It’s A Whole New World: Welcome to Gymnastics

Gymnastics is a great sport for youngsters and it is one of the few sports children can start either as soon as they can walk or at 18 months old depending on the local clubs. There are some things to consider when looking for the right club for your child as well as yourself. It is especially important to consider all aspects of the various gyms if your child is a little older and holds hopes of competing because at this point gymnastics often becomes a family affair especially as the child learns.

What Is An Age Appropriate Program?

Age appropriate programs vary from club to club and in many cases it really depends on the maturity and ability levels of your child. In general children usually start gymnastics at the age of 18 months in a Mom’s, Pop’s and Tot’s class. In these programs one parent is on the floor with the child at all times.

From there children progress into various levels dependant on their age and ability level. This usually begins around age four or five. And from there children who show an aptitude and ability for the sport can progress into various competitive streams.

It is important to consider what it is you want your child to get out of gymnastics classes. The sport is wonderful for developing balance, agility, flexibility as well as skills such as time management and qualities like good sportsmanship.


Choosing a Gym In Your Community

There are some key considerations when choosing a gymnastics club in your community. Making sure your gym is insured by the governing body in your province or state will help to ensure quality programming and top safety considerations and they will be upheld by that bodies Code of Ethics.
 
It maybe beneficial to visit a few clubs in your area many of them will offer trial classes. You will want to look at their equipment, safety features, coach training, whether they have a visitor’s viewing area, whether their facilities are clean, an office manager to help with administrative issues and answer questions, a good coach to student ratio and children who look happy, healthy and attentive.