Decision about gymnastics-help!

[Anonymous]

I’d let her try it if she really wants to. If she doesn’t like it you can take her out. She must be talented if they’re offering her a spot. My 5 year old started gymnastics 9 months ago and was invited into their developmental program. She went through both levels of their developmental programs and is starting Pre-Team in a week. Pre-Team at her gym is 3 hours twice a week so we’re interested to see how she does with that as her current class is 1.5 hours twice per week. The cost is crazy but right now she loves it, if she doesn’t like Pre-Team this summer then we’re taking her out.

[Anonymous]

We have been down this road with my now 13 year old. My question is, does she love gymnastics? Does she flip around at home? Can you keep her upright? Does she have tons of energy? Is she jumping on your couch when you’re not looking? If yes, do it. If no, wait a year and reevaluate. The competitions get very tiring and it’s ok to wait.

[Anonymous]

My 6-year-old is a level 3 gymnast getting ready to compete in the fall. She did a year of pre-team at 5. Is she good? Absolutely. Will she ever go to Olympics or even do gymnastics at college? Almost positively not. Why do it? She loves it. Gymnastics teaches hard work, discipline, how to perform under pressure, how to fall with all eyes on you and then get up and keep going, how to balance work and fun - these are all such valuable skills that any adult would benefit from. I’d say give it a try. You can always quit if it becomes too much or if your kid’s heart is not in it.

[Anonymous]

No, no way.

If she likes it, I would let her stay, but keep her in the non competitive lane.

I don’t think it is a sport worth pursuing. It is extremely hard on growing bodies and can have a lasting impact on the joints and development. It is also a sport that girls age out of extremely young.

My best friend’s daughter is an 8 yr old high level gymnast. She has practices before school a couple mornings per week. She has practices after school nearly everyday for several hours. She eats dinner in the car every day on the way to practice. Her gym has approached my friend on having her quit school and attend school at the gym by their own tutor to get more practice time in. She hasn’t yet, but it is probably just a matter of time. Even the kids that aren’t at this high of a level have rigorous practice commitments.

If she is good at gymnastics, she will probably be good at other sports too. I would push something that is easier for family life and for her to continue as an adult.

[Anonymous]

My daughter has been doing competitive team gymnastics for three years now

Gymnastics is one of the sports that requires a lot of time and a lot of money. From the outside, I can see why people might think it's crazy to go down that path for your kids. But I'll just share my daughters experience: she loves it. She loves going to practice, she loves her teammates, she loves her coaches. She loves running around at recess and showing off her cart wheels and round off and hand springs.

[Anonymous]

oops, pressed submit early.

Anyway, my daughter loves it and she has made lots of good friends there. If there ever came a time she doesn't want to do it anymore, I will be more than happy to let her "retire" and do anything else. But it the meantime, she has so much confidence and gymnastics brings her joy.

[Anonymous]

I mean the reason you’re probably sad about saying no is an annoying truth about the state of kids sports these days - it’s kind of now-ish or never-ish (give or take maybe a couple of years) and 5 is really too young to have to make that decision but that’s the state of a lot of sports these days, though gymnastics is one of the worst in that regard.

In general I don’t think there is too much harm in trying if DD is interested with the understanding that she can stop if it’s not working out.

I see a lot of parents who are kind of delusion IMO about their kids sports abilities and I wonder about how good some kids are that are being invited to competitive teams / whether it’s really worth the time, etc. I think a lot of gyms, pools, dance studios, travel teams, etc. have made this a really big business and they’re taking some kids who are not all that great to make money. I personally try to keep an eye on that wrt my own kids. Right now none are so good that’s it’s an issue

And it’s not to say sports time is “wasted” if they don’t go far. I have one kid who really likes baseball and while I don’t think he is the world’s greatest baseball player, our LL has a great youth umpire program and I actually do think he would make a great ump.

And, I do for sure think skills learned in one sport are translatable to other sports.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I mean the reason you’re probably sad about saying no is an annoying truth about the state of kids sports these days - it’s kind of now-ish or never-ish (give or take maybe a couple of years) and 5 is really too young to have to make that decision but that’s the state of a lot of sports these days, though gymnastics is one of the worst in that regard.

In general I don’t think there is too much harm in trying if DD is interested with the understanding that she can stop if it’s not working out.

I see a lot of parents who are kind of delusion IMO about their kids sports abilities and I wonder about how good some kids are that are being invited to competitive teams / whether it’s really worth the time, etc. I think a lot of gyms, pools, dance studios, travel teams, etc. have made this a really big business and they’re taking some kids who are not all that great to make money. I personally try to keep an eye on that wrt my own kids. Right now none are so good that’s it’s an issue

And it’s not to say sports time is “wasted” if they don’t go far. I have one kid who really likes baseball and while I don’t think he is the world’s greatest baseball player, our LL has a great youth umpire program and I actually do think he would make a great ump.

