Parents Advice for new (kind of) to gymnastics

[gymnastmom0326]

Hi all! My daughter is 5 and started in gymnastics at a small gym near our house at 3.5. She did a few sessions of preschool gymnastics with absolutely no structure and no skills based learning, and then she told me she was bored and wanted to go somewhere to learn "real" gymnastics. I researched gyms in our area and found one that regularly sends boys and girls to college on Division I athletic scholarships. They have two girls who are committed to DI schools for this upcoming year and several more currently in recruitment. My daughter tried out for their pre-team this past July when she was 4.5 and we were told she was mature enough but not physically ready. She started a beginner class and progressed quickly and the pre-team coach reassessed her in December. That coach then moved my daughter into the coach's advanced beginner class and offered private lessons. I asked my daughter and she was thrilled to spend one on one time with her coach and counts down the hours until the lesson. Since mid-January my daughter has been practicing at home daily (mostly body shaping and basic skills like handstands and cartwheels) without prompting and doing 1 hour private lesson and 1 hour class per week. The coach thinks she will be ready for pre-team this summer and then perhaps level 3 the following year when she is 6 turning 7. I was a gymnast growing up and made it to level 8 before quitting after injury when I was 17. I never had much natural talent and repeated every level, but worked really hard. My parents didn't have a lot of money when I was in preschool/elementary school, so on top of the minimal natural talent, I was not able to progress in gymnastics until we could afford for me to move up to the team when I was in late elementary school. My husband and I are lucky to have the money that I did not have growing up, and my daughter also seems to have the natural talent I did not have, as well as the drive and love for it I did have. I want to harness this for her, but I do not want to push her too hard. I want her to still have fun and love the sport, first and foremost. Looking for advice on if there is anything else I can be doing to set her up for success, while still letting her be a kid. This has mostly been lead by her every step of the way. She told me the other day, "mama, I wish I could just do gymnastics everyday!". Any advice welcome

 

[Dahlialover]

Welcome to the world of gymnastics parenting! It sounds like you have your daughter set up nicely. If your daughter has time and energy for extra sports, I highly recommend swimming lessons. Swimming develops the muscle strength and body awareness that is essential for gymnastics, and it is a necessary safety skill. It can be hard to find time for swimming lessons once your child is doing team gymnastics multiple times per week, so it’s a good idea to do as much as you can on that front before starting team. Dance classes are also helpful but you don’t want to over-schedule such a little kid, so I’d stick with the swimming because it’s a more important for life.

Good luck!

 

[oliver5a5]

Just keep letting her lead. If she’s asking for more, she’s enjoying it. Don’t overthink the future right now.

 

[Lurker]

An hour private lesson once a week to make pre-team. Hmm

 

[Coach Kate]

I really find privates unnecessary at this stage. I find it preferable to have kids do a second class instead, or alternative complimentary activities.

 

[gymnastmom0326]

Welcome to the world of gymnastics parenting! It sounds like you have your daughter set up nicely. If your daughter has time and energy for extra sports, I highly recommend swimming lessons. Swimming develops the muscle strength and body awareness that is essential for gymnastics, and it is a necessary safety skill. It can be hard to find time for swimming lessons once your child is doing team gymnastics multiple times per week, so it’s a good idea to do as much as you can on that front before starting team. Dance classes are also helpful but you don’t want to over-schedule such a little kid, so I’d stick with the swimming because it’s a more important for life.

Good luck!

Thanks! She does a half hour swim lesson once a week with her brother, and was doing ballet but asked to stop so we did!

 

[gymnastmom0326]

An hour private lesson once a week to make pre-team. Hmm

I had this thought when it was first offered, but it has made a huge difference for her in terms of skills and she enjoys it so much. Their pre-team girls right now compete Bronze, though they are talking about stopping that after this year and just starting competition at level 3.

 

[gymnastmom0326]

I really find privates unnecessary at this stage. I find it preferable to have kids do a second class instead, or alternative complimentary activities.

Thank you for your viewpoint! My daughter has made a lot more progress with one-on-one attention, and it makes her so happy, so we're ok with it for now. She does also do swim lessons and was doing ballet. She wasn't loving ballet anymore, though, so we let her stop. We didn't want her to be overscheduled so little.

 

[InMyGymMomEra]

My daughter turned 6yo at the end of last summer — just in time to attend a “mini camp” (3 days, 2 nights) at IGC in Pennsylvania and loved it!! I would highly recommend for that age. We have also done privates here and there for skills that have been tricky for her (pullover, back handspring). She also loves reading the Perfect Balance Gymnastics series (great for this age!).