I'm new to the CB though I've been reading comments for a while. Please excuse me if anything I say sounds elementary, I'm still learning and have quite a way to go. I joined specifically so I could get an experienced gym parent perspective on this...a little background is required, so pardon the length!
My dd is 6 and started gymnastics at a gym close to our house about 7 months ago, mainly because one of her friends went there. I did not research or check out other gyms...this one was convenient and she was a beginner. This gym is a recreational gym and does not have a team above level 4. Again, this wasn't a concern when we started.
After about a month, they asked my dd to join their level 1 team. I use the term "team" loosely because I realize that 1-4 don't compete in the true sense, but as this gym is part of a chain, they hold in house meets at the lower levels with their other locations. I believe she was asked to join because she listens well, picked up skills quickly, and she is small for her age (40 lbs and about 3'7"). And probably because, since she has 2 brothers she has no fear (yet). She learned the level 1 routines and skills within 3 weeks and enjoyed the last 2 meets of the season. Now she has the "bug".
At evaluations they moved her to level 3 because they felt she would get bored quickly at 2. She's going twice a week--one day is a 2 hour team practice (8 girls, one fabulous coach) and then one night 1 hour power tumbling (2 coaches, 12-14 girls of many ages). My main concern is that she wants really badly to do more skills--she loves to practice, but where she is, she just doesn't get the attention. In her last tumbling lesson, she only got to attempt her bh 3 or 4 times and she's dying to get it and shes frustrated, as am I given the amount of money I'm spending (and I know it's minimal at this point, but still, I don't feel I'm getting my money's worth).
Here's my dilemma: we are centrally located and so we could easily commute to a gym with a stellar reputation for turning out elites, though I hear they are very picky in their team selections, even at the lower levels. However, I took dd for a trial class and she was only 1 of 4 girls in the advanced class and she was right up there in skill level with the others who were a couple of years older. She LOVED the gym and has been begging me to change her over. For approximately $10 more a month than what I'm paying now, she could take 3 hours advanced class and the gym with a proven track record (no guarantees to make their team of course), but she'd have to give up the 4 or so meets that her other team would have done. This doesn't seem to matter to her. In her trial class she got to try doing a bwo on the floor beam several times with a spot and her bh multiple times, all within the one class.
Now that I see this in writing, it seems like a no brainer, but I just want to know that I'm doing the right thing (but do we ever KNOW really?). I know the chances of her becoming some gymnastics prodigy are slim and I'm not even sure that's the life I would want for her even if she did have the talent. But there is just something inside me that says if there is a chance that she could do something she loved and be good at it, I want to give her that opportunity to develop and find out. But I'm really struggling with whether we should take this leapbecause it's outside my comfort zone. I don't want to choose her course for her, but I don't want her to ever look back and wish I'd given her a chance...parenting, what a struggle!!
What would you do if it were you? Money and distance aren't a factor at this point. I simply don't know anyone "on the inside" to ask.
Sorry for the novel! I'll await your expert advice!!!
Thanks!!
My dd is 6 and started gymnastics at a gym close to our house about 7 months ago, mainly because one of her friends went there. I did not research or check out other gyms...this one was convenient and she was a beginner. This gym is a recreational gym and does not have a team above level 4. Again, this wasn't a concern when we started.
After about a month, they asked my dd to join their level 1 team. I use the term "team" loosely because I realize that 1-4 don't compete in the true sense, but as this gym is part of a chain, they hold in house meets at the lower levels with their other locations. I believe she was asked to join because she listens well, picked up skills quickly, and she is small for her age (40 lbs and about 3'7"). And probably because, since she has 2 brothers she has no fear (yet). She learned the level 1 routines and skills within 3 weeks and enjoyed the last 2 meets of the season. Now she has the "bug".
At evaluations they moved her to level 3 because they felt she would get bored quickly at 2. She's going twice a week--one day is a 2 hour team practice (8 girls, one fabulous coach) and then one night 1 hour power tumbling (2 coaches, 12-14 girls of many ages). My main concern is that she wants really badly to do more skills--she loves to practice, but where she is, she just doesn't get the attention. In her last tumbling lesson, she only got to attempt her bh 3 or 4 times and she's dying to get it and shes frustrated, as am I given the amount of money I'm spending (and I know it's minimal at this point, but still, I don't feel I'm getting my money's worth).
Here's my dilemma: we are centrally located and so we could easily commute to a gym with a stellar reputation for turning out elites, though I hear they are very picky in their team selections, even at the lower levels. However, I took dd for a trial class and she was only 1 of 4 girls in the advanced class and she was right up there in skill level with the others who were a couple of years older. She LOVED the gym and has been begging me to change her over. For approximately $10 more a month than what I'm paying now, she could take 3 hours advanced class and the gym with a proven track record (no guarantees to make their team of course), but she'd have to give up the 4 or so meets that her other team would have done. This doesn't seem to matter to her. In her trial class she got to try doing a bwo on the floor beam several times with a spot and her bh multiple times, all within the one class.
Now that I see this in writing, it seems like a no brainer, but I just want to know that I'm doing the right thing (but do we ever KNOW really?). I know the chances of her becoming some gymnastics prodigy are slim and I'm not even sure that's the life I would want for her even if she did have the talent. But there is just something inside me that says if there is a chance that she could do something she loved and be good at it, I want to give her that opportunity to develop and find out. But I'm really struggling with whether we should take this leapbecause it's outside my comfort zone. I don't want to choose her course for her, but I don't want her to ever look back and wish I'd given her a chance...parenting, what a struggle!!
What would you do if it were you? Money and distance aren't a factor at this point. I simply don't know anyone "on the inside" to ask.
Sorry for the novel! I'll await your expert advice!!!
Thanks!!