Have you ever wondered which age is the right
one to start your child in gymnastics? While the answer to this question is
dependent on many variables, and there is no correct age that suits all
children, in general, most preschoolers are ready for a gymnastics class. The
kids don’t see it as another hour of structured time that takes away from their
play time; they see it as their
play time. They get to climb, run, jump, and be with other kids—a sure-fire
recipe for fun.
Gymnastics as a Foundation for All Sports
Participation in preschool gymnastics helps
children grow in many ways. While they gain physical strength and flexibility,
a gymnastics class is also an opportunity to work on those all-important social
skills, such as waiting your turn. Children also develop emotionally as they
learn to cope with the rigor of practicing a new skill over and over. Will this
help them learn to dribble a soccer ball or shoot baskets or hit a softball?
You bet it will. Will they find it easier to work with teammates? Again, the
answer is yes.
Perhaps the biggest benefit of gymnastics is
a growth in confidence that translates to greater achievement in sports and
academically. A preschooler who has learned she is capable of performing
gymnastics tricks will be able to use that confidence in a year or two as she
learns how to add, subtract, read, and write. Think back to your elementary
school days. Which kids always knew the answers? The confident ones!
Preschool Classes
Here at Tumblebees, our preschool gymnastics
classes are carefully designed to meet the needs of this young age group. Our
youngest gymnasts, those under the age of 2, participate in class along with a
parent or guardian. As each child grows in skills and confidence, and adds
another year, parents/guardians transition out of the class to our observation
area. Your child knows you are still in the gym, but by 3 years of age, they
are ready to focus on the teacher during class.
Does your child need to start at the youngest
age? Not at all. While we believe that an early start allows more time to build
skills and confidence, it’s never too late to jump in and join the fun!
It’s almost here! Our annual Tumblebees dance recital is just around the corner, figuratively speaking. Of course, it’s
actually at Greensboro College. In all the excitement, it’s easy to forget some
details regarding what is expected of you and your child. You might want to
bookmark this post as a handy reminder.
The recital experience actually
consists of three separate events: dress rehearsal, the recital itself, and a
photo shoot. The photo shoot will take place during your young dancer’s regular
dance class the week after the
recital. Trying to squeeze it in at either the dress rehearsal or the recital
is just too much for everyone to handle!
Makeup
Please be sure your child has her
complete makeup applied and ready-to-go for each of the three events. The dress
rehearsal is not only about wearing costumes; it’s also a chance for you, as a
parent, to do a run-through of your preparation for the recital. Specifically,
it’s an opportunity for you to learn how much time to allow for makeup
application. Plan on a practice session at home before the dress rehearsal.
Costume Prep
Make sure your dancer’s costume
is ready for each of the three events. Dance costumes are often made of fabrics
that may melt under the high heat of an iron, so please use steam to remove
wrinkles. Make sure that you have the entire costume
when you leave your home! Organizing it all the night before is a good idea,
with the main part on a hanger, if applicable, and shoes, stockings, and
accessories packed in a clean bag.
Accessories
The only accessories your dancer
needs are those that are officially part of her costume. In general, no jewelry
is allowed because it may detract from the dance itself, but if your child has
pierced ears, talk to her instructor about appropriate post earrings.
Also remember that colored nail
polish is not acceptable, although clear polish is okay to add just a little
flash.
Details
Be sure to read your May
newsletter and/or any handouts you receive from your child’s dance instructor.
These will feature details such as the times not only of the recital, put when
your child will need to report for both the dress rehearsal and recital. Be
sure to keep directions to Greensboro College handy to make sure your child
arrives on time.
Finally, remember to relax and
enjoy this experience!
Gymnastics and diving naturally go together.
Watch divers and gymnasts and you’ll see many of the same somersaults and
twists being executed by each group. Competitive divers often enhance their
skills with training in a gym using a simulated springboard, called a dry
board, over a foam pit, along with harnesses and belts for safety. Divers use
such facilities to learn new dives without the worry of landing in the water
with a smack and to perfect dives they already know.
Children as young as 5 years of age can begin
learning these techniques. If your child is interested in learning to dive or
participating in a competitive program, rest assured that this activity
provides multiple benefits that reach far beyond the pool.
Benefits
Competitive diving offers a multitude of
benefits that will serve your child throughout life. In addition to the
development of athletic and motor skills, it also teaches several cognitive and
social skills necessary for success in school and career.
Among the most important skills is the
ability to set realistic goals. Your child may enter our program with
plans to win an Olympic gold medal, and while that would be thrilling indeed,
it doesn’t just happen. A new diver needs to master the basic forward dive
before moving on to dives with somersaults and twists. Coaches work with their
athletes to set appropriate short-term goals along the path to the bigger
dream. Along the way, your child can also learn how to apply this method to
everything from school projects to career planning.
Navigating the emotional ups and downs of
competition contributes to a child’s ability to deal with both success and
disappointment. After a successful competition a young athlete may think that
practice is a thing of the past, until the next meet! Competitive diving can
also help your child learn how to deal with momentary disappointments without
derailing long-term commitments and goals.
A Word about Safety
The dangers of diving receive publicity
whenever a swimmer is hurt in such an accident. However, studies have shown
that most diving injuries occur when unsupervised or untrained divers behave
recklessly without adhering to common safety precautions. One of the advantages
to supervised programs is that young athletes learn how to balance safety and
risk, so they can enjoy the thrill of slicing into the water while avoiding
injury.
