Gymnastics: the Foundation of All Sports

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!

Tumblebees Dance Recital

We are so proud of our dancers at Tumblebees Ultimate Gym who did a great job at the dance recital on Saturday!

Tutus & Bows: What Every Dance Parent Should Know Before Your Child’s Recital

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!

How Diving Prepares Children for Life

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.

Looking for family fun? The Ultimate Climbing Gym is a Must-Do!

What do you do while your child is at gymnastics? Maybe you run a quick errand or stay in the waiting area to watch or catch up on phone calls. Do you ever wish you could join in the activities? Well, this is your chance! The Ultimate Climbing Gym at Tumblebees isn’t just for kids—it includes features designed for all climbers from the age of 5 on up.

Physical Setting

The Ultimate Climbing Gym’s 40-foot-tall rockwall offers 16 top ropes and lead climbing, while the bouldering space runs to 2,000 square feet. Routes are set up ranging from 5.7 (novice) to 5.13 (expert) in difficulty; if you want greater difficulty, it can be arranged. All the gear you need is available to rent, including shoes and harness, with a discount if you rent both.

Family Activity

Rockwall climbing is a great way for everyone to destress at the end of the day or week. Yes, even kids who like school need to unwind after tests and essays. The Ultimate Climbing Gym has open hours every evening, plus Friday, Saturday, and Sunday afternoons. You and your kids can learn how to climb safely in an atmosphere that focuses on the fun of this fast-growing sport.

Skill Building

As with many other physical activities, successful rockwall climbing involves more than just strength and agility. It also brings problem-solving skills into play. Climbers must plan a route as they climb, often looking ahead at least two steps. Questions such as “If I move my foot there, where is my hand going to need to go?” force climbers to look at all the possibilities and choose the best one. You and your kids will learn the art of visualization, a sort of mental rehearsal of your next few moves. These skills are invaluable in all areas of life, whether you’re planning the best route for a half-dozen errands or a presentation on Marco Polo.

Imagine the look on your child’s face after a successful climb. You’ll see the glow of accomplishment, growing confidence, and a jump in self-esteem. And knowing that you and your child reached this goal together is absolutely priceless.

No Limits: Tumblebees Classes Are For ALL Children

At Tumblebees we welcome all children to join in the fun. It’s no secret that participation in gymnastics classes on a regular basis is beneficial to children in many ways. Your kids will tell you they like it because it’s fun. What the kids don’t know is just how much these fun activities are helping to prepare them for challenges they will meet throughout life, including those that come up tomorrow at school!

Benefits of Gymnastics

The benefits of gymnastics fall into three general categories.

• Learning gymnastics skills stimulates the brain in ways that school doesn’t, providing a nice complement to academic learning. Young gymnasts develop problem-solving skills as well as spacial awareness. How far away is that balance beam? How high do I need to jump to reach it?
• Gymnastics fosters social skills. In a typical class, gymnasts practice taking turns, a basic life skill, while using the apparatus. They also practice listening to and following directions. Perhaps the greatest social benefits, though, are those that involve their peers. They learn to make eye contact, give and receive support and constructive criticism, and how to be part of a team.
• Finally, there are physical benefits to be gained at the gym. Gymnastics requires strength, especially upper body strength, and gross motor skills get a workout at every class. But don’t overlook the fine motor movements, either. Controlling your balance and using your toes to sense your position on the beam play important roles as well.

If your child has a disability, you may be thinking, “But will gymnastics benefit MY child?” The answer is yes. Your child will grow cognitively, physically, and socially by learning new skills and interacting with her peers.

Depending on your child’s needs and comfort level, Tumblebees offers three options for gymnastics instruction. (1.) Your child can be included in a regular class with an instructor qualified to give her just that extra bit of attention and help she may need. (2.) We can place your gymnast in a class designed specifically for children with disabilities; in this case, your hands-on involvement as a parent is required. (3.) Finally, we also offer one-on-one instruction in a private session.

It’s important to remember that these benefits don’t occur overnight. However, over time you’ll see your child gain new ways of solving problems and interacting socially that will leave you amazed and proud.