+100!! |
A contract is crazy at this age, but if given a choice I would do gymnastics. Like another poster pointed out, look down the road (especially at what cheer kids wear). Gymnastics all the way.
And put her in a team based sport like rec soccer. |
Are you also the OP from this thread? https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/1201300.page |
+1 |
As a former gymnast and cheerleader, always do gymnastics first. At five so much about gymnastics is body awareness and how your muscles work together. She won’t be learning challenging skills. However, the gymnastics foundation can translate to many sports. |
OP- do not sign a 1 year contract for a 4 or 5 year old. Do some rec programs for cheer and gymnastics and see if she even likes them. Aside from actual childcare no way is it normal to sign a one year contract for an extracurricular at age 4 or 5. Typically it’s in chunks, because they know this age can have the attention span of a gnat. |
My DD is at Hills and I think they have a good system and keep the kids safe. You are only on the hook for a month at a time. I would definitely calm down a little and let her try gymnastics but leave space to try other things. |
Don't commit to anything for a year at this age!
My teenage daughter is a cheerleader, which is something I never expected (or encouraged, to be honest). All of my kids tried out a lot of things when they were young, and my other three have all focused on track and volleyball by high school- we are a tall lanky family. My youngest daughter got into cheerleading after gymnastics - it took her favorite part of gymnastics and put them in a team environment. I wasn't thrilled by the stereotypes, or the outfits and make up, but she loves it and is very good at it. I've come around! |
If she is tall, probably neither |
For better or worse, many people have no respect for cheerleading. I don’t. I know they do tough, athletic things, but at the end of the day, it’s just a side dish to the real sport that’s being played. Gymnastics is a real sport that stands on its own. People go to the Olympics for it. It’s about willpower and grit and sportsmanship. Many people view cheerleading as “ra-ra” women being inferior and second fiddle to men.
Do you really want to invest your daughter into an activity that so many people look down upon? Why not just do gymnastics? It’s so much more respectable. |
This is not true. Both are real sports, and who cares what people look down upon. Plus cheerleading is on its way to becoming part of the Olympics, hopefully by 2032 (2028 new sports were already determined). Many colleges now recognize cheer as a standalone sport (not just sideline cheer), and offer scholarships. |
Cheer open house & free clinics are coming up. https://www.dreamallstars.com/24-25 https://hillsgymnastics.com/ |
You’re dreaming! Cheerleading will never go to the Olympics because nobody does it besides Americans. You need to have international teams to be an Olympic sport. Cheerleading is archaic and will never be popular world wide. The only reason any women put their daughters in it is because they’re from some small town in the South or the Midwest and think that they’re daughters will be popular if they do it. Even on the US coasts it’s a joke. A few sentimental types are trying to save it by claiming it’s a sport, but really it’s on its way out. |