Anonymous wrote:Of course, this is how it happens. We are the PP with the 10 year old DS into gymnastics. At first it was one day a week, etc, and then he would ask to go more. We take his lead. I promise we aren't pushing - he decides when to go.

It's really quite wonderful to watch your kid work hard at something and try to achieve something after such hard work. I'm pretty sure he won't be doing back flips for a living nor do I have any illusions he will be in the Olympics. But, I bet he'll remember that if you work hard every day you can do a back flip on your own and maybe that will translate into a pretty awesome work ethic. Worth it for that, IMO.

Thank you for your insight!

Of course, this is how it happens. We are the PP with the 10 year old DS into gymnastics. At first it was one day a week, etc, and then he would ask to go more. We take his lead. I promise we aren't pushing - he decides when to go.

It's really quite wonderful to watch your kid work hard at something and try to achieve something after such hard work. I'm pretty sure he won't be doing back flips for a living nor do I have any illusions he will be in the Olympics. But, I bet he'll remember that if you work hard every day you can do a back flip on your own and maybe that will translate into a pretty awesome work ethic. Worth it for that, IMO.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MY DS 10 loves gymnastics and is on a team and practices basically that much. He loves it and while he does, I'm fine with it.

If he starts to not like it, we can quit at any time.

He also took about 6 weeks off this summer for vacation and sleep away camp and I think that is good for him. He will be happy to go back when he gets back in town but it's also OK to have a break and that means he probably won't burn out.


As kids get older it is normal to narrow down to one or two things to focus on and that's fine if the kid likes it, IMO.

You think it is normal for an 8yr old to commit to year round gymnastics with this type of commitment? Sorry that is not normal and there is no time to play with school friends, other activities, birthday parties and family events. And not just for him but for other siblings and the parents. Just the responses of the nutso on this thread pushing going to the gym everyday as her life should be a huge red flag to the OP.

Do you know what it's like to have a true passion to do something? It sounds like you don't. Being somebody who feels a true passion to do something and is lucky enough to be able to do that one thing is a true gift in life.

I had something that I was passionate about as a child but my parents felt like you did and limited it, not because of any reason other than kids shouldn't do one thing (it wasn't a financial or family consideration). As soon as I got out of the house, I tried to make up for lost time, but it was in many ways too late. I'll always wonder what might have been. I do not think I benefited by that decision. It's one thing to quash a kid's interest because it has negative impact on the rest of the family or the cost or whatever. It's quite another to quash it because you are being a controlling parent and don't want your child to focus on one thing because of your own issues.

An 8yr old can be passionate about something and not devote 4hrs daily to it (excluding commute to and from.) I would say we will start with 2-3hrs twice and week and once on weekends and if you are practicing ON YOUR OWN as well, improving and still keeping your grades up, we will talk about more in the future. If kids are passionate they will practice that instrument, sport or activity on their own and not just with a paid program. As a parent, I would never jump in, pay and drive my child to and from daily for 4hrs whether I have to stay there or not. They would have to show me the commitment first. And saying they like it and want to be there daily isn't good enough.

Parents don't really stay at gymnastics for the most part (excluding a few). If you get a carpool, you don't even have to drive twice. Anyway, it's really not that different having your kid at gymnastics for four hours in the afternoon or having them at daycare. No matter what your kid does, kids are going to disrupt your life a fair amount. I mean, there's really no way around that so I can't see arguing that gymnastics is really that different. It could require weekend travel or going to local meets on weekends, but even the recreational levels of team sports would require that much.

Now some people are commuting an hour to certain gyms, etc. then yes, it will get crazy. Many of those people I've met have only one child or this child is the youngest of much older siblings. Sometimes this is the right option for their family/gymnast. Usually their child has reached a fairly high level by that point. But that is definitely something that the family has to think long and hard about. It doesn't sound like this is the case for the OP at all though, so it's not entirely relevant.

But if your child pursue anything to a high level, then there is a chance that that child will use a disproportionate amount of the family's resources. This is true of ballet, intensive piano/violin, hockey, etc. these things will be expensive. So (as I advocated in a previous post) know the financial commitment upfront, figure out if you can make it work. Unfortunately for boys they don't have the numbers to have multiple competitive tracks (girls gymnastics has one that is less intensive but ultimately doesn't go to as a high of a level). However, it's possible that you could pursue tramp and tumbling instead which is usually less intensive training at a young age. So, know your options, decide what to do. It's not a tragedy or an emergency either way. Your child will grow up well adjusted all things equal, gymnastics is a good way to foster independence, commitment, work ethic, and discipline.

^^ Sorry, that first sentence should read "my brothers both did as well"

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MY DS 10 loves gymnastics and is on a team and practices basically that much. He loves it and while he does, I'm fine with it.