And, I do for sure think skills learned in one sport are translatable to other sports.

OP here, and I think you hit the nail on the head.

Thank you to everyone for your feedback. I'm going to decline due to the fact that it's just not going to work for my family. Way too much time in the car and having to schedule vacations and not participate in school activities because of gymnastics commitments...I don't think that's for us. My daughter will be disappointed; I'll either enroll her in a different activity or else up her to 2 recreation gymnastics classes a week.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I mean the reason you’re probably sad about saying no is an annoying truth about the state of kids sports these days - it’s kind of now-ish or never-ish (give or take maybe a couple of years) and 5 is really too young to have to make that decision but that’s the state of a lot of sports these days, though gymnastics is one of the worst in that regard.

In general I don’t think there is too much harm in trying if DD is interested with the understanding that she can stop if it’s not working out.

I see a lot of parents who are kind of delusion IMO about their kids sports abilities and I wonder about how good some kids are that are being invited to competitive teams / whether it’s really worth the time, etc. I think a lot of gyms, pools, dance studios, travel teams, etc. have made this a really big business and they’re taking some kids who are not all that great to make money. I personally try to keep an eye on that wrt my own kids. Right now none are so good that’s it’s an issue

And it’s not to say sports time is “wasted” if they don’t go far. I have one kid who really likes baseball and while I don’t think he is the world’s greatest baseball player, our LL has a great youth umpire program and I actually do think he would make a great ump.

And, I do for sure think skills learned in one sport are translatable to other sports.

OP here, and I think you hit the nail on the head.

Thank you to everyone for your feedback. I'm going to decline due to the fact that it's just not going to work for my family. Way too much time in the car and having to schedule vacations and not participate in school activities because of gymnastics commitments...I don't think that's for us. My daughter will be disappointed; I'll either enroll her in a different activity or else up her to 2 recreation gymnastics classes a week.

OP, you're looking very far ahead here and I'm not sure it's reasonable. Scheduling vacations around gymnastics? Not participating in school activities because of gymnastics? Sure, there may come a time for this. But it's not going to be until your daughter is very high level (which will take years if ever) and you'll have these problems with other sports too.

Imo she has been identified as having talent, she enjoys it, it's another day per week (right?). If the logistics don't work NOW, that's one thing. But these anxieties and what ifs about the future are kind of unfounded at this point.

Gymnastics provides a great base for other sports and TBH life in general. If it's doable NOW, I'd really encourage you to let your daughter try advancing, especially if you're willing to up her rec classes by one at this point anyway. The rec track only goes so far and your daughter will get bored quickly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I mean the reason you’re probably sad about saying no is an annoying truth about the state of kids sports these days - it’s kind of now-ish or never-ish (give or take maybe a couple of years) and 5 is really too young to have to make that decision but that’s the state of a lot of sports these days, though gymnastics is one of the worst in that regard.

In general I don’t think there is too much harm in trying if DD is interested with the understanding that she can stop if it’s not working out.

I see a lot of parents who are kind of delusion IMO about their kids sports abilities and I wonder about how good some kids are that are being invited to competitive teams / whether it’s really worth the time, etc. I think a lot of gyms, pools, dance studios, travel teams, etc. have made this a really big business and they’re taking some kids who are not all that great to make money. I personally try to keep an eye on that wrt my own kids. Right now none are so good that’s it’s an issue

And it’s not to say sports time is “wasted” if they don’t go far. I have one kid who really likes baseball and while I don’t think he is the world’s greatest baseball player, our LL has a great youth umpire program and I actually do think he would make a great ump.

And, I do for sure think skills learned in one sport are translatable to other sports.

OP here, and I think you hit the nail on the head.

Thank you to everyone for your feedback. I'm going to decline due to the fact that it's just not going to work for my family. Way too much time in the car and having to schedule vacations and not participate in school activities because of gymnastics commitments...I don't think that's for us. My daughter will be disappointed; I'll either enroll her in a different activity or else up her to 2 recreation gymnastics classes a week.

I totally agree with your wise decision, OP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No, no way.

If she likes it, I would let her stay, but keep her in the non competitive lane.

I don’t think it is a sport worth pursuing. It is extremely hard on growing bodies and can have a lasting impact on the joints and development. It is also a sport that girls age out of extremely young.

