What to do? Thoughts?

[twoofthem]

I need advice on what direction to take with my 5yo. I have two gymnast dd, both have a good amount of talent and both go to a pretty good gym. My lvl 6 started doing gymnastics as a level 4, never did gymnastics before and has taken off since then. She scores well, almost always places at meets. As a result of being at the gym my other daughter has been at the gym a lot and started doing gymnastics in June when she was put on the "A" team, which is pretty much level 3. She is getting bored out of her mind and just wants to do more and bigger gymnastics. Last week she made her press handstand which she taught herself, she can do a snap turn on beam and she almost has her kip that she has also taught herself, has an amazing tap swing, can to a front layout in the pit (coach taught), front tuck, and she has good form. She has all her level 3 skills, lvl 4 vault and it would not surprise me if she could make it over the table. She is spoiled at the gym because I work there and has lots of time on the equipment and will often time weasel her way into practice with the 6's because she loves the coaches and they love her.

Now she wants to quit. And of course I will let her but I'd hate to see her quit if it's just that she is bored, which her coach thinks may be an issue. I do believe part of the problem is the freedom she has been afforded at the gym which makes the structure of practice more difficult for a 5yo. So we are going to eliminate her time to 'play' on the equipment and just give her a break from being there for about a week. I don't think they want to see her quit, she has lots of talent and loves to be there, never stops swinging on anything close to a bar or flipping around.. so one option presented was letting her move to lvl 4 which she can't compete, score out in May (turns 6 in April 29), train lvl 5 til she can score out at 6 and so on until her age doesn't stop her. This gym is not one of the gyms that has girls do multiple lvls a season, they don't move girls up, they all spend a full year per level, even the ones that could so they are not a gym that pushes through the levels. On a team of about a 100 girls I think one skipped/scored out of level 6 that I am aware of, the rest one season at a time. So I don't feel they are pushing her as much as trying to keep her challenged.
I also feel that just taking a break would be fine because I think she could pick up her skills pretty quickly and she really is so young but if it's just that she is bored..
I'd appreciate any opinions on this.

 

[gymdog]

I think taking a small break sounds like a good idea. I'd also try to talk to her a bit about why she wants to quit if she generally seems to like gymnastics (sounds like it from your description), with a 5 year old it could be some reason like she misunderstood something with a coach or another child in the group is being mean, etc.

 

[fuzi]

I think taking a small break is a good idea. She's only five. Ask her why she wants to stop. Maybe she wants to try a season of soccer, or take art lessons. This is the time for her to explore. Or maybe it was some sort of misunderstanding, some kid said something mean about her being better. Find out why and talk through it.

As you suggest, she'll probably miss the gym. Provided she can handle the hours and her body can handle the pounding, it seems like the coaches are right by letting her uptrain and score out of the levels as she is old enough. Even if she can't compete in sanctioned meets because of her age, maybe she can show her routines in practice meets within the gym? Does the gym have any sort of exhibition team that performs at community gatherings? She might have fun flipping in front of a crowd at a local sports game.

Finally, I think you are right by limiting her gym "play time." As a former coach, I often found that staff members children had the hardest time dealing with the structure of workout, as they were used to being able to own the gym. That isn't to say she should never play in the gym, but ideally she shouldn't have more open gym time than the other children.

 

[gym law mom]

Ask her if there is any other sport she would like to try or would she like something like a dance class? Being only 5 she may not have any ideas, but you could bring up friends that do other activities---would she like to do something with one of them?

A short break won't hurt at all and if she wants to go back, she doesn't have to "score out" of L4 and can't compete L5 til she's 7 anyway. This is a wonderful time for her to explore other things.

 

[bluesocks]

My DD (now 6) has said in the past she wants to quit. Usually I explain that we have paid through the end of the month and she will need to go to the classes we paid for. I tell her we can talk again at the end of the month and make a decision at that time. Without fail, she has not wanted to quit by the end of the month. I think at 5 it is more about not wanting to go to practice that night (rather than quitting altogether).

I also think a small break may not be a bad idea. The other thing I have noticed is that when my DD said she wanted to quit, the gymnastics at home never stopped (still doing handstands and cartwheels and hanging off of furniture). I have told her that as long as she is doing gymnastics moves at home, she will be in class to learn proper technique!

blue