We will be offering a 2-3 year old tumbling class beginning in January of 08. What are some of the activites other instructors do to keep these little firecrackers interested?

in our preschool classes we do some things on the mats to keep them interested in between tap and ballet...

they do:
-forward and backwards summersaults
-rocking horses
-headstands
-bridges
-if they have strong headstands then handstands
-and then we try to get them to do a headstand and have them balance by themselves
-they like walking in their bridges, but you have to basically do it all for them
-they dont to backbends, but you could probably start this later in the year...

if you want any more ideas feel free to pm me

I do basic stretching to start.

In addition to the skills already posted, I do different balances. We put legs straight out in front of us, hands behind us, and lift up, keeping our legs straight. Then we lift out legs one at a time. We also hold this position and turn over. We also go onto our hands and knees, then lift one leg at a time and if they can do that, we do one arm and one leg. And balances standing on one foot.

Across the mat we do:
log rolls
tuck rolls
seal walks
kicks
bunny hops
crab walks
marches forwards and backwards

in my gym club we get them to do like asault courses kinda using the balance beam ad vaul using matts for flips at the end xx love emily x

i start all my classes out by running laps...even my little ones- they love it!

we then stretch
bridges
bunny ears (lay on belly and reach head back to toes)
handstands
forward rolls (down an incline mat)
forward rolls on the regular mat
jump on 2 feet
jump on 1 foot
log rolls
bear walks
we have a balance beam that they walk across a couple of times
as they get older we do:
cartwheels
straddle rolls
backward rolls
crab walks

Hey I know you prob already started your class but i thought id post any way.

we start with rocking backwards and forwards to incourage backwards rolls

forward rolls
Bunny Hops progressing up into a hand stand (so to speak)
Basic crab positioning (when stong enough pushing up)
We do full cobra and then with a toe touch
Splits

and others that I cant think of yet.

I'd say it really depends on the student as I do have one 4 year old who can drop back into the crab on her own she can do walk overs front and back and she can also bend back and go under her own legs to end up lying on the floor. but i do think she is an exception as the others are know where near that.