As a former gymnastics coach (and gymnast) and someone who also used to do dance, I can tell you that doing dance will help her in gymnastics but not necessarily the other way around. Gymnastics is going to be more full body type exercises plus teaching things like mental toughness (facing your fears) and spatial awareness. You will not get as much of that in dance in my opinion. USAG starts competing level 1 at age 4 so there are definitely some gyms in the area looking at that age for talent. I agree saying an 8 year old is too old for level 3 is absurd. The problem with being an 8 year old in level 3 is that there are literally a ton of kids that age in level 3 so it is extremely competitive. It is very difficult to find a 4 year old with the mental maturity it takes to compete so I would not worry about that at this point.

Despite knowing my kids are talented and have natural ability (ages 6 and 5) I have not pushed them into the sport and they only do it for recreation at this point. The reason for that is because they both like swimming they also like diving and soccer and basketball and I'm not going to corner them into one sport this early. The amount of dedication it takes to be a higher level gymnast is immense and I know that first hand. They are only little once and I want them to experience lots of things and decide what they like. Hopefully they can find something they are good at that is also something they enjoy. I've never done martial arts so I can't speak to any similarities that might exist.

For one of the PPs here, gymnastics has other disciplines like Tumbling and Trampoline or Acro that are less "gendered" because they have co-ed categories in case that is more appealing. Personally I love watching Acro gymnastics even though it is less common.

All this said it seems ideal that if she has to pick one she can alternate between the two through the year. Then she can get the best of both worlds with no pressure to make a choice.

Anonymous wrote:Neither, go with a martial art!

My then 4 yo was pretty much in the same place, and we were able to convince her to try (with a couple of other friends) judo. 4 years later, she is strong, confident and skilled; and loves it. Martial arts are very similar in skills to dance and gym (balance, movement) without the not so great gendered feel and eating issues. Plus fewer injuries. At 4, they are still impressionable (at least mine was), you can say that this is what you chose for her and she has to try it for a few months. I will sound like an insufferable DCUM person, but you are the parent and it is your job to make good choices for her/steer her towards better choices.

Your post reeks of judgment. I'm glad your kid likes judo, but just because you chose that doesn't make it a better choice.

Neither, go with a martial art!

My then 4 yo was pretty much in the same place, and we were able to convince her to try (with a couple of other friends) judo. 4 years later, she is strong, confident and skilled; and loves it. Martial arts are very similar in skills to dance and gym (balance, movement) without the not so great gendered feel and eating issues. Plus fewer injuries. At 4, they are still impressionable (at least mine was), you can say that this is what you chose for her and she has to try it for a few months. I will sound like an insufferable DCUM person, but you are the parent and it is your job to make good choices for her/steer her towards better choices.

Gymnastics. This sport involves many dance related skills anyway, plus the flexibility, balance, etc needed if she ever returns to dance.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I agree with other posters about gymnastics. There were two levels of developmental invitation only programs from 4-5 that my daughter completed and is now doing Pre-Team this summer at 5.5. We don’t go to that particular gym but this is what gyms do all over the US. Other posters are right, after 6 you are set in a recreational track so if you think she’d enjoy competitive gymnastics then I’d go that way. Most children competing at level 3 are 6-7.

Absolutely not true. I had athletes at the VA state meet for level 3 this year. I had one 7 year old and no 6 year olds. And the majority of kids at the meet are 8 and up. I looked at my copy of the state meet roster and looking at Capital specifically, one 6 year old and the rest were 8 and up.

The rest from Capital were 8 and 9 because the 3 pre-team levels start around age 5 and kids move up one level per year. The point is that if you’re not transferring from another pre-team program or encouraged/allowed to do private lessons to catch up or pulled out of their rec track for developmental by age 5, it’s usually too late.

If anyone has suggestions for teams in NoVA that aren’t run this way, please advise.

Why do you want to do competition team versus rec? Just wondering.

Maybe I’ll learn more as time progresses and reconsider but for this brief moment I sort of like the gym set up where I feel like they’ll tell me if my kid should do anything further. I feel like with one of my boys I am just sort of wondering if he should eventually try out for travel but the local rec parent coaches who don’t have kids in travel don’t seem to tell people that kind of stuff lol.

Anyway I don’t care if my daughter does competitive gymnastics. My sister did it. If she just does a bit of gymnastics I still think that’s helpful background for dance which she also likes like PP’s DD. She’s not doing dance over the summer and is trying gymnastics as I previously mentioned. Maybe she’ll end up doing neither. She also wants to try soccer and I was a track / XC runner myself though happy to have dabbled in a lot as a kid.

