How to deal with boredom?

[hannahsmom]

DD, who is 6, is in what is equivalent to a level 3 class (our gym doesn't compete L3 but she will compete L4 next year). She is sort of ahead of the class in most, if not all of the skills they are doing. They just started last week to learn the L4 floor routine, but they are doing very slowly. The HC and I have had a few conversations about dd and his answer is, as I've mentioned before, "if she would just focus, we would fast track her." Well, our last conversation, I finally just agreed to disagree with him and while I trust him fully on his philosophy, I disagree on his assessment of my dd. Well, anyway, I've just decided that I am not going to go to him with issues any longer and just ride things out. Unfortunately, over this weekend, dd told me that she is bored and not having fun. She tells me LOVES gymnastics, but she is bored and tired of doing the same thing every single class period. They focus almost entirely on either conditioning or the L4 floor skills...no bars, no beam, no vault. I don't want to cause any more issues with the HC, but I need some advise on what to do with dd in the meantime. This gym doesn't compete the fall season, so it will be a full year before she competes and is able to see how all of this fits together. I have complete faith that once she does see that, she will be fine. But, in the meantime, what is the best way to keep her happy while she's bored so she doesn't lose the love of gymnastics she has right now? Should we maybe just try a new activity or sport? I signed her up for tennis lessons today and she skis with her dad almost every week, so her focus is not entirely on gymnastics anyway. Any advise would be greatly appreciated!

 

[ginnymac]

If dd is truly bored, I would look around at other gym options. You may find a better program suited for her or you may see that your current program is the best for her at this time..

From reading your posts, it seems like you do not think that this is the gym for her. Even the best gym in the world is not perfect for every gymnast or gymnast family. People change gyms all the time. At 6, she should not be bored.

 

[mmsuberly]

I have run into the same thing with my 6 and 7 year old so they are moving to a new gym where my 9 year old. My 9 year old is also getting a little bored and anxious to move up from L3 to L4 (she may be able to after the Feb home meet). Her coach is aware that she is bored and has found ways to occupy her. The coach assigns her to the girls that are new to teach them the L3 routines. This has allowed her to solidify her routines while feeling useful. It has also helped her build a relationship with her teammates.

I recommend checking out other gyms, because my 7 year old was ready to quit until I took her to watch a meet. Now she is very excited again.

-Michelle

 

[mariposa]

I think changing gyms might be something to consider. My DD is a 2nd year level 4, she is 7 1/2. She has never been bored at her current gym. She goes 10 hours a week. Yes, they do a lot of repetitive stuff, conditioning, etc, BUT the coaches seem to know how to make it fun for them and keep them happy and interested.

Not all gyms work for all kids. The HC seems to have a negative attitude towards your daughter. She is 6, most 6 year olds are unfocused. It is normal. You find ways to KEEP them focused and interested. At least that is what DDs coaches do with the 2 6 year olds.

DDs old gym she was a 6 year old level 4 and sometimes got bored of gym because she didn't fit well there. She was often put in the younger group, though she was competing and the coaches often didn't seem to know how to deal with young kids.

Good luck figuring stuff out.

 

[hannahsmom]

Unfortunately, switching gyms isn't much of an option right now. There is another gym in town that we considered, but they are not "technically" as good of a gym. They don't have a team beyond L6, so if DD did go there and continued, we'd have to move again in a couple of years. They don't seem to stress good form, which my daughter really does well. If there is one thing I, as an uneducated gymnastics mom can say, she has great form and I'd hate for her to lose that or get lazy with that because that gym doesn't stress it. The only other gym is about an hour away and is really a high power, elite level gym. With my family's gymnastics history, I'm afraid to put my dd in an environment, that while is extremely successful, really pushes winning, winning, winning. I know that, truly, the gym she is in right now will be the best gym for her in the long run. It's just making it through this rough year. I have a suspicion they might move her directly to L5 this summer, but in the meantime, I have to figure out a way to keep her happy.

 

[ginnymac]

If that is the case, why not see if you can put her in a tumbling class (maybe even at your current gym) or ballet class to keep her interested and challenged?

 

[Pineapple_Lump]

Oh dear, you are in a difficult situation, seems like you do not have that many options. Perhaps try the other local gym, if your daughter has naturally good form anyway, she may be fine there. If they only go to level six; it should not matter so long as she is enjoying it. You can deal with a gym change then if she is dedicated and still loving the sport. No point being unhappy and quitting for the sake of being at good gym.

Try talking to the HC again and mention that your daughter is losing interest and stating that she is bored. Make sure you do it in a non threatening way. Remember a lot of us coaches are very important and never wrong!
What she probably needs is more variety; it’s hard for children of that age to understand the need for repetition and constant correction. This could be the reason for your daughter’s lack of 'focus' as the coaches call it.

I have heard many parents talk about ballet improving their child’s ability to focus; perhaps this would be an activity for your daughter to try. Over time she might develop the kind of focus the gymnastics coaches expect of her. Not to mention Ballet is great for gymnasts. Any dance class would probably work well; ballet is always a good start.

As a side note: It takes a bit of organisation and effort on the coach’s part to create variety, challenge and fun within the lesson while achieving the necessary skills. It is a mistake to believe activities need to be harder, for a child to enjoy them. Activities could be a creative or problem solving challenges while waiting for a turn.

I see so many coaches label children of this age as hard work/behavioural problems/unfocused etc... When really the problem is that the coach makes them sit and wait for each turn instead of keeping them busy. Its torture really to put a five year old in a building with all this fun stuff around, and make them sit and wait for each of their six turns on the equipment they get during the hour. First the mind waders, then the body follows.

 

[Shelovesthebars]

Oh, I was just in the same boat that you are in. My daughter is 4 and she was just moved up to level 3/4 last week. And now they have discovered that she is much, much better than the kids that have been in the class for almost a year. So the coach suggested a private lesson on top of her 2 classes just to keep her from getting bored. (I am waiting to start those)There is no place to put her at her level for a very long time. She will be able to compete level 3 next year. When she was bored in her 1/2 class, we put her in other things. It still didn't help the boredom. So she did a few privates at her coaches suggestion. First, the coach sort of freaked after a few privates because she picked up the skills so quickly. Then the coach said they were going to hold her back. Then the coached finally got a clue and moved her. She finally figured that holding her back wasn't an option if we were going to stick with it. I guess I would check out other gyms temporarily and let them asess her. It can't really hurt. Let them tell you where they think she should be. She doesn't have to stick with the gym that only goes to level 6, she only has to stay interested in the sport. Or another option is to check out the local YMCA gymnastics program. She can take extra classes there if they have a program and it is inexpensive compared to clubs. She could get time on the other equiptment and stay at the gym she is at. Or, ask the coach to do a trial fastrack to see if that helps the boredom and the "focus" problem. Give it a certain time agreed upon by both you and the coach.I think she just needs a challenge. My kid is like that. Hope this helps. My DD's head coach was fortunately smart enought to figure things out without my intervention but that is not always the case.