If he starts to not like it, we can quit at any time.

He also took about 6 weeks off this summer for vacation and sleep away camp and I think that is good for him. He will be happy to go back when he gets back in town but it's also OK to have a break and that means he probably won't burn out.


As kids get older it is normal to narrow down to one or two things to focus on and that's fine if the kid likes it, IMO.

You think it is normal for an 8yr old to commit to year round gymnastics with this type of commitment? Sorry that is not normal and there is no time to play with school friends, other activities, birthday parties and family events. And not just for him but for other siblings and the parents. Just the responses of the nutso on this thread pushing going to the gym everyday as her life should be a huge red flag to the OP.

So it's not "normal." Big freaking deal. I'm the PP who ended up at 25-30 hours a week, and I had plenty of friends, birthday parties, got straight A's. I was a kid. I did it because I wanted to and my parents were supportive, thankfully. My siblings also had their "things" (sports/music/academic) and they were allowed to pursue those as well, it wasn't all about me and my gymnastics for everyone 24-7.

30hrs a week (and 35hrs of school) and you and your parents had other interests daily? Sorry, not buying it.

I played a musical instrument in a local orchestra, my both did as well, and one brother was on a travel sports team. I didn't say my PARENTS had other interests, I said my siblings did. My parents did both work, and they somehow figured out how to drop me off at the gym and pick me up later - yes, it impacted their life, but it wasn't everyone's entire life.

And to another PP who said you can't do gymnastics recreationally after 18, I can assure you that you can. Not at the same level as when I was 10, but it's still a ton of fun, and classes with other adults are great!

Anonymous wrote:Ok for this pp who was the very serious competitive gymnast as a kid and disliked school, please tell us about your life now. Are you a coach or some kind of trainer?

I found, sadly, that unlike swimming or basketball or softball, gymnastics is something you just can't do recreationally after about 18. So you spent your youth and adolescence that way and now it's gone.

I'm 38, and just yesterday was doing front and back walkovers with my 12 yr old daughter. I played volleyball in high school and played basketball in the driveway for fun any time I was home. The reality is, I'm an athlete. I have an athletic body, I strategize without realizing it when doing anything team-related, I've got speed, and muscle. So basically, I can decently play any sport, whether or not I spent years on the travel team as a child.

I did gymnastics as a child because it made me happy. I don't know too many adults who are regularly playing soccer these days. So what did they get out of all those scrimmages and practices? Enjoyment, that's what. Exactly as childhood should be.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MY DS 10 loves gymnastics and is on a team and practices basically that much. He loves it and while he does, I'm fine with it.

If he starts to not like it, we can quit at any time.

He also took about 6 weeks off this summer for vacation and sleep away camp and I think that is good for him. He will be happy to go back when he gets back in town but it's also OK to have a break and that means he probably won't burn out.


As kids get older it is normal to narrow down to one or two things to focus on and that's fine if the kid likes it, IMO.

You think it is normal for an 8yr old to commit to year round gymnastics with this type of commitment? Sorry that is not normal and there is no time to play with school friends, other activities, birthday parties and family events. And not just for him but for other siblings and the parents. Just the responses of the nutso on this thread pushing going to the gym everyday as her life should be a huge red flag to the OP.

Do you know what it's like to have a true passion to do something? It sounds like you don't. Being somebody who feels a true passion to do something and is lucky enough to be able to do that one thing is a true gift in life.

I had something that I was passionate about as a child but my parents felt like you did and limited it, not because of any reason other than kids shouldn't do one thing (it wasn't a financial or family consideration). As soon as I got out of the house, I tried to make up for lost time, but it was in many ways too late. I'll always wonder what might have been. I do not think I benefited by that decision. It's one thing to quash a kid's interest because it has negative impact on the rest of the family or the cost or whatever. It's quite another to quash it because you are being a controlling parent and don't want your child to focus on one thing because of your own issues.

I found, sadly, that unlike swimming or basketball or softball, gymnastics is something you just can't do recreationally after about 18. So you spent your youth and adolescence that way and now it's gone.

I'm not the gymnast, but there are plenty of kids/teens who devote themselves to sports or activities that they will never pursue as an adult. Tackle football. Ballet. Lacrosse! Does that make it a waste?

And I would think the strength, flexibility, balance, and core stability learned in gymnastics would be excellent foundation skills for almost any other sport or athletic activity.

Anonymous wrote:Ok for this pp who was the very serious competitive gymnast as a kid and disliked school, please tell us about your life now. Are you a coach or some kind of trainer?

I found, sadly, that unlike swimming or basketball or softball, gymnastics is something you just can't do recreationally after about 18. So you spent your youth and adolescence that way and now it's gone.

