When did you open Tumble Time Xpress?
Tumble Time Xpress was started by Angie Harper. There were two vehicles to the business, a Train (a trailer wrapped to look like a train) and the Bus. I purchased part of the business in the spring of 2015, and two years later, I bought the Bus that completed the business.
What was your inspiration to get into Tumble Time?
My background is education. I taught middle school math at Adams Middle School for 17 years prior to Tumble Time. I knew I wanted to continue working with children but needed a different path. My daughter and I did Mommy and Me classes when she was a toddler, and she loved Tumble Time. When Angie and I discussed the possibility of purchasing the business, it sounded like just what I was looking for.
Why did you choose Brentwood as your business' home?
Brentwood is the ideal place to raise a family. The schools are strong, there are parks everywhere, and it still has a small town feel to it. It’s a pleasure to be a part of such a great community.
Tumble Time Xpress was started by Angie Harper. There were two vehicles to the business, a Train (a trailer wrapped to look like a train) and the Bus. I purchased part of the business in the spring of 2015, and two years later, I bought the Bus that completed the business.
What was your inspiration to get into Tumble Time?
My background is education. I taught middle school math at Adams Middle School for 17 years prior to Tumble Time. I knew I wanted to continue working with children but needed a different path. My daughter and I did Mommy and Me classes when she was a toddler, and she loved Tumble Time. When Angie and I discussed the possibility of purchasing the business, it sounded like just what I was looking for.
Why did you choose Brentwood as your business' home?
Brentwood is the ideal place to raise a family. The schools are strong, there are parks everywhere, and it still has a small town feel to it. It’s a pleasure to be a part of such a great community.
What types of classes/camps do you offer?
We are a mobile business that offers weekly and monthly classes to preschools and daycares in the East County area.
Our Tumble Time classes consist of a warm up in English and Spanish, a large motor circuit focusing on a preschool tumbling skill, a weekly theme that includes a book or song and an ASL sign to go with it, ziplining into our ball pit, and a cool down with bubbles.
Our Sign and Move classes are offered to Kindergarten classes on a six-week basis. They have a similar format as the Tumble Time class, however there are more ASL signs each week. The classes will know 20-30 basic ASL signs at the end of the session, along with the rest of the fun that’s included in a Tumble Time class.
Mommy Mondays are our most unique class offered. We offer these enrolled classes at Willy’s Bagels on W. Country Club Drive. We have a toddler age class and two preschool age classes. We meet in their event room. The classes consist of crafts, fine motor skill activities, and books in their event room plus our Tumble Time class on the Bus. We call it Mommy Mondays but have Moms, Dads, Grandparents and other care givers coming together to be with their children and each other. It is a great way to connect families with like aged children.
Our Drop and Shop classes are once a week at the Streets of Brentwood. We give the kids an hour experience of Tumble Time while their families/care givers get an hour to themselves. This is our only drop-in type class, as the sign ups happen weekly and the class enrollment varies each week.
We are a mobile business that offers weekly and monthly classes to preschools and daycares in the East County area.
Our Tumble Time classes consist of a warm up in English and Spanish, a large motor circuit focusing on a preschool tumbling skill, a weekly theme that includes a book or song and an ASL sign to go with it, ziplining into our ball pit, and a cool down with bubbles.
Our Sign and Move classes are offered to Kindergarten classes on a six-week basis. They have a similar format as the Tumble Time class, however there are more ASL signs each week. The classes will know 20-30 basic ASL signs at the end of the session, along with the rest of the fun that’s included in a Tumble Time class.
Mommy Mondays are our most unique class offered. We offer these enrolled classes at Willy’s Bagels on W. Country Club Drive. We have a toddler age class and two preschool age classes. We meet in their event room. The classes consist of crafts, fine motor skill activities, and books in their event room plus our Tumble Time class on the Bus. We call it Mommy Mondays but have Moms, Dads, Grandparents and other care givers coming together to be with their children and each other. It is a great way to connect families with like aged children.
Our Drop and Shop classes are once a week at the Streets of Brentwood. We give the kids an hour experience of Tumble Time while their families/care givers get an hour to themselves. This is our only drop-in type class, as the sign ups happen weekly and the class enrollment varies each week.
What makes Tumble Time Xpress stand out from similar
establishments?
We stand out because we are a mobile business focused on kids.
We provide physical activity, learning and fun, no matter the weather. Most importantly, we bring the FUN to you! Tumble Time Xpress is available for birthday parties and all types of events (school fundraisers, family reunions, weddings, etc.)
What is your hope for the future?