I don't, my DD does and she wants to be on a team. It isn't unusual for kids to want to do their sport with other kids and have that team experience. Rec classes can be kind of isolating -- kids are coming and going, there's a wider range of ages in each class, coaches change more often. The energy at Capital completely revolves around the teams (and now cheer, but that's pretty recent) so it's hard for kids not to feel left out if they're serious about the sport yet can't fully participate. Not trying to take over this thread, just trying to give my perspective having been through OP's decision and would choose differently if I had to do it over.

I agree with this. The kids in the recreational classes rarely stay for long so you can’t really make friends. In recreational gymnastics there’s also never a chance to really show off your skills unless it’s the end of the school year. In rec soccer or baseball you at least get to have games to compete in. Unless you’re on the competitive team you’ll never get to do a gymnastics meet. You’re right about how the gym revolves around the team girls. I also see the kids disappointment when they’re not a part of the team holiday activities or team trips that they end up hearing about.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I agree with other posters about gymnastics. There were two levels of developmental invitation only programs from 4-5 that my daughter completed and is now doing Pre-Team this summer at 5.5. We don’t go to that particular gym but this is what gyms do all over the US. Other posters are right, after 6 you are set in a recreational track so if you think she’d enjoy competitive gymnastics then I’d go that way. Most children competing at level 3 are 6-7.

Absolutely not true. I had athletes at the VA state meet for level 3 this year. I had one 7 year old and no 6 year olds. And the majority of kids at the meet are 8 and up. I looked at my copy of the state meet roster and looking at Capital specifically, one 6 year old and the rest were 8 and up.

The rest from Capital were 8 and 9 because the 3 pre-team levels start around age 5 and kids move up one level per year. The point is that if you’re not transferring from another pre-team program or encouraged/allowed to do private lessons to catch up or pulled out of their rec track for developmental by age 5, it’s usually too late.

If anyone has suggestions for teams in NoVA that aren’t run this way, please advise.

Why do you want to do competition team versus rec? Just wondering.

Maybe I’ll learn more as time progresses and reconsider but for this brief moment I sort of like the gym set up where I feel like they’ll tell me if my kid should do anything further. I feel like with one of my boys I am just sort of wondering if he should eventually try out for travel but the local rec parent coaches who don’t have kids in travel don’t seem to tell people that kind of stuff lol.

Anyway I don’t care if my daughter does competitive gymnastics. My sister did it. If she just does a bit of gymnastics I still think that’s helpful background for dance which she also likes like PP’s DD. She’s not doing dance over the summer and is trying gymnastics as I previously mentioned. Maybe she’ll end up doing neither. She also wants to try soccer and I was a track / XC runner myself though happy to have dabbled in a lot as a kid.

I don't, my DD does and she wants to be on a team. It isn't unusual for kids to want to do their sport with other kids and have that team experience. Rec classes can be kind of isolating -- kids are coming and going, there's a wider range of ages in each class, coaches change more often. The energy at Capital completely revolves around the teams (and now cheer, but that's pretty recent) so it's hard for kids not to feel left out if they're serious about the sport yet can't fully participate. Not trying to take over this thread, just trying to give my perspective having been through OP's decision and would choose differently if I had to do it over.

Ok thanks for answering!

Anonymous wrote:That just enrages me that an 8 year old is "too old" for level 3.

not at Silver Stars! I know an almost 10 year old level 3.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I agree with other posters about gymnastics. There were two levels of developmental invitation only programs from 4-5 that my daughter completed and is now doing Pre-Team this summer at 5.5. We don’t go to that particular gym but this is what gyms do all over the US. Other posters are right, after 6 you are set in a recreational track so if you think she’d enjoy competitive gymnastics then I’d go that way. Most children competing at level 3 are 6-7.

Absolutely not true. I had athletes at the VA state meet for level 3 this year. I had one 7 year old and no 6 year olds. And the majority of kids at the meet are 8 and up. I looked at my copy of the state meet roster and looking at Capital specifically, one 6 year old and the rest were 8 and up.

The rest from Capital were 8 and 9 because the 3 pre-team levels start around age 5 and kids move up one level per year. The point is that if you’re not transferring from another pre-team program or encouraged/allowed to do private lessons to catch up or pulled out of their rec track for developmental by age 5, it’s usually too late.

If anyone has suggestions for teams in NoVA that aren’t run this way, please advise.

Why do you want to do competition team versus rec? Just wondering.

Maybe I’ll learn more as time progresses and reconsider but for this brief moment I sort of like the gym set up where I feel like they’ll tell me if my kid should do anything further. I feel like with one of my boys I am just sort of wondering if he should eventually try out for travel but the local rec parent coaches who don’t have kids in travel don’t seem to tell people that kind of stuff lol.

