WHY IS GYMNASTICS IMPORTANT TO YOUR CHILD
With boundless energy and utter fearlessness, most children are natural gymnasts. Backyard somersaults and daring playground acrobatics are childhood rituals for almost every youngster. But when parents discover their child shimmying up the scaffolding after the painters have left, it may be a sign that they're ready for a bona fide gymnastics program. Recreational gymnastics has a great deal to offer all children, no matter what their athletic talents. Tumbling routines and stints on the balance beam help kids develop coordination, flexibility, muscle tone and strength, and body awareness, all valuable assets even if the budding gymnast later decides that she or he was born to be a badminton champ. "Children learn so many things from gymnastics, at any level -- discipline, commitment, and teamwork," says Kim Fuchs, owner of Eagles Gymnastics & Dance Centre in Kansas City, MO. Gymnastics is a fundamental sport, like dance. It's a good foundation for other sports. It teaches the kinesthetic and proprioceptive (body shape) awareness to build skills moving the body in, literally "extraordinary" ways, ways you or your child might not think of during normal play and work activity. Additionally, it teaches us to condition our body's strength and flexibility. It is not a cardiovascular conditioner; however, instead it is an anaerobic sport. Gymnasts are typically very fit (they max out in school testing) and trim, but they usually cannot run very fast! For some children it's simply fun to jump, flip, and hang upside down. Others, worried about being upside down or "flipping" out of control, gymnastics training can show them surprising things about their abilities, giving them more confidence in their physical capacities. This training can help them develop into playground hotshots, compete in high school sports, or simply get better and better. The development of motor skills, spatial awareness and body control allows a child to exceed at any sports. Gymnastics develops self-esteem and the joys of self-expression through body movement. The growth of confidence, determination and achievement are accomplished through the incremental achievement and mastery of skills.
Should You Let Your Child Pursue Gymnastics
As sure as Olympic gymnasts Shannon Miller and Dominique Moceanu dance, flip, twist, and fly, they will capture our childrens' hearts and inspire imitators. But parents who may have heard about the 1995 book Little Girls in Pretty Boxes may have their doubts about encouraging their child to pursue this sport. The book, written by San Francisco Chronicle sports writer Joan Ryan, deals with the seamy side of elite gymnastics. Ryan accuses some of the best-known programs in the U.S. of what she terms "legal, even celebrated, child abuse" of female Olympic hopefuls. After learning of Ryan's allegations about a disturbing side of the sport, should parents turn off the Olympic TV coverage and ban lessons? "Absolutely not," says Dr. Lyle Micheli, the cofounder and director of sports medicine at Boston's Children's Hospital, and an S.I. for Kids contributor. "I tell parents who are concerned that there are two gymnastics: the gymnastics at the elite level, in which 200 girls (nationally), at the most, are involved. That level contains the vast majority of the reported abuses. "Then there is gymnastics for everyone else. It teaches strength, mobility and flexibility, and balance, and gives a sense of self-worth." Author Ryan, writes that kids in recreational gymnastics "can develop a sense of mastery, self-esteem, and healthy athleticism."
Choosing a Gym
As for the gym, all the essentials can be taught in less-than-glamorous surroundings. "I've seen great facilities in converted 7-Eleven stores," says Robert Cowan, a United States Gymnastics Federation (USGF) program director. Still, the space should be brightly lit, have high ceilings, and be clean. Gymnastics skills are mastered one small step at a time, so look for plenty of foam-filled mats to cushion those first wobbly cartwheels, and equipment that can be modified to meet the ability and experience of each child.
Find a Safe Place: Sturdy equipment and lots of padding to protect in case of a misstep. The floor exercise area should have cushion to reduce the impact of landings.
Find a "take it slow" coach. "You want someone who brings your child along slowly," says Steve Whitlock, director of education and safety for USA Gymnastics. "You don't want your child attempting more difficult maneuvers until he or she has mastered the easier ones." Avoid coaches who use coercion, embarrassment, or ridicule for results. Also avoid coaches who use exercise to punish the kids.
Steer your child clear of starvation diets or obsessive exercises. If your child doesn't have a body like an Olympic gymnast, make sure he or she doesn't attempt to create one.
Keep It Fun! The most important protection against the abusive side of gymnastics is making sure your child enjoys what she or he is doing and that the class is fun -- not a means to a medal!
The key to choosing a suitable gymnastics program is the staff. "It's not so important that the instructor be a former gymnast as it is that she knows how to teach the sport," says Robert Cowan, "Better that she should like and understand children." If the teacher creates a wholesome, safe, happy atmosphere, the child, and gymnastic skills, will benefit greatly.