My best friend’s daughter is an 8 yr old high level gymnast. She has practices before school a couple mornings per week. She has practices after school nearly everyday for several hours. She eats dinner in the car every day on the way to practice. Her gym has approached my friend on having her quit school and attend school at the gym by their own tutor to get more practice time in. She hasn’t yet, but it is probably just a matter of time. Even the kids that aren’t at this high of a level have rigorous practice commitments.

If she is good at gymnastics, she will probably be good at other sports too. I would push something that is easier for family life and for her to continue as an adult.

This was our experience as well. One of the really tough things is getting your kid to practice if you work. I drove carpool every single night for years and we almost never got to vacation because everything was about practice and competition. Eventuallly my daughter had a serious injury and we made the decision to stop. Our lives are so much more sane.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I mean the reason you’re probably sad about saying no is an annoying truth about the state of kids sports these days - it’s kind of now-ish or never-ish (give or take maybe a couple of years) and 5 is really too young to have to make that decision but that’s the state of a lot of sports these days, though gymnastics is one of the worst in that regard.

In general I don’t think there is too much harm in trying if DD is interested with the understanding that she can stop if it’s not working out.

I see a lot of parents who are kind of delusion IMO about their kids sports abilities and I wonder about how good some kids are that are being invited to competitive teams / whether it’s really worth the time, etc. I think a lot of gyms, pools, dance studios, travel teams, etc. have made this a really big business and they’re taking some kids who are not all that great to make money. I personally try to keep an eye on that wrt my own kids. Right now none are so good that’s it’s an issue

And it’s not to say sports time is “wasted” if they don’t go far. I have one kid who really likes baseball and while I don’t think he is the world’s greatest baseball player, our LL has a great youth umpire program and I actually do think he would make a great ump.

And, I do for sure think skills learned in one sport are translatable to other sports.

OP here, and I think you hit the nail on the head.

Thank you to everyone for your feedback. I'm going to decline due to the fact that it's just not going to work for my family. Way too much time in the car and having to schedule vacations and not participate in school activities because of gymnastics commitments...I don't think that's for us. My daughter will be disappointed; I'll either enroll her in a different activity or else up her to 2 recreation gymnastics classes a week.

OP, you're looking very far ahead here and I'm not sure it's reasonable. Scheduling vacations around gymnastics? Not participating in school activities because of gymnastics? Sure, there may come a time for this. But it's not going to be until your daughter is very high level (which will take years if ever) and you'll have these problems with other sports too.

Imo she has been identified as having talent, she enjoys it, it's another day per week (right?). If the logistics don't work NOW, that's one thing. But these anxieties and what ifs about the future are kind of unfounded at this point.

Gymnastics provides a great base for other sports and TBH life in general. If it's doable NOW, I'd really encourage you to let your daughter try advancing, especially if you're willing to up her rec classes by one at this point anyway. The rec track only goes so far and your daughter will get bored quickly.

Actually I have to sign a contract agreeing to the scheduling of vacations, school activities NOW, not in a few years. And 2 one hour rec classes a week, one of which is on the weekend are different than 2 two hour practice sessions on weeknights. I will reevaluate in a year, when both kids are in school. I work (and would have to adjust my work schedule to make the competitive track doable) plus have another kid in daycare.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I mean the reason you’re probably sad about saying no is an annoying truth about the state of kids sports these days - it’s kind of now-ish or never-ish (give or take maybe a couple of years) and 5 is really too young to have to make that decision but that’s the state of a lot of sports these days, though gymnastics is one of the worst in that regard.

In general I don’t think there is too much harm in trying if DD is interested with the understanding that she can stop if it’s not working out.

I see a lot of parents who are kind of delusion IMO about their kids sports abilities and I wonder about how good some kids are that are being invited to competitive teams / whether it’s really worth the time, etc. I think a lot of gyms, pools, dance studios, travel teams, etc. have made this a really big business and they’re taking some kids who are not all that great to make money. I personally try to keep an eye on that wrt my own kids. Right now none are so good that’s it’s an issue

And it’s not to say sports time is “wasted” if they don’t go far. I have one kid who really likes baseball and while I don’t think he is the world’s greatest baseball player, our LL has a great youth umpire program and I actually do think he would make a great ump.

And, I do for sure think skills learned in one sport are translatable to other sports.

OP here, and I think you hit the nail on the head.

Thank you to everyone for your feedback. I'm going to decline due to the fact that it's just not going to work for my family. Way too much time in the car and having to schedule vacations and not participate in school activities because of gymnastics commitments...I don't think that's for us. My daughter will be disappointed; I'll either enroll her in a different activity or else up her to 2 recreation gymnastics classes a week.

