It’s important for our children to be active and healthy, especially with the rising use of technology. Did you know that kids spend over seven and a half hours every day in front of some kind of screen, whether it’s a TV, computer, or cell phone screen? Studies report that only one n every three kids get physical activity every single day. That’s not good for their activity levels. However, it can often be tough to get your kid involved in a sport that he or she really likes and when all the usual ones (soccer, basketball, volleyball, etc.) fail, it’s time to look for other alternative sports. Gymnastics, cheerleading, and dance are sports that often appeal to kids, especially to girls. There’s a performance aspect, plenty of snazzy costumes, and they require serious athleticism. Looking into a gymnastics academy for your child could be an interesting and fun way to keep them more active.
Tell Me About Gymnastics for Kids
Gymnastics itself has been around for 2,000 years! It’s also fairly easy to find classes for; plenty of local gymnastics classes abound, for kids and adults alike! In 2013, almost 5 million people participated in gymnastics and the American Academy of Pediatrics suggests that kids who are young as two to five years old could start gymnastics, as long as the classes are appropriately tailored to their maturity and motor skills levels. The Academy also suggests that these classes can help young children practice their motor skills, like tumbling, running, throwing and catching, which they can use later on life.
What are the Benefits of Gymnastics?
A gymnastics academy or a more low key set of classes can help kids down the path of being active regularly and enjoying being active. They’ll get a chance to be on a team and learn all the essential life skills that comes with being a team player and can even hone skills that they use later. Around 90% of female cheerleaders were at one point gymnasts; and with 80% of schools in the United States having cheerleading squads, early gymnastics can lead to continued activity through high school and college. If your child is a gymnast, they’re sure to be getting the hour of physical activity every day that the United States Department of Health and Human Services recommends for young people between the ages of six and seventeen.
Gymnastics also encourages greater flexibility, strength, and endurance. Gymnasts, much like dancers, are acutely aware of their body and how it moves. Greater coordination skills are a huge part of being a gymnast. Their self-confidence can also be improved and they learn how to set goals for themselves and strive to reach them. Hard work, goal setting, learning how to take failure gracefully, and working as a team are all important life lessons that can be learned through gymnastics.
Where Can I Sign My Child Up?
A gymnastics academy may also offer classes to the public or to budding gymnasts, so if there’s a gymnastics academy in your area, that can often be a great place to look. They’ll usually offer classes for all ages and are guaranteed to be a fun and safe learning environment, where classes are taught by experts. If your child continues along the gymnastics path, there can also be opportunities through these academies for competitions and other events.
Local gyms may also offer gymnastic classes that aren’t with a specific team or organization, if you’re looking for a more low key extracurricular activity for your child. This could also be a good way to get them started with gymnastics without making a serious financial or time commitment to a particular academy or team.
Some schools may also offer gymnastics, which can be a fun way to get your child involved with his or her friends in a sport.
Making sure your child is active is a key part of his or her overall health. It provides not only physical stimulation, but also can be a way to keep spirits up, reduce stress, and provide useful life skills that he or she can use going forward.
