Competitve Cheerleading for my 5 yr old???

[Pigeon]

I absolutely wouldn't have my five year old in something like this. To me, it's the antithesis of what an extracurricular activity should be. I would hate the competitive aspect of it, the amount of pressure put on little kids for no good reason, the expense and the general hype.

I won't allow my daughters to do cheerleading, period, until the cheerleading squads show up for both the girls and boys basketball games.

 

[cstraub]

My DD6 cheered with a Camp Ace squad while she was 5. They did a few competions including nationals where they got to go out of town for the night but for the most part the competions were local and low key. It was a program geared to teach the fundamentals of cheer that met one hour per week. It was a great prelude to competitive cheer. Maybe you could find a simliar program in your area.

We both really fell in love with the cheer and the this year she tried out for a true competitve squad. She made the squad and cheer will start in May. We are both really looking forward to it. She is my youngest so we will proabably go to most of the overnight competitions with just the two of us which will be fun. We both love all the makeup and the cute outfits!! It's just so much fun and everyone invoved in just super nice. My daughter just loves it and so do I!

A lot in life just depends on your attitude. I just really see it as such a positive experience for girls.

 

[MNmom]

My DD8 started cheering last year. She found it totally on her own when someone at school told her about a place where she can do her backhandsprings and not have to do the bars or beam...she hated gymnastics but loved to tumble!! I looked into two local cheer clubs and was totally shocked by the differences between the two clubs. Club A had tryouts for the ages 5-3rd grade, wore very skimpy 1/2 tops, 3 hours of practice a week and two hours of tumbling, traveled out of town to 4 competitions and 6 local competition, all the little girls had to wear heavy make-up and glitter!!! Club B was much more laid back!!! We have tryouts...but everyone gets placed on a team. We have two younger non-traveling teams. They wear full long sleeved tops, no make-up (glitter is optional), practice 2 hours a week and an optional tumbling practice and they only compete in the local meets. The girls do not travel until they are in 5th grade.

Needless to say we are at Club B. I am not a stereotypical cheerleader mom and am having a really hard time being supportive. I was a 3 sport varsity athlete in highschool and didn't have much respect for the cheerleaders but my eyes have been opened!! These girls are healthy, strong and athletic. Our club has many practices that take time out to discuss nutrition, healthy choices and injury prevention. THey have received many spirit awards for good sportsmanship and last year our traveling teams received "thank-you for being such a great group" letters from two hotel managers, two bus drivers and a restaurant!!! These are framed in our club and highly commented on.

I am slowly beginning to realize that if my DD(9) continues along this road she will be in a good place. I am going to try and be a little more supportive and involved this year!!!

I just wanted you to know that there are many different ways to run a club. And it may be worth it to look at all the options. Good Luck!!!

MNmom

 

[jen0610]

DD8 has been in a cheer/pom class for 3 years now. This is not a highly competive group she is in. Not being highly competive, I mean, there is no tumbling and they don't have a cheerleader uniform. They have shorts, t-shirt, hair bows, socks, poms and dancesneakers that they wear. They have class 1 day a week for 1 hour. At competions, they wear a little lipstick and glitter, if they want.

This is the first year that they have had a TOT competing group, 1st-3rd graders. Most of the girls are in 2nd and have been together for the last 3 years. The group was put together because of the skill level these girls were at in the short amount of time they were together. They have had 2 DMA competions so far and at both, their pom routine has scored high enough to qualify the girls to go to nationals. The actual qualifing competion is in 2 weeks. Most of the girls have no clue what nationals is or even why the coaches are so excited for this group. They put the group together, thinking they would get them use to competing and prepare for moving up to beginners. The Tot team is beating the beginners scores at competition.

DD is also active at the dance studio. She started tapping at 3. She has added jazz and ballet over the last 6 years. She has gotten to the skill level, that she is in the production group now. She knows that in 2 years, she will be moving into the competion group and she is really looking forward to this move. She has been in the audiance for several competions the last 3 years and she is drooling over getting to be up on the big stage. She is always dancing. You can be talking to someone at a store, and she will be standing beside you, doing tap moves or going thru ballet positions.

As long as your DD wants to cheer, tumble, or dance, and the finances are able to allow her to participate and she doesn't let it interfer with school work, as she gets into higher grades, let her try. I know as a kid, I wasn't allowed to be in activities that I really wanted to be in, and there are things that I missed out on. We haven't told either DD or DS no to much, though, they have had to give up somethings due to costs and schedule conflicts, but they get the chance to try.