Elgin's Goddard School first in country to add pre-K gym class

The owners of the Goddard School in Elgin like to do things a little differently from the hundreds of other locations around the country.

The Bushwood Drive location was the first to use hardwood floors through its building. The grass in the backyard is from Soldier Field. A culinary chef prepares nutritious meals daily.

Now, Elgin's is the only Goddard School in the country to have a full-time physical education teacher for children from 6 months to 6 years old. Goddard has 400 locations in 34 states.

“The kids don't even know they are doing physical fitness and learning,” said Sheryl Nelson, owner of Elgin's Goddard School. “It is fun, and that is what preschool is supposed to be. When you're having fun and having a good time, you learn the most.”

Physical education teacher Nicole Vittorino came up with the concept during the school's recent summer camp where students did gymnastics one day per week but were eager for more.

Vittorino, who taught preschool and prekindergarten at the school, said the activities are engaging and create healthy habits at a young age.

“With the childhood obesity problems, kids need to be physically active and know about proper nutrition because we don't want problems to escalate in their early teens,” Vittorino said.

For the younger children, Vittorino said she teaches them how to move their arms and legs. Older children learn to play sports like baseball and basketball, and basic yoga and gymnastics. Every student participates in physical education for 20 to 30 minutes per day.

“It's not just about sport,” Vittorino said. “In the end we are tying in the academics and socialization skills. They're learning to count, their colors and spelling.”