Gymnastics for little kids

[*BTMRR*]

Five-year-old DD wants to enroll in gymanstics.
I visited our local gymnastics school. This quote was displayed prominently on the wall, right under the school's name, with stars all around it:
"Losers cry from pain. Winners play through the pain."

I'm no wimp, and I want DD to be tough too, but I'm not sure if I agree that the idea of calling kids who don't play through injury "losers" is really something I want DD to learn at age 5.

Should I try to find another gym, or am I just cultivating a little snowflake (to use the DIS term)?

 

[mjkacmom]

LOL - I'm sure that quote was meant for kids on the competitive team, not for the classes.

 

[*BTMRR*]

LOL - I'm sure that quote was meant for kids on the competitive team, not for the classes.

Oh, definitely. But still, there it is, right there for all the kids to see.
I suppose I'm not even sure if I think it's okay for children on the competitve team to be taught that playing injured is the only good choice. Necessary for gymnastics success, probably. Okay for a child's emotional and physical health? Probably not IMO.

 

[DizBelle]

It's one thing to continue playing through general muscle soreness from activity. It's completely different to continue playing through a bad sprain or strain that could get much worse if it isn't allowed to heal.

 

[castleview]

Find another gym. That might be too strong. I don't know where you are, but if you know people in the area you can look around. You can also PM and I'll see if I can help. I've been a gymnast, coach, and judge and while I'm all for perseverance, kids need to do gymnastics because they enjoy it. The previous poster is correct that certain injuries need rest. Unfortunately, there are coaches in this sport that have no regard for injuries. It's gotten better, but still has a long way to go.

 

[kpm76]

DD3 goes to The Little Gym and I love it. She's younger than your child but I wanted to expose her to gymnastics and see if she likes it in a non-competitive environment. A lot of the gyms around here are quite competitive, even for preschoolers. I just was not interested in all of that at this point.....if DD likes it long term and has talent, then we will make a different decision.....

 

[cats7494]

Honestly, I would look elsewhere. Both of my daughters are involved in gymnastics and I would not be comfortable with this philosophy.

I do understand where they are coming from - be tough , keep trying, don't give up. I was an athlete as well and understand all this. Yes, some pain you can certainly work through... but I don't believe it is necessarily wise to encourage children to work through pain. It needs to be evaluated in an individual basis.

Good luck to you!

 

[Jennasis]

Maybe inquire from the instructors if they do actually encourage the students to continue performing when they ar ein pain?

 

[southernbohemian]

I would definitely find a different gym. My son took gymnastic classes (the preschool fun kind) at a real gym with competitive teams. All of the things on their walls were encouraging and talked about the things you gained from gymnastics (from strength, to discipline, to friends). All of the coaches were wonderful. I think that sign could be an indicator of their entire philosophy. I don't mind teaching children perseverance - but teaching them that only losers cry when they are hurt is something else.

 

[goofy!]

Five-year-old DD wants to enroll in gymanstics.
I visited our local gymnastics school. This quote was displayed prominently on the wall, right under the school's name, with stars all around it:
"Losers cry from pain. Winners play through the pain."

I'm no wimp, and I want DD to be tough too, but I'm not sure if I agree that the idea of calling kids who don't play through injury "losers" is really something I want DD to learn at age 5.

Should I try to find another gym, or am I just cultivating a little snowflake (to use the DIS term)?

I would find another gym.

It doesn't really matter what they mean with the quote, the only thing that is important is that it made you uncomfortable right when you walked in.

I would find a gym that more closely matches your philosophy. It will make your more comfortable and happier, which in turn will make your child happier and more successful.

Not quite gymnastics, but a gym atmosphere. My daughter cheers for nationally competitive all-star gym. She is on the special needs team where they treat them just like all the other competitive teams. They practice a lot, are held to the same rules as everybody else, from attendance to behavior at competitions. They travel to national competitions every year with the rest of the gym. Coaches are all certified and very experienced.

My daughter thrives on it and I would have to keep one eye open while sleeping if I tried to put her on a less intense team as she lives and breathes cheer. I am comfortable with the experience of the coaches and the overall philosophy of the gym.

However, this is not for everybody. Some parents with kids with special needs just want the fun of cheerleading and not the full bore intense competitive aspect of it.

There are several other just as wonderful programs in the area with varying degrees of competitiveness and rules. All the programs are great in what they offer and what makes it great is that there is a program that fits every family's needs and expectations.

There should be different gyms around you, all with slightly different philosophies. What I am trying to say is that you should find the one that you are most comfortable with, especially at this age. As your child grows, you may find that a different gym meets your needs and expectations better. But start with a gym that you are comfortable with. Just make sure that it is a gym that is going to start your child out correctly just in case they want to go further. And that the coaches are well versed in the safety aspects of the sport.

 

[SalandJeff]

DD3 goes to The Little Gym and I love it. She's younger than your child but I wanted to expose her to gymnastics and see if she likes it in a non-competitive environment. A lot of the gyms around here are quite competitive, even for preschoolers. I just was not interested in all of that at this point.....if DD likes it long term and has talent, then we will make a different decision.....

I would second looking for The Little Gym in your area. My dd is 6 and has been going there since she was 4. She LOVES it. Prior to going there we tried another gym and she would not even participate. It was definitely more for the serious competitors.

 

[*BTMRR*]

Thank you for your responses. I think I'll just try another gym. I had never heard of the Little Gym, but I looked it up and there is one not far from our house, so we will look into that. Just from the website, it seems to be the kind of thing that would suit DD well.

 

[bumbershoot]

If you have a YMCA nearby, see if they have a gymnastics program. DS has been taking classes with them since around September of last year...it's on a lottery system, so he isn't in it each session, but he really enjoys it.