My hope is that Tumble Time continues to bring joy, learning and fitness to families in the East County.
www.tumbletimexpress.com
925-308-6958
establishments?
We stand out because we are a mobile business focused on kids.
We provide physical activity, learning and fun, no matter the weather. Most importantly, we bring the FUN to you! Tumble Time Xpress is available for birthday parties and all types of events (school fundraisers, family reunions, weddings, etc.)
What is your hope for the future?
My hope is that Tumble Time continues to bring joy, learning and fitness to families in the East County.
www.tumbletimexpress.com
925-308-6958
Business Spotlight
THE LITTLE GYM OF BRENTWOOD
Little Gym, Big Fun!
BY MICHELLE LASSLE
What was your inspiration behind starting
a kids' gym?
In 2005, our first son, Logan, was born with special needs. At a very early age, he was diagnosed with Legg-Calve-Perthes. Doctors have no idea why certain children contract this disease and it affects neurotypical kids as well as those with special
needs. Doctors didn't think Logan would ever walk. So, we started researching activities that would help him work on his motor skills. There was nothing in this area, so after researching many franchises, we decided on The Little Gym and opened The Little Gym of Brentwood in 2008.
All three of our sons have gone through the program, from Birds to Grade School. As a parent and owner, I felt blessed to have been able to teach and spend so much time with my sons when they were young.
Why did you choose Brentwood as your
business' home?
We used to live in the Fremont area, Newark to be exact. After we had Logan, we started looking for an area where there was more of a sense of community, where you know your neighbors. We had some friends that had moved to Brentwood and ended up moving here ourselves in 2006.
a kids' gym?
In 2005, our first son, Logan, was born with special needs. At a very early age, he was diagnosed with Legg-Calve-Perthes. Doctors have no idea why certain children contract this disease and it affects neurotypical kids as well as those with special
needs. Doctors didn't think Logan would ever walk. So, we started researching activities that would help him work on his motor skills. There was nothing in this area, so after researching many franchises, we decided on The Little Gym and opened The Little Gym of Brentwood in 2008.
All three of our sons have gone through the program, from Birds to Grade School. As a parent and owner, I felt blessed to have been able to teach and spend so much time with my sons when they were young.
Why did you choose Brentwood as your
business' home?
We used to live in the Fremont area, Newark to be exact. After we had Logan, we started looking for an area where there was more of a sense of community, where you know your neighbors. We had some friends that had moved to Brentwood and ended up moving here ourselves in 2006.
What types of classes/camps do you offer?
We offer enrichment classes for children four months to three years, and recreational gymnastics for three & up. We offer themed summer camps for children four to 10 years.
What makes The Little Gym stand out from similar establishments?
There are a few things that make us stand out. All classes are taught in a fun, safe, instructor-led environment. The first is our instructors. We hire for personality, not just skills. Because of this, each instructor is AWESOME with the children. For grade school classes, I hire for skills and personality, and it take a long time to find the right person.
The second is our curriculum. We have specific elements and structure for each class that allows us to grow and progress skills as the kids get older. For the younger children, we focus on age-appropriate activities that will allow them to become successful and build self-confidence in a parent-child environment. For our three-year olds, we focus on PreK readiness skills such as listening, following directions, taking turns, impulse and emotional control all while working on physical skills in a gymnastics environment. Our four and five-year olds are entering our pre-gymnastics program where we start to work more on skill acquisition. At six and up, the children enter the grade school program. We have beginner, intermediate, and advanced classes. The intermediate and advanced classes start to work on USAG routines and the skills needed for those routines.
Third is the value. We are not ever going to be the cheapest program in town, but we will always offer the best value. Members are able to select a "home" class, but attend unlimited classes where we have available space. Unlike other programs, they don't have to pay for these extra classes.
Fourth is the cleanliness. All mats, equipment, etc. are disinfected daily and all flooring is either mopped or vacuumed daily as well. When you enter the gym, it smells clean. We understand our clients are trusting us to keep their little ones safe, and cleanliness is very important to them and to us.
We offer enrichment classes for children four months to three years, and recreational gymnastics for three & up. We offer themed summer camps for children four to 10 years.
What makes The Little Gym stand out from similar establishments?
There are a few things that make us stand out. All classes are taught in a fun, safe, instructor-led environment. The first is our instructors. We hire for personality, not just skills. Because of this, each instructor is AWESOME with the children. For grade school classes, I hire for skills and personality, and it take a long time to find the right person.
