Gymnastics Programs For Kids

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends at least 60 minutes of physical activity each day for children and adolescents. Gymnastics programs for kids offer a fun and rewarding way for many children to experience the benefits of physical fitness through aerobic activity, bone-strengthening and muscle-strengthening activities.

Programs

Gymnastics programs for kids are usually structured by age and fitness level. Many gyms and community centers offer gymnastics classes for children as young as 2 up to their late teens. Most programs bring kids together once or twice a week, though programs designed for advanced gymnasts may meet several times per week or even every day. The cost to enroll your child in a gymnastics program varies depending on the facility and coach or trainers. Many programs cost a few dollars per lesson, while others allow parents to pay by the week, month or year.

Skills

Children in gymnastic programs usually begin with easy tumbling moves, such as somersaults and basic cartwheels, as well as balancing exercises. The programs also often include floor routines or dances and stretching to improve flexibility. As their skill levels increase and they get older, children in gymnastics programs learn more advanced skills, such as tumbling while on a balance beam, vaulting and uneven or parallel bars routines. The programs help kids stay in shape by encouraging aerobic activity and muscle-strengthening as they support their own body weights during tumbling and other gymnastics activities.

Benefits

Gymnastics programs give your child an opportunity to be active and contribute to overall physical fitness, lowering his risk of obesity, high blood pressure and other medical conditions. In addition, gymnastics programs give your child an opportunity to interact with other children, helping him build social and teamwork skills. Moderate impact activities, including gymnastics, increase bone density and reduce the risk of osteoporosis. Staying active can also help raise your child's self-esteem. A 2001 study conducted by researchers at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School found that children between the ages of 10 and 16 who regularly engaged in physical activity had higher levels of self-esteem than those who were less active.

Considerations

Before enrolling your child in a gymnastics program, ask questions about the facility's equipment and instructors. Choose programs taught by certified instructors with experience teaching gymnastics to children in your child's age group. Don't pressure your child to start or stay in a gymnastics program if she isn't interested. While regular physical activity is important, your child may prefer another sport or activity. Putting too much focus on one sport at a young age can prevent your child from learning other physical skills and encouraging or allowing your child to specialize in gymnastics at a young age can lead to physical problems, including damage to the growth plates in the wrist and microscopic spinal fractures, explains the American Academy of Pediatrics.