Advice to continue gynmastic or not

[Anonymous]

My 7 old daughter has long arms/legs, lightweight, skinny, small bone structure with good core. She can do monkey bar and climb up/down. Her gymnastic teacher hints to me that she is not a natural fit for gynmastic. Other girls can learn to do split and flips easily but she still can't do it. The teacher mentions that DD's body is not flexible , muscle is tight and bone is rigid something like that. I feel boy disencouraged, but teacher says that she may need to take at least 1-2 years lessons to be able to split and flip plus home stretching. I know that she wants to do ballet and dance even though she has the similar problems with her rigid movement. Should I bite the tongue to continue to sign her up with gymnastics for the next 1-2 years hoping to learn splits, bridge, arch, flips etc. even though she does not have natural body structure?

Personally, I don't think she is dance or gynmastic material. She is doing a lot better in other sports. She is doing quute well at basketball and rock climbing for her age. It is really mean for me to turn down her interests (gynmastic and ballet/dance, obsessed with their costume and perfirmance) at this age, even though she is the weakest in the group. She also senses that she can't do many movement and follow rhyme.

[Anonymous]

I wouldn’t. It’s very risky and time consuming. Too much risk for injuries.

[Anonymous]

Does she like gymnastics? Does she ask to sign up for classes? If so, let her continue. She’s 7. If she’s enjoying it, who cares if she’s good at it?

[Anonymous]

How many sports is she in? She doesn’t need to do all of them at once. Just pick 1-2.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does she like gymnastics? Does she ask to sign up for classes? If so, let her continue. She’s 7. If she’s enjoying it, who cares if she’s good at it?

This. Lots of kids do gymnastics and dance in elementary and then don't continue with it.

Also, if flexibility and fluid movement are challenges for her, doing gymnastics and dance will help her improve. Even if she is never as flexible and lumber as other kids in her classes, she will improve from her baseline. That is good for her overall development and may help in other sports too. I play tennis and still work on flexibility and agility to help me play better.

[Anonymous]

Flexibility can absolutely be developed, but not in a single 1 hour practice a week. My kid wanted to do gymnastics, but she really needed two or three 1.5 practices a week to make progress. Once she did that, she gained skills and flexibility and qualified for pre-team, which was 6 hours a week, then she moved to 9 hours a week as she built strength and skills.

My personal view is that a lot of the kids who are super naturally flexible end up with early injuries because their joints are too flexible. Those who have to work for it more build strength with flexibility and end up in a better place.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does she like gymnastics? Does she ask to sign up for classes? If so, let her continue. She’s 7. If she’s enjoying it, who cares if she’s good at it?

+1

Whether it’s a “natural fit” that she excels at or whether she’s the weakest in the group is irrelevant. The odds of her reaching a level (in any activity) where it actually matters are negligible. You’ll both be happier if you look at her activities as entertainment that enrich her life. She gets exercise, socialization, and maybe learns a few skills.

Turning down her interests isn’t necessarily mean, but refusing to support her because she’s the “weakest in her group” is. If you felt the activity was unsafe, too expensive, too hard on the family schedule, a bad influence on her, etc., those would be legitimate reasons to stop. The fact that the activity is challenging enough to quash your ambitions, isn’t. If anything, you should appreciate and encourage her determination to stick with something difficult, which may be the most valuable lesson an activity can provide (although if SHE decides to stop at some point, that should be allowed).

[Anonymous]

If she likes it, let her continue! She doesn’t have to do “team” and high level competition. Just let her have fun and increase balance and flexibility. Let HER tell you when she wants to stop. My kid was one of the worst soccer players on their team and I was happy they wanted to go to practice and got exercise and enjoyed the cameraderie of being on a team; they quit on their terms, not because we told them they were bad at it. The point of sports isn’t just to be the best, it’s to learn things and be a part of something, stay active, learn to be coachable etc.

[Anonymous]

Let her continue if she is enjoying it. It's okay to do sports and other activities because you like to do them, even if they don't come naturally to you or you will never excel at them.

[Anonymous]

I think like gymnastics and dance is part illusion or fantasy. While there are some girls that genuinely do like it and are well suited for it-the rest seem to like the idea of it. Thery the feminine ideal activities girls are socialized to feel like they need to like. The beautiful ballerinas on stage, the intricate flips of gymnastics are idolized by young girls. Most kids are not going to enjoy an activity they are not good in and are not progressing in. The exception is always dance and gymnastics- girls stick around in these for the illusion.

Personally, I’d do a slow fade from it. Look for activities she can be good in and progress. It will serve her much better in the middle and high school years to find something now she can stick with and be good in

[Anonymous]

Just stop, unless you are a fairy pixie, you won't go far. My daughter was heavier and taller, eventually she was almost shamed for being this way. We quit. I think it's rediculous, height is something a lot of people view as a good thing...leadership positions, etc..

[Anonymous]

She can break her neck in gymnastics. Do dance.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If she likes it, let her continue! She doesn’t have to do “team” and high level competition. Just let her have fun and increase balance and flexibility. Let HER tell you when she wants to stop. My kid was one of the worst soccer players on their team and I was happy they wanted to go to practice and got exercise and enjoyed the cameraderie of being on a team; they quit on their terms, not because we told them they were bad at it. The point of sports isn’t just to be the best, it’s to learn things and be a part of something, stay active, learn to be coachable etc.

This.

She may never excel, but it doesn't mean that she won't walk away with positive outcomes. I can tell you from experience that gymnastics and dance training can have benefits that follow you through life. Poise, posture, balance . . . it has stayed in my muscle memory over the decades.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does she like gymnastics? Does she ask to sign up for classes? If so, let her continue. She’s 7. If she’s enjoying it, who cares if she’s good at it?

This. Lots of kids do gymnastics and dance in elementary and then don't continue with it.

Also, if flexibility and fluid movement are challenges for her, doing gymnastics and dance will help her improve. Even if she is never as flexible and lumber as other kids in her classes, she will improve from her baseline. That is good for her overall development and may help in other sports too. I play tennis and still work on flexibility and agility to help me play better.

Agree with the above. If she likes it and you can afford it, keep her in it. But find another gym where they have a good recreational program--this coach sounds like trouble. A good coach will be encouraging for students at all levels, not just the ones who they think will win competitions.

[Anonymous]

JFC, y'all are insane.

Kids don't need to be pro material to do an activity they enjoy. I'm a 40 year old woman who has been learning gymnastics for the first time because I find it FUN.

If she likes it, let her keep doing it. Why on earth would you teach her that if she can't be THE BEST at something, she should give up? You should be teaching your kids that they should try the things they enjoy, and when they stop enjoying them, they can move onto new things.

This isn't that complicated.