The second is our curriculum. We have specific elements and structure for each class that allows us to grow and progress skills as the kids get older. For the younger children, we focus on age-appropriate activities that will allow them to become successful and build self-confidence in a parent-child environment. For our three-year olds, we focus on PreK readiness skills such as listening, following directions, taking turns, impulse and emotional control all while working on physical skills in a gymnastics environment. Our four and five-year olds are entering our pre-gymnastics program where we start to work more on skill acquisition. At six and up, the children enter the grade school program. We have beginner, intermediate, and advanced classes. The intermediate and advanced classes start to work on USAG routines and the skills needed for those routines.
Third is the value. We are not ever going to be the cheapest program in town, but we will always offer the best value. Members are able to select a "home" class, but attend unlimited classes where we have available space. Unlike other programs, they don't have to pay for these extra classes.
Fourth is the cleanliness. All mats, equipment, etc. are disinfected daily and all flooring is either mopped or vacuumed daily as well. When you enter the gym, it smells clean. We understand our clients are trusting us to keep their little ones safe, and cleanliness is very important to them and to us.
What is your hope for the future?
In Brentwood and the surrounding areas, we would like to become a household name when it comes to enrichment and recreational gymnastics classes. Future plans are to grow to other cities in the East Bay which will allow us to reach more families and children and build confidence through fun!
3850 Balfour Road, Suite K
925-634-0034
www.thelittlegym.com/BrentwoodCA
Business Spotlight
BLACK DIAMOND KIDS CENTER
Courageously Live Your Strengths
BY MICHELLE LASSLE | PHOTOS BY RON ESSEX PHOTOGRAPHY
When did you open Back Diamond Kids Center?
We started in May of 1998.l
What was your inspiration behind starting a kids' gym?
The inspiration has always been to help kids, families and team members become confident, courageous and compassionate champions who make a positive impact in the world.
We started in May of 1998.l
What was your inspiration behind starting a kids' gym?
The inspiration has always been to help kids, families and team members become confident, courageous and compassionate champions who make a positive impact in the world.
Why did you choose Brentwood as your business' home?
Brentwood was chosen for business because it was home and an amazing city full of families who wanted the best for their kids. In 1998 there was a need for a gymnastics center. With the growth of Brentwood, we have been able to evolve and grow into a Children’s Activity Center.
What types of classes/camps do you offer?
We offer sports, education and entertainment activities for kids crawling to 18 years old. Our sports include cheerleading, dance, tumbling, gymnastics, ninja and aerial arts. We have a state licensed daycare and preschool for children ages 2 to 5 years old. Our entertainment activities include kids night out events, birthday parties and camps (any time school is not in session).
What makes BDKC stand out from similar establishments?
We love Brentwood because it is a city full of so many amazing activities for kids. The community is so supportive of helping kids develop healthy habits so that they experience a lifetime of success. We try our best to help parents in their efforts to raise healthy kids through high quality instruction, coaching and teaching. We love that we have the opportunity to offer parents so many different activities for all their kids at one location.
What is your hope for the future of BDKC?
Our hope for Black Diamond Kids Center is that it will continue to be a place where kids, families and team members feel more empowered to be their best. One of the joys of being in business for over 20 years is when our former students grow up and join our coaching and teaching team. They infuse a deep sense of passion for passing on to kids the goodness they received when they were students at Black Diamond.
Brentwood was chosen for business because it was home and an amazing city full of families who wanted the best for their kids. In 1998 there was a need for a gymnastics center. With the growth of Brentwood, we have been able to evolve and grow into a Children’s Activity Center.
What types of classes/camps do you offer?
We offer sports, education and entertainment activities for kids crawling to 18 years old. Our sports include cheerleading, dance, tumbling, gymnastics, ninja and aerial arts. We have a state licensed daycare and preschool for children ages 2 to 5 years old. Our entertainment activities include kids night out events, birthday parties and camps (any time school is not in session).
What makes BDKC stand out from similar establishments?
We love Brentwood because it is a city full of so many amazing activities for kids. The community is so supportive of helping kids develop healthy habits so that they experience a lifetime of success. We try our best to help parents in their efforts to raise healthy kids through high quality instruction, coaching and teaching. We love that we have the opportunity to offer parents so many different activities for all their kids at one location.
What is your hope for the future of BDKC?
Our hope for Black Diamond Kids Center is that it will continue to be a place where kids, families and team members feel more empowered to be their best. One of the joys of being in business for over 20 years is when our former students grow up and join our coaching and teaching team. They infuse a deep sense of passion for passing on to kids the goodness they received when they were students at Black Diamond.
Other Business Spotlights
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