The Value of Gymnastics (part 4)

Practical Examples of Success in the Gym

“Geez, it just seems so difficult to find the right sport/activity, find the right program, and then the right instructor and then be consistent in participation”. “It seems like being enrolled for 6 months to 5 years is so long and so limiting in allowing other activities”. “It seems so expensive”. “It seems like a difficult task to keep my kids involved.”  I have heard it all and we could go on for a long time saying all the things that keep kids from getting active. Instead, to close this series of posts, I would like to share a few things I have seen in hopes of encouraging you to enroll your child in a developmental sport like Gymnastics, or more specifically Gymfinity Gymnastics (end of shameless plug).

At Gymfinity we have classes for kids as young as 15 months; in class they learned how to move sideways and how to support their own weight upside down. In the next stage of classes these kids will learn to combine these movements into learning a cartwheel.

Every year we have Gymfinity kids tell us how they won school honors by setting records for push-ups, sit-ups or other fitness challenges. Of course Gymnastics inherently build strength but look at the self esteem and confidence that came with it.

We have had children brought in diagnosed with low muscle tone disorders. Because they had such fun in class, doing appropriate skills and loving to learn, they often develop “normal” age appropriate strength and again, how do you think they feel being able to control their movement successfully?

Being in the air, like on a trampoline, has a direct effect on the attainment of locomotor skills like running, hopping, leaping, jumping, galloping, and more. Seeing how kids love to bounce and knowing it is helping them develop is a real job perk for our instructors.

We have seen many kids with special needs learn to overcome fears and setbacks by persisting through challenges by having fun. Some kids are afraid to climb ladders because they feel that they will fall through, our kids know that, with a slide at the top, the fear could never hold them back.

I had a group of parents ask me how I got the little tykes (3 years old) to follow me from one station to another without a single disruption. I responded “they know that what we’re going to do is cool and misbehaving might cause them to lose a turn”. They don’t want to miss one second of the fun.

One of my favorite things I can relate is what I heard this week. A mother was sharing her morning story with other parents in the lobby;  she told everyone how her son, had put her car keys in her hand and said “lets go mom, I don’t want to be late.” When kids are having fun and loving what they’re doing, you don’t have to push them.

The main thing is that your child is happy. When that happens they will encourage YOU to keep taking them to class/practice. That seems pretty easy.