Anyway I don’t care if my daughter does competitive gymnastics. My sister did it. If she just does a bit of gymnastics I still think that’s helpful background for dance which she also likes like PP’s DD. She’s not doing dance over the summer and is trying gymnastics as I previously mentioned. Maybe she’ll end up doing neither. She also wants to try soccer and I was a track / XC runner myself though happy to have dabbled in a lot as a kid.

I don't, my DD does and she wants to be on a team. It isn't unusual for kids to want to do their sport with other kids and have that team experience. Rec classes can be kind of isolating -- kids are coming and going, there's a wider range of ages in each class, coaches change more often. The energy at Capital completely revolves around the teams (and now cheer, but that's pretty recent) so it's hard for kids not to feel left out if they're serious about the sport yet can't fully participate. Not trying to take over this thread, just trying to give my perspective having been through OP's decision and would choose differently if I had to do it over.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I agree with other posters about gymnastics. There were two levels of developmental invitation only programs from 4-5 that my daughter completed and is now doing Pre-Team this summer at 5.5. We don’t go to that particular gym but this is what gyms do all over the US. Other posters are right, after 6 you are set in a recreational track so if you think she’d enjoy competitive gymnastics then I’d go that way. Most children competing at level 3 are 6-7.

Absolutely not true. I had athletes at the VA state meet for level 3 this year. I had one 7 year old and no 6 year olds. And the majority of kids at the meet are 8 and up. I looked at my copy of the state meet roster and looking at Capital specifically, one 6 year old and the rest were 8 and up.

I just mean at our gym. I said we don’t go to Capital. The youngest allowed to compete Level 3 is 6 and many do. My 8 year old is having to compete on the Xcel Silver team because they say she is too old for JO Level 3. When my 5 year old turns 6 she will be competing JO Level 3.

I am also not at Capital and we also have many 6 and 7 year olds competing in Level 3. I can't say what the oldest age is because I don't know. So perhaps Capital is different.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I agree with other posters about gymnastics. There were two levels of developmental invitation only programs from 4-5 that my daughter completed and is now doing Pre-Team this summer at 5.5. We don’t go to that particular gym but this is what gyms do all over the US. Other posters are right, after 6 you are set in a recreational track so if you think she’d enjoy competitive gymnastics then I’d go that way. Most children competing at level 3 are 6-7.

Absolutely not true. I had athletes at the VA state meet for level 3 this year. I had one 7 year old and no 6 year olds. And the majority of kids at the meet are 8 and up. I looked at my copy of the state meet roster and looking at Capital specifically, one 6 year old and the rest were 8 and up.

The rest from Capital were 8 and 9 because the 3 pre-team levels start around age 5 and kids move up one level per year. The point is that if you’re not transferring from another pre-team program or encouraged/allowed to do private lessons to catch up or pulled out of their rec track for developmental by age 5, it’s usually too late.

If anyone has suggestions for teams in NoVA that aren’t run this way, please advise.

Why do you want to do competition team versus rec? Just wondering.

Maybe I’ll learn more as time progresses and reconsider but for this brief moment I sort of like the gym set up where I feel like they’ll tell me if my kid should do anything further. I feel like with one of my boys I am just sort of wondering if he should eventually try out for travel but the local rec parent coaches who don’t have kids in travel don’t seem to tell people that kind of stuff lol.

Anyway I don’t care if my daughter does competitive gymnastics. My sister did it. If she just does a bit of gymnastics I still think that’s helpful background for dance which she also likes like PP’s DD. She’s not doing dance over the summer and is trying gymnastics as I previously mentioned. Maybe she’ll end up doing neither. She also wants to try soccer and I was a track / XC runner myself though happy to have dabbled in a lot as a kid.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I agree with other posters about gymnastics. There were two levels of developmental invitation only programs from 4-5 that my daughter completed and is now doing Pre-Team this summer at 5.5. We don’t go to that particular gym but this is what gyms do all over the US. Other posters are right, after 6 you are set in a recreational track so if you think she’d enjoy competitive gymnastics then I’d go that way. Most children competing at level 3 are 6-7.

Absolutely not true. I had athletes at the VA state meet for level 3 this year. I had one 7 year old and no 6 year olds. And the majority of kids at the meet are 8 and up. I looked at my copy of the state meet roster and looking at Capital specifically, one 6 year old and the rest were 8 and up.

The rest from Capital were 8 and 9 because the 3 pre-team levels start around age 5 and kids move up one level per year. The point is that if you’re not transferring from another pre-team program or encouraged/allowed to do private lessons to catch up or pulled out of their rec track for developmental by age 5, it’s usually too late.

If anyone has suggestions for teams in NoVA that aren’t run this way, please advise.

Arlington Aerials is a well run program and isn't insistent that kids must be on the competition track at age 5. (I used to coach there, but now live elsewhere in the country)