"Today in school settings kids only get maybe an hour maybe two hours a week with a physical education teacher, when it should be an hour every single day," said Curtis Groff.

A physical education teacher, Groff is teaching gym, but not in a school. He teaches at the Kidz Gym, a before and after program for kids two to twelve.

"Children can't go outside and play they have lost a lot of the stuff they used to be able to do 20, 30 years ago when it was safer for a child to go outside and play in a field by their house so we opened up this gym and let kids get that freedom," said Groff.

…An opportunity to focus on playing and moving around. It does more than get them physically active.

"We have a lot of children that came here and parents told us they were closed in. They weren't expressing themselves and after they come here, they feel confident, they build teams. They build team spirit, friendships with each other," Groff said.

Exercise for kids

Over the last ten years, video games and computers have replaced the more physical activities that kids do. Some experts say, if you want your kids to be active and healthy, don't depend on schools to do it.

"Michael is very shy and very self reserved. When he started coming here and working with Mr. Curtis and interacting with the other kids, he has come outside of himself," said his mom, Valerie.

They don't use any additional weights. The kids stretch and flex, hit the cardiovascular system and test their agility with a speed ladder.

For many children, what they learn here they may actually bring home. You can say they become the family role model.

"He comes home and exercises with the family, showing us tricks, wanting us to do hand stands. It just really has done a great thing for his self esteem. I know that his coming here is going to enhance him for his future," said Valerie.