I'm that PP. I did gymnastics through college. I coached competitive gymnastics once I graduated in addition to working full time. I ended up pursuing a masters and taught beginner gymnastics and competed competitively in trampoline and tumbling. Once grad school was done, I stayed with competitive trampoline until I ruptured my ACL at 29. I decided not go back after surgery and reconstruction, but that I was driven far more due to the fact that I live on the Hill and the drive to get the practice was 45 minutes each way. I get my occasional fix by bouncing at the trapeze school. These days, I, who hated school, am working on my PhD. I found by academic passion in college. And that discipline, drive, and pursuit of perfection that made me a great gymnast has served me extremely well in college and graduate schools.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MY DS 10 loves gymnastics and is on a team and practices basically that much. He loves it and while he does, I'm fine with it.

If he starts to not like it, we can quit at any time.

He also took about 6 weeks off this summer for vacation and sleep away camp and I think that is good for him. He will be happy to go back when he gets back in town but it's also OK to have a break and that means he probably won't burn out.


As kids get older it is normal to narrow down to one or two things to focus on and that's fine if the kid likes it, IMO.

You think it is normal for an 8yr old to commit to year round gymnastics with this type of commitment? Sorry that is not normal and there is no time to play with school friends, other activities, birthday parties and family events. And not just for him but for other siblings and the parents. Just the responses of the nutso on this thread pushing going to the gym everyday as her life should be a huge red flag to the OP.

So it's not "normal." Big freaking deal. I'm the PP who ended up at 25-30 hours a week, and I had plenty of friends, birthday parties, got straight A's. I was a kid. I did it because I wanted to and my parents were supportive, thankfully. My siblings also had their "things" (sports/music/academic) and they were allowed to pursue those as well, it wasn't all about me and my gymnastics for everyone 24-7.

30hrs a week (and 35hrs of school) and you and your parents had other interests daily? Sorry, not buying it.

Ok for this pp who was the very serious competitive gymnast as a kid and disliked school, please tell us about your life now. Are you a coach or some kind of trainer?

I found, sadly, that unlike swimming or basketball or softball, gymnastics is something you just can't do recreationally after about 18. So you spent your youth and adolescence that way and now it's gone.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MY DS 10 loves gymnastics and is on a team and practices basically that much. He loves it and while he does, I'm fine with it.

If he starts to not like it, we can quit at any time.

He also took about 6 weeks off this summer for vacation and sleep away camp and I think that is good for him. He will be happy to go back when he gets back in town but it's also OK to have a break and that means he probably won't burn out.


As kids get older it is normal to narrow down to one or two things to focus on and that's fine if the kid likes it, IMO.

You think it is normal for an 8yr old to commit to year round gymnastics with this type of commitment? Sorry that is not normal and there is no time to play with school friends, other activities, birthday parties and family events. And not just for him but for other siblings and the parents. Just the responses of the nutso on this thread pushing going to the gym everyday as her life should be a huge red flag to the OP.

So it's not "normal." Big freaking deal. I'm the PP who ended up at 25-30 hours a week, and I had plenty of friends, birthday parties, got straight A's. I was a kid. I did it because I wanted to and my parents were supportive, thankfully. My siblings also had their "things" (sports/music/academic) and they were allowed to pursue those as well, it wasn't all about me and my gymnastics for everyone 24-7.

Anonymous wrote:MY DS 10 loves gymnastics and is on a team and practices basically that much. He loves it and while he does, I'm fine with it.

If he starts to not like it, we can quit at any time.

He also took about 6 weeks off this summer for vacation and sleep away camp and I think that is good for him. He will be happy to go back when he gets back in town but it's also OK to have a break and that means he probably won't burn out.


As kids get older it is normal to narrow down to one or two things to focus on and that's fine if the kid likes it, IMO.

You think it is normal for an 8yr old to commit to year round gymnastics with this type of commitment? Sorry that is not normal and there is no time to play with school friends, other activities, birthday parties and family events. And not just for him but for other siblings and the parents. Just the responses of the nutso on this thread pushing going to the gym everyday as her life should be a huge red flag to the OP.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No, I don't believe at that age anything should have that much of a time commitment. He can love gymnastics and be involved to a lesser level. He should be a kid too.

For some kids, that IS fun. For me, it was. I thrived on it.

So what if it's "fun?" 8 year olds should not be making this lifestyle decision. What if he decides he wants to quit school, too... are you going to let him do that?

Well then what did you mean by "he should be a kid too." I went to school because I had to, because it was understood that was my obligation. I got A's and got the hell out so I could get to my happy place - the gym. I had friends in school, but best friends at the gym. I had teachers at school, but role models and heroes at the gym. I thrived through gymnastics. School was just an obligation.