Would gymnastics be a good think for my 4 year old ds?

[Julie Smith]

Do you happen to know if gymnastics for young boys (4 year old) is actually useful. I don't want to sign up my boy this winter because I don't want to spend big bucks just so he can do somersaults, and have a few turns hanging from a bar, or walking on a balance beam.

He can already easily do gracefully forward somersaults, can do backwards somersaults but not gracefully, has good balance (can scooter quickly around corners while balancing on the scooter, bike with no training wheels...) Can do the monkey bars forward, and even turn around and go back to the start. just today he started going backwards a few bars before falling off.

We can practice all these things at home. Is there a good chance the gym would offer him something more? I don't want to waste money and time.

[gardening momma]

I'm interested in hearing the answers you get because I'm interested in signing up dd4 for gymnastics. Not because I want to see her in the Olympics someday, but because she keeps asking me to show her how to do a somersault, and I can't really help. I mean, I guess I *know* how, but I'm not good at helping her, and these old momma bones won't allow me to demonstrate without injury.

And it would be nice for her to learn a bit more than somersaults too! :)

[In The Great White North]

I took my dc to gymnastics at that age and I do think it was good for them (even if they aren't gymnasts today.) They did more than somersaults. They started cartwheels, head stands and handstands, tumblestrip, trampoline, swinging/climbing on a rope, and had them stretch and do sit-ups.

If you go to a larger gym, they will have different levels of classes, even at that age group, and should be able to place him appropriately. A smaller gym may only offer one pre-school class, but it could be more individually oriented.

You should go visit and observe a class before you decide, if it is a concern.

[Amy in Orlando]

If at 4, you're doing it for fun -it's a great outlet for climging, flipping kids.

[myfunnybunch]

It's a great activity for young kids. Not especially because of specific skill development, but because the sport involves so many different skills and all parts of the body that it's a great way to develop body awareness, balance, agility, grace, endurance. All skills that translate well to other sports.

My boys take gymnastics, and it's been a great experience for all of them.

Cat

[snickelfritz]

My oldest dd started at newly 4 and is still doing it at 5. Younger dd tagged along and started at 2.

Our gym goes up to competitive levels, but not elite levels. So, I don't know how that would change things.

I like:

1. They teach the PROPER and SAFE way to do things from the very beginning. Even the youngest classes are taught the right way to do things.

2. My dd's gets great exercise year around.

3. Her confidence has gone way up. She was terrified of this rope they have for them to climb (15-20 ft up in the air.) Over the course of months and with gentle encouragement, she finally made it to the top.

My 5 year old dd has progressed to doing back walk-overs, head stands and decent cart-wheels. Will she reach competitive levels? I don't know. We'll see if she keeps enjoying it. But, the overall fitness that she is getting is fantastic. And she incorporates it into her play. She only goes to formal gymnastics once a week, but the skills spill over and she practices them on her own for fun.

This is the one thing that we do that dh absolutely doesn't want us to quit.

[gardening momma]

Since my post, I tried to remember the name of a particular gym sort of near us, and I can't remember, and an internet search didn't help. I did finally remember about the Y, which we have very close to us (about 5 min. drive). We've never had a membership, but I did request a packet of information a while back. I pulled it out, and it's the Fall 2007 program guide. Looking at prices, I've determined that it would be much cheaper to take individual classes with just the program membership, not a full membership.

They do have specific age-related classes, but I'm wondering how would I know if, as snickelfritz says They teach the PROPER and SAFE way to do things from the very beginning. ?

[Goldilocks]

Probably depends on the class. My dd went to gymnastics at 4 and they did not do very much. I would observe or ask if you can do a trial class.

[snickelfritz]

But when we were picking a gym, we toured a few. I would definitely suggest doing that.

In many, the pre-school program was an afterthought.

The gym we go to has a section that is specifically for the preschoolers/kindergarten age. Equipment that is sized for them. Each group has the same teacher with them every week. This was important to me.

I hope Linda in Owasso responds to this. She's familiar with the gymnastics world (I think she coaches??... or judges??) and could probably give you some better specifics to look for. Maybe try PM'ing her, if she doesn't chime in.