Fantastic gymnastics! (How to get your kid started)

It’s Olympic season! This summer, across the globe, kids and adults are tuning in to watch the best athletes in the world perfect their craft. Gymnastics has always been one of the most thrilling and highly anticipated events at the Olympics, and as your little one watches competitors perform incredible feats in shiny, colorful, eye-catching clothes, they may well dream of one day standing atop a podium and graciously accepting their own medal! Be warned, however, that while it offers enormous benefits to your child’s physical, mental, and emotional health, gymnastics is an extremely challenging (and somewhat risky!) physical activity. To help you start your child’s relationship with gymnastics off on the right foot, check out our answers to commonly asked questions about gymnastics classes for kids!

What Are The Benefits Of Gymnastics Classes For Kids?

The positive impact of gymnastics on your child’s life will go beyond just improving their health and athleticism. Gymnastics, like any sport, can also boost your child’s cognition and emotional processing skills as well. Some well-known benefits of gymnastics lessons include:

• Increased Strength and Flexibility- This is the most obvious perk of signing your kid up for gymnastics lessons. The muscle strength and flexibility your child attains by practicing gymnastics skills will serve them in any future physical activity they choose to take up, from break dancing to lacrosse!

• Disease Prevention- A healthy regime of regular exercise is the first line of defense against chronic conditions like diabetes and heart disease and will lay the foundations for a happy, healthy life.

• Stronger Bones- Weight-bearing exercises such as gymnastics build bone density, lowering your child’s risk of osteoporosis much later in life.

• Better Personal Goal Setting Skills- While team sports teach interpersonal communication skills, individual fitness activities like gymnastics can develop intrapersonal skills like self-discipline and effective goal setting. When your child competes in gymnastics, they are really competing with themselves and learning how to set and achieve goals in terms of their own abilities.

• Improved Motor Coordination- Motor coordination refers to your kid’s ability to perform several actions with their body at once, and it’s essential to all types of activities from team sports to learning a musical instrument!

What Types of Gymnastics Classes Are Out There For Kids?

When we think of gymnastics, we usually think of competitive athletes performing floor, vault, beam, and parallel or uneven bar routines before judges. In fact, the discipline is far more diverse than you might expect! Here are just a few of the different types of gymnastics classes your child could participate in. See which one is right for your child and do some research!

• Artistic- This is the traditional, competitive discipline you may be familiar with from watching Olympic athletes. It consists of the four types of routine listed above and is usually scored by a panel of judges on technique and artistry. Your child will likely start out with simple floor and vault routines before moving on to bars and beams!

• Rhythmic- Also making an appearance at the Olympics, this discipline incorporates props such as hoops and ribbons as well as ballet and dance techniques. Rhythmic gymnastics is a great option for kids who are hooked on music as well, as routines are always performed to a soundtrack.

• Trampoline- A newer and more challenging discipline, trampoline gymnastics can improve balance and allow kids who already have a firm foundation in the basics of gymnastics to soar to new heights!

• Tumbling- This category covers rolls, cartwheels, and handsprings performed on the ground. Tricks are often taught in brief sequences known as tumbling “passes”. Tumbling is a great place to start for beginners: even toddlers can learn to turn a somersault. It’s also a great gateway into cheerleading!

• Acrobatics- As opposed to the other types of gymnastics on this list, acrobatics is a group effort! Usually performed in small groups of 3-4 acrobats, this discipline involves performing tricks using nothing but the body weight of the acrobats! It’s very challenging, but if your little one has ever threatened to run away and join the circus, they might be particularly intrigued by this discipline which can serve as a foundation for trapeze and aerial stunts!

• Aerobic- Aerobic gymnastics consists of brief routines which are usually a minute or two long and are designed to get the heart pumping fast! This is a great option for families who need a fitness boost, but don’t want exercise to be boring!

• Parkour- Parkour uses flips and tricks to strategically navigate obstacles. It’s a new discipline that can develop your child’s ability to think on their feet as well as their physical skills. Because this discipline is typically practiced outside of a gym, safety pads and equipment are a must! This style is definitely only suited to older kids with some existing gymnastic skills and experience.

How do I Make Sure My Child is Ready For Gymnastics Classes

Here are a few helpful hints on how to prepare your child for their first gymnastics class. Keep in mind that it is always a good idea to consult with your pediatrician on whether your child is ready for the physical challenges of a new sport or activity.

Make sure your child is:

• Properly Fed and Hydrated

Make sure your child eats a nutritious, balanced meal before class. They’re going to need the energy! However, it’s important to give adequate time for digestion before class, as there’s little as unpleasant as trying to flip and roll around with an upset stomach. Plan to eat a healthy meal one-to-two hours before class. Hydration is also essential before, after, and during class. Be sure to bring a water bottle. And with all this eating and drinking, it follows that you should always have your child use the restroom immediately before class to avoid their missing out on any instruction later!

• Dressed Appropriately

Have your child wear close-fitting clothes, as one of the first things they’ll learn is how to invert themselves, or to hang upside-down. Make sure they won’t be distracted by trying to adjust their clothes in this position. Snug tank tops, T-shirts, leggings, leotards, and bike shorts, are all good clothing options. Jewelry is a huge distraction and a hazard, so none will be allowed aside from stud earrings. Long hair should be braided or tied back in a ponytail—a bun may be uncomfortable while rolling forward.

• Primed for Safety

Ensure the gym has proper safety mechanisms in place such as padded floors and mats. Also, teach your child about the importance of spotting—or having assistance from an instructor—as they try new moves. Inform them of the difference between appropriate and inappropriate touch within the context of instruction, as the instructor may have to be hands-on, but this is no excuse for misconduct.

• Having Fun!

The most important part of seeing your child enrolled in any activity is getting to experience their passion and genuine enjoyment of something. If that passion isn’t there or dies out, your child won’t be able to reap all the benefits of what they’re doing. Check-in with them regularly to make sure they’re still getting all they can out of their gymnastics classes.

To find the best local gymnastics classes for your child, check out www.wondrfly.com!