My 10-year-old DD is a gymnast starting optionals this year. She's always had great seasons and she was always a hard worker - motivated to go to the gym and always used her time wisely. The past few months (maybe 5 months or so), it's been quite up and down. As we continue to get into these higher levels (7 now), I've noticed a trend that the parents are extremely active in their child's gym journey. By this I mean, they set daily and weekly goals with their daughters, and gymnastics is a huge topic in their home. It is truly front and center for many of these families and for those girls, I've noticed that those gymnasts seem to be the super-achievers who are really going far. From day one, I've always been a more hands-off parent. I volunteer for all the meets, I get her to practice on time, and I'm always there to provide support and a smile so I don't mean that we are totally checked out. Our commitment level is high but I try to stay in my "lane" so to speak and not coach my child or offer advice about gymnastics that could be wrong.
The problem is that my daughter is really struggling with many things at practice. She is distracted a lot, she tends to check out of skills she doesn't want to do (typically the more difficult ones), and I've noticed she doesn't focus on perfecting things the way that some of her teammates do (specifically many of them who have the go-getter, goal setting parent.) In general, there is a lot of "down time" at the gym (aka she finds ways to spend time practicing skills she is familiar and comfortable with while avoiding harder skills) while others are taking time to face the more challenging skills and I feel it's holding her back (but I haven't stated this to her). Quite frankly, it's going to be a tough season if she doesn't start practicing the upgrades.
Am I the problem? Should I be taking time to sit down with my daughter and help her map out goals and a more hands-on role with her by offering advice or tips? Because it sure feels like the more active parents & families equate to kids who are excelling in the gym. I'm genuinely curious what people's opinions are about this (both parents and coaches) And for parents who have been successful with a more hands-on approach, how do you do that without layering on the pressure and creating a kid that is only doing the sport for their parent?
I sense this is a multifaceted motivational issue and there are many contributing factors that I haven't listed here with one of the main ones being that her closest friends are nailing down their skills at warp speed compared to her so I feel that it could be an insecurity issue as well.
I'm struggling - she's struggling. Does anyone have advice?
The problem is that my daughter is really struggling with many things at practice. She is distracted a lot, she tends to check out of skills she doesn't want to do (typically the more difficult ones), and I've noticed she doesn't focus on perfecting things the way that some of her teammates do (specifically many of them who have the go-getter, goal setting parent.) In general, there is a lot of "down time" at the gym (aka she finds ways to spend time practicing skills she is familiar and comfortable with while avoiding harder skills) while others are taking time to face the more challenging skills and I feel it's holding her back (but I haven't stated this to her). Quite frankly, it's going to be a tough season if she doesn't start practicing the upgrades.
Am I the problem? Should I be taking time to sit down with my daughter and help her map out goals and a more hands-on role with her by offering advice or tips? Because it sure feels like the more active parents & families equate to kids who are excelling in the gym. I'm genuinely curious what people's opinions are about this (both parents and coaches) And for parents who have been successful with a more hands-on approach, how do you do that without layering on the pressure and creating a kid that is only doing the sport for their parent?
I sense this is a multifaceted motivational issue and there are many contributing factors that I haven't listed here with one of the main ones being that her closest friends are nailing down their skills at warp speed compared to her so I feel that it could be an insecurity issue as well.
I'm struggling - she's struggling. Does anyone have advice?