5 Amazing Skills One Year Old Gymnasts Learn
Are you wondering what amazing skills one year old gymnasts learn at such a young age?
Amazing skills one year old gymnasts learn won't make them Olympic ready overnight. But, it can be the first step to achieving dreams as big as the top.
When I was a little girl, I wanted to be a gymnast. But the opportunities just were not available for several reasons.
So, I'm making the opportunity available for Mylee. And thanks to the local YMCA, there are great classes and coaches to help her learn several skills at an early age.
The YMCA actually offers a class called parent-tot gymnastics for babies ages 18-months to three years old. When I first heard about this class, you'd better believe I was the first parent to sign up my child for the next session after she turned 18-months old.
And she has learned so much more than just somersaults and cartwheels. Here are 5 amazing skills she's learned since we started class.
1. Balance
She loves the balance beam. In fact, she is becoming more comfortable to walk the length of the shortest beam all by herself.
In the photo, she wasn't really too sure about standing by herself on this taller beam, so I couldn't get her to stand on it. What she can do easily now is stand on one foot and then the other!
2. Upper Body Strength:
Strong woman competition, here is your next competitor. Because gymnastics promotes the development of upper body strength.
Another one of the amazing skills one year old gymnasts learn is to stretch and become more flexible.
3. Flexibility
She learned how to stretch by making a pizza, putting her feet together like a butterfly and flying to Disney World to see Frozen Elsa & Anna, and doing table tops and roll backs. But most importantly, she's learning why she needs to stress with physical fitness.
4. Endurance
Class is only 30 minutes long, but for a one-year-old, this seems like a lifetime. The obstacle course takes about 5 minutes to go through, so they could potentially go through it six times.
Throw a couple of water breaks and some distractions in there and her little heart is racing by the end of it. There is not much rest in between and she is pretty tired by the end of class.
5. Bounce-a-ability
I don't know if this was a word or not, but she is learning to jump with two feet. I thought she would learn this skill quicker. Little legs have a lot of strength to build up before both of them can leave the ground at the same time. We are working on this by jumping on a trampoline in class and at home.
How Parents Benefit, Too
I have benefited from this class as well because it has allowed me to meet some parents of kids her age. You can read here about my transition to the new area.
It also allows for Mylee and me time, which is so important in a world where kids grow up so fast. It is important to me to be able to cherish the time we have together to do something fun and that will benefit us physically.
I don't know if Mylee will be the gymnast I dreamt of becoming once upon a time but for right now, she is having fun with it and gaining important developmental skills as well. It's a win-win and we will continue to stretch, bounce and balance until she no longer wants to do it anymore.
~Much Love~
I love this! I also dreamt of becoming a gymnast. 9 years of hard work but eventually my stupid puberty brain of high school got in the way and I gave it up to become a cheerleader/drama queen. I wanted my daughter to do it to but she chose to be a computer need who is now living in China teaching English while studying accounting. We can't choose what they'll be but the experience you're giving her is great fun and wonderful exercise!
I completely understand, Pamela! I don't want to be the mom that forces her to do things she doesn't want to do, but I want to be the mom who introduces her to opportunities available to her and guides her to experience as much as possible! She probably won't always be a gymnast, but for now, we are having a blast! Thanks for the lovely comment!
She is so cute! Looks like she is really into it and learning a lot of wonderful skills.
Yes, Sheryl! Thanks for the comment! She is learning so much and is having so much fun. I'm so glad that the local YMCA offered this class for kids her age.
What fun! It's to important to teach children to be active when they are young! Good job
Thank you, Lori! Fitness is absolutely important to me and I hope to teach her at this young age that being fit and healthy can be part of a lifestyle.
Your daughter is adorable. Good for you, getting her into a physical sport that increases so many valuable skills for her young age.
Thank you so much, Debrah! We will continue to be active no matter what. It won't always be gymnastics, but it's up to me to encourage her to always find a way to be fit and healthy.
It looks like she is having fun and stretching and working those muscles is always a good thing.
🙂
Traci
Absolutely! I can really tell a difference in her flexibility, stamina and strength! I think it will pay off in the long run.
I LOVED gymnastics as a child. I hope when my daughter gets old enough she will want to do something active! My son is already super active so hopefully we can get him into an activity soon!
That's great! Activities are so great for little ones. Not only do they learn but they can socialize with other kids as well in the class.
Such a great thing for a child to be involved in something like gymnastics at an early age. Learning balance and getting exercise while having fun and making friends. Great post!
