As an ex-gymnast myself, I believe the benefits are tremendous. I loved the social interaction and being quite competitive as a child, I started in recreational gymnastics and ended up in State Titles. It was my passion, and in the years after finally ending formal training, I commenced coaching and judging for many years.
Here are the top 10 reasons Gymnastics is a wonderful choice of sport for your child.
This is probably the number one reason that parents inquire about gymnastics for their young children. Often gymnastics is an additional athletic class children take to enhance their dance training or other sports training.
A growing number of children are taking gymnastics classes to train for an Olympic career. Many children just take gymnastic classes to simply enjoy the athletic skill and fun of it all.
Any one of these reasons will help the child gain coordination and flexibility that they will carry with them throughout their school years and even into adulthood.
Since gymnastics is an individual sport within a group environment, children learn a very healthy sportsmanship attitude.
Gymnasts cheer each other on, compete in healthy ways with smiles and encouragement, and understand that their fellow gymnasts are hard working athletes just as they are. They set and reach goals similarly as well as celebrating accolades together.
For the youngest children who take gymnastics, fundamentals of movement are a great asset to growing up. Not only do they learn movement patterns and develop amazing dexterity, they also learn the art of graceful movement and poise.
These things look fabulous as they grow older, but more importantly they make for a healthier body. To stand up straight and tall at all times just might help them in a future career as well.
In order to achieve great discipline in life we must learn to listen and follow directions well.
That leads to wanting to learn more and a determination that drives us to great heights.
Gymnastics goes a long way in helping to build great self esteem and confidence in young people.
Whether the student is in the class for a physical benefit or is putting extra hours in to train to be a professional gymnast, the self esteem and confidence level soars in each person.
The accomplishments of weekly smaller goals to the competition goals being reached by those who choose to go that route provide a positive self-image for body and mind.
Goal setting is very important in everyday life.
Gymnastics classes help to set a frame of mind in each individual that success comes from setting goals, both big and small, and working continually towards those goals.
Setting goals and keeping a good perspective helps the individual to manage stress levels and anxiety that might arise in sports and life in general.
Striving to achieve these physical goals translates into striving to achieve other goals as well, like doing better in school work, participating successfully in extra-curricular activities, and working harder towards a college or career track.
These two things are very high on the list of extra benefits achieved through gymnastics.
While many do not start their goal list off with these two, they are surprised to learn that as they progress through the classes and various levels, they are stronger and have more power in their bodies.
These are just two of the many health benefits of gymnastics, but deserve their own place in our Top 10 list.
Strength, coordination, and flexibility are all great things learned through gymnastics that will help a child in the other athletic sports they participate in during their adolescent years.
But there is more to that list like sharp decision making skills, quick movement, and immediate goal setting within game play. Gymnastics can enhance just about any other sport training or participation.
