Not to go off topic here, but if gymnasts don't have a pressure release valve...they will create one! Most commonly fear issues & mental blocks. But it can become much more serious such as eating disorders, cutting, etc. Yes, the pressure on young girls today is very scary.
As we try to plan for our DD's futures, we all need to keep in mind that this is their childhood & should be filled with FUN memories. Yes, is it wonderful that so & so's DD can do this or that "before anyone else". But does she have too??? And in ALL areas of her life??? (gym & school & music lessons & language lessons, whatever???). The rest of the pack learns to read & write too(given proper teaching) & at that point it doesn't really matter who did it 1st does it? Slow & steady DOES win the race in the long run. The kids that will excel should be given fitting opportunities for that during school hours. Especially since they may be bored by the teacher having to teach the needs of lowest level child in the class(this is why I think gifted classes would be beneficial to your DD). But I don't believe they should be overly pushed, stressed or pressured beyond reasonable limits either. I don't believe in spending a lot of time & money to have my child tutored "extra" just to get her ahead of the pack(so they can say "Susie is the top of the gifted class"...yes people do it!?!). Enrichment opportunities are wonderful but I believe in all things in moderation. So many parents seem to have "more the better" mentality now a days
. Education should NOT be a race & neither should gymnastics...balance in ALL things is what I'm trying to teach my DD. Learning to balance it all, in a healthy way, is a skill she will need to get her through life. Sometimes tough decisions need to be made, because no one can do it all.
My DD is in highschool now & I'm trying to prepare her for SAT's, college & the work force later on. At this point no one cares that she was doing 6th grade math in 4th grade. Or that she was L5 state AA champ that same year. It just matters that she does well her classes this semester, which are a mix of AP, honors & college prep classes in 10th grade. And doing a million hours of gym wouldn't be condusive to that...so choices had to made. She is not taking ALL honors or AP classes. She could be, but I know her & I know that would have stressed her out too much. So I encouraged her to take a mix. Why would I push her to her breaking point??? She needs a pressure release valve & her less challenging classes give her that. I see some of her friends who took ALL honors & AP classes hitting that breaking point & it breaks my heart
. I worry about them soooo much!!!! My DD has a mix of very challenging & some less challeging classes and she is learning & thriving in the highschool environment academically & socially.
Plus, she still loves gymnastics and is on a low pressure/low hours team. A decision she needed to make to lower her stress level. She loves the excercise & the mental challenge gymnastics gives her. But education will take her MUCH further in life than her gymnastics & she knows that. So she had to make some tough decisions. But she is balancing it all very well. I'm very proud of her!!!!
Just trying to give some parents of younger girls a glimpse into the future & how the path can change & may need to change from what you "assume" it will be at this point.
I just don't see an optional level gymnast(doing upwards of 20hrs/week at the gym) being able to handle the class load I know the gifted highschoolers at my DD's highschool handle. Something would have to give. Be it, less gym hours, less challenging classes or home/gym schooling. Seriously, there just aren't enough hours in a day to do it all & have some down time in there too for relaxing. I feel so bad knowing my DD's friends are up until 1am doing homework on a nightly basis
. How long can they keep that up???
Good luck with your decisons!!! And as TQM says, I'm sure your DD will thrive just because you are already a concerned & involved parent!