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Did you know that March is National Cheerleading Safety Month? Did you also know that the cheerleaders are more likely to severely injure themselves than the players at any given football game? That’s why devoting a whole month to cheer safety is important—especially when kids are involved.
We’re not trying to dissuade you from enrolling your child in a cheerleading class. Quite the opposite! Cheerleading is such good exercise, so socially beneficial, and so confidence-boosting, that we highly recommend it as an activity for kids if they’re interested.
However, it’s critically important that we look out for kids’ safety while they’re practicing cheer. After all, if your child incurs a serious injury from cheerleading, the physical risk of cheer will have outweighed the benefits. Wondrfly’s goal is to create a guide to those benefits and risks so you can make an informed decision about whether cheer is right for your child and set them up for success!
First, let’s look at all the ways in which cheer classes can benefit your child.
Cognitive Benefits of Cheerleading for Kids
Learning the words to new cheers helps kids to develop stronger working memory and build literacy skills. Pairing these words with accompanying movements helps kids connect their peripheral and central nervous systems to enhance their brain-body connection and coordination.
Physical Benefits of Cheerleading for Kids
Cheerleading is the ultimate workout. Kids strengthen their lungs by learning to project their voices. They strengthen their bones with weight-bearing exercises like jumps. They build their muscle strength and flexibility to prepare for and learn new tricks. At the intersection of dance and gymnastics, cheerleading provides kids with the benefits of both!
Social Benefits of Cheerleading for Kids
Behind all the tricks and chants, the reason for cheerleading is simple: to provide emotional support for the sports team playing. Kids can carry this over into their social lives, learning the importance of having a positive attitude and using it to encourage and support their friends, family, or any other “team” they’re a part of.
Emotional Benefits of Cheerleading for Kids
Rigorous exercise like cheerleading pumps the body full of feel-good hormones called endorphins, but research has revealed that just smiling can also release endorphins! Since cheerleaders are encouraged to look, well, cheerful, while they exert themselves, they get a double dose of the brain’s natural antidepressant.
Things to Consider Before Signing Your Child up for Cheerleading
Now that we’ve discussed the pros of cheerleading classes for kids, we have to discuss the possible cons. Note we said, “possible”. With the right safety measures and a little parental involvement, cheerleading pitfalls such as injuries and burnout can be avoided.
Physically Demanding
As discussed before, cheerleading is an excellent physical challenge for kids. However, unless a child carefully works to build strength, flexibility, and knowledge of correct techniques before attempting tricks, it’s likely they’ll injure themselves. This is why it’s so important to find cheerleading instructors who are well-trained and certified in cheer safety.
Competitive
Cheerleading is a highly competitive activity for kids. Environments like that can, unfortunately, be conducive to bullying and hurt feelings on occasion. If your child wants to pursue competitive cheer, impress upon them the importance of sportsmanship and politeness, even if others are rude to them. Remind them that their performance in cheerleading doesn’t determine their worth and that winning isn’t nearly as important as being a good team player and doing their personal best.
Risk of Burnout
Let’s be clear. There’s a risk of burnout with almost any activity your child takes on. Putting too much stress on any one activity in your child’s life will make it less pleasurable for them whether it’s school, sports, music, or art. Make it clear to your child that, while they need to honor their commitments to their team, there’s not much point in continuing with a hobby if it’s not fun for them anymore.
How to Practice Cheerleading Safety
Safe cheerleading is all about two factors: expectations and education.
When kids start cheerleading, they’ll likely be initially interested because of all the cool tricks and stunts they want to learn. It’s important for kids to understand that it will take them a long time to develop the strength, flexibility, and technique to do those things. Setting their expectations at a realistic level from the start will encourage them to be patient, and not reckless, with themselves.
Education refers not only to the education of children about proper warm-up techniques, spotting, and other essential safety guidelines. It also means the education level of the instructors should be verified before signing your child up. It’s a good idea to visit or call the cheerleading activity provider you’re considering beforehand, to inquire about their experience and safety certifications.
Looking for Cheerleading Classes for Kids Near You?
If you live in the Hoboken/Jersey City area, you’re in luck. Wondrfly is your newest online resource for finding the perfect kid’s activities near you. If you don’t live in Hudson County, subscribe to our Newsletter for updates on when we’ll be serving a city near you.
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