OP, you're looking very far ahead here and I'm not sure it's reasonable. Scheduling vacations around gymnastics? Not participating in school activities because of gymnastics? Sure, there may come a time for this. But it's not going to be until your daughter is very high level (which will take years if ever) and you'll have these problems with other sports too.

Imo she has been identified as having talent, she enjoys it, it's another day per week (right?). If the logistics don't work NOW, that's one thing. But these anxieties and what ifs about the future are kind of unfounded at this point.

Gymnastics provides a great base for other sports and TBH life in general. If it's doable NOW, I'd really encourage you to let your daughter try advancing, especially if you're willing to up her rec classes by one at this point anyway. The rec track only goes so far and your daughter will get bored quickly.

Actually I have to sign a contract agreeing to the scheduling of vacations, school activities NOW, not in a few years. And 2 one hour rec classes a week, one of which is on the weekend are different than 2 two hour practice sessions on weeknights. I will reevaluate in a year, when both kids are in school. I work (and would have to adjust my work schedule to make the competitive track doable) plus have another kid in daycare.

Wow re the contract. That's...not normal (although I'm new to the DMV I've been involved in gymnastics for decades all over the country). Reevaluating in a year is a great idea and sounds like the most workable solution but I'd also encourage you either to talk to team/preteam parents at your gym about whether the contract is enforced and that's really the culture of the gym or not. And if it is, I'd probably find a new gym!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I mean the reason you’re probably sad about saying no is an annoying truth about the state of kids sports these days - it’s kind of now-ish or never-ish (give or take maybe a couple of years) and 5 is really too young to have to make that decision but that’s the state of a lot of sports these days, though gymnastics is one of the worst in that regard.

In general I don’t think there is too much harm in trying if DD is interested with the understanding that she can stop if it’s not working out.

I see a lot of parents who are kind of delusion IMO about their kids sports abilities and I wonder about how good some kids are that are being invited to competitive teams / whether it’s really worth the time, etc. I think a lot of gyms, pools, dance studios, travel teams, etc. have made this a really big business and they’re taking some kids who are not all that great to make money. I personally try to keep an eye on that wrt my own kids. Right now none are so good that’s it’s an issue

And it’s not to say sports time is “wasted” if they don’t go far. I have one kid who really likes baseball and while I don’t think he is the world’s greatest baseball player, our LL has a great youth umpire program and I actually do think he would make a great ump.

And, I do for sure think skills learned in one sport are translatable to other sports.

OP here, and I think you hit the nail on the head.

Thank you to everyone for your feedback. I'm going to decline due to the fact that it's just not going to work for my family. Way too much time in the car and having to schedule vacations and not participate in school activities because of gymnastics commitments...I don't think that's for us. My daughter will be disappointed; I'll either enroll her in a different activity or else up her to 2 recreation gymnastics classes a week.

OP, you're looking very far ahead here and I'm not sure it's reasonable. Scheduling vacations around gymnastics? Not participating in school activities because of gymnastics? Sure, there may come a time for this. But it's not going to be until your daughter is very high level (which will take years if ever) and you'll have these problems with other sports too.

Imo she has been identified as having talent, she enjoys it, it's another day per week (right?). If the logistics don't work NOW, that's one thing. But these anxieties and what ifs about the future are kind of unfounded at this point.

Gymnastics provides a great base for other sports and TBH life in general. If it's doable NOW, I'd really encourage you to let your daughter try advancing, especially if you're willing to up her rec classes by one at this point anyway. The rec track only goes so far and your daughter will get bored quickly.

Actually I have to sign a contract agreeing to the scheduling of vacations, school activities NOW, not in a few years. And 2 one hour rec classes a week, one of which is on the weekend are different than 2 two hour practice sessions on weeknights. I will reevaluate in a year, when both kids are in school. I work (and would have to adjust my work schedule to make the competitive track doable) plus have another kid in daycare.

Wow re the contract. That's...not normal (although I'm new to the DMV I've been involved in gymnastics for decades all over the country). Reevaluating in a year is a great idea and sounds like the most workable solution but I'd also encourage you either to talk to team/preteam parents at your gym about whether the contract is enforced and that's really the culture of the gym or not. And if it is, I'd probably find a new gym!

NP -- It absolutely is enforced at our NOVA gym. They have so many girls (and parents) who are dying to make the team, they really don't feel the need to compromise. It's take it or leave it, because someone else will take your place if you can't do it.

[Anonymous]

Former gymnastics mom PP here. Another consideration, OP, is cost. If finances are a factor at all, you might want a clear breakdown of the costs. I was shocked each year when I added up what I spent.