The Little Gym Of Evergreen, San Jose

In 1976, educator, musician, and kinesiologist Robin Wes longed for a children's gym that prioritized personal growth over competition. Unveiled at a time when physical-education classes pushed students to focus almost exclusively on winning, Robin's program was swiftly adopted and is now used in more than 300 locations of the Little Gym worldwide.

Robin still pens original music to accompany lessons, which engage whippersnappers 4 months–12 years old with gymnastics, dance, karate, and parent and child activities. Each of the Little Gym's classes introduces simple movements that sharpen motor skills and set brains whirring, allowing kids to progress at their own pace.

Staff members strive to build a base for lifelong social skills and self-assurance with each exercise, including activities rooted purely in fun, such as summer camps, which helped the Little Gym earn title of the Best Gym Party in Parents magazine in 2014.