They do practice in the same room, depending on the time and part of the year, as the Y's competitive team, and that gets a bit intense. The coaches for the team are also the teachers for the little kids, and it's weird to see the "coaches" yelling and being really hard on the girls (I don't think they have a boy's team) who have chosen to go into their program and are paying extra, and then see the same people in "teacher" mode being super-sweet to the 5-7 year olds.

But anyway, it's a good program, so I would check around, see if there's anything like that at a local YMCA if you have them.

 

[vettechick99]

Do they have bleachers where you can sit one day and watch? DD3 is taking gymnastics this summer and they are still at that play and explore stage. The trainer does have activities, but overall it's a fun time for her class. I would be surprised if that gym is pushing a beginner 5YO class much further than that.

And that quote to me doesn't scream "work through injuries that need to be healed", but "it's not always going to be easy so don't give up". JMO.

If this gym has a good reputation, I wouldn't exclude them just yet. I personally would rather DD attend a gym that is going to cultivate some athletic skills, instead of promote social hour.

I hope you find a gym that works for your needs. DD loves gymnastics!!

 

[NY Disney fan]

I think competitive gymnastics stunts the growth of a child. Not taking gymnastics once a week but every day to get to the elite status. I think its very dangeous. That being said my dd3 is in gymnastics and I can't keep her away.

 

[sharlon]

My DD11 is a competitive gymnast. She will never be elite, that's not her goal, it's simply to have fun and do a sport that she loves. And, no, her growth is not impeded by it, she is 50% across the board after having serious medical problems, not gymnastics related. In fact, she is super flexible and they thought she had leg length discrepencies, so we took her to Shriner's Hospital. They said the BEST thing she could do is gymnastics. It's great for building strength and coordination for other sports down the road.

Anyway, I have not posted here before now, though I have typed several responses, simply because people get very personal about gym choices. My DD started at a Little Gym. It was a perfect start for her at the age of 3. If I could do it over again, I would have gone somewhere else. In hindsight, I learned that she was not learning proper form which was needed as she continued in the sport (if for no other reason than safety). The instructors are trained in "the Little Gym's methods" (from their website). That's not necessarily a bad thing for starting out, but you never know what your daughter will want to do in 2 or 3 years. 5 also seems a bit old for their programs.

I would highly recommend looking for gyms that are USA Gymnastics members. These gyms have strict safety guidelines and USA Gymnastics certified coaches must meet training requirements for safety and instruction. Go to http://www.usa-gymnastics.org/pages/finda/club.html?prog=au and you can search by zip code or town. FYI, though, their search is very sensitive. Our gym is in a suburb, and I had to put the suburb name in to get it to come up.

Best of luck!

 

[npmommie]

My DD11 is a competitive gymnast. She will never be elite, that's not her goal, it's simply to have fun and do a sport that she loves. And, no, her growth is not impeded by it, she is 50% across the board after having serious medical problems, not gymnastics related. In fact, she is super flexible and they thought she had leg length discrepencies, so we took her to Shriner's Hospital. They said the BEST thing she could do is gymnastics. It's great for building strength and coordination for other sports down the road.

Anyway, I have not posted here before now, though I have typed several responses, simply because people get very personal about gym choices. My DD started at a Little Gym. It was a perfect start for her at the age of 3. If I could do it over again, I would have gone somewhere else. In hindsight, I learned that she was not learning proper form which was needed as she continued in the sport (if for no other reason than safety). The instructors are trained in "the Little Gym's methods" (from their website). That's not necessarily a bad thing for starting out, but you never know what your daughter will want to do in 2 or 3 years. 5 also seems a bit old for their programs.

I would highly recommend looking for gyms that are USA Gymnastics members. These gyms have strict safety guidelines and USA Gymnastics certified coaches must meet training requirements for safety and instruction. Go to http://www.usa-gymnastics.org/pages/finda/club.html?prog=au and you can search by zip code or town. FYI, though, their search is very sensitive. Our gym is in a suburb, and I had to put the suburb name in to get it to come up.

Best of luck!

I completely agree with finding a gym that has certified coaches and instructors.
very important in gymnastics.
and OP I would run far from that gym. That quote is just inappropriate in my opinion.

 

[Rora]

I would find another gym.

It doesn't really matter what they mean with the quote, the only thing that is important is that it made you uncomfortable right when you walked in.

Exactly..

Find a new gym.

 

[castleview]

I would highly recommend looking for gyms that are USA Gymnastics members. These gyms have strict safety guidelines and USA Gymnastics certified coaches must meet training requirements for safety and instruction. Go to http://www.usa-gymnastics.org/pages/finda/club.html?prog=au and you can search by zip code or town. FYI, though, their search is very sensitive. Our gym is in a suburb, and I had to put the suburb name in to get it to come up.

Best of luck!

I disagree that it has to be a USAG gym. While the USAG website can be helpful, their safety guidelines and coaching certifications are a money making joke. I've taken the course and it focuses more on how to avoid a lawsuit. Also, USAG is very selective about which coaches they call out for abuse. Like everything, politics plays heavily and while they may point out some not great coaches, they also sweep allegations against winning coaches under the rug.

There's nothing wrong with an AAU or YMCA program whether or not you're looking for a competitive program. I know many good coaches in those programs that can easily coach in a USAG gym, but don't agree with USAG's philosophy. I competed and judged USAG - it was fine for me, but it's expensive, it's hard to be successful at, and it's hard to juggle other activities if that is a priority. Plus, I guarantee the gym the OP saw the quote at was a USAG gym.

 

[design_mom]

I agree with the others that I'd find another gym. That saying would make me uncomfortable as well. If the sentiment they wanted was "winners persevere," something like "When the going gets tough, the tough keep going" would be more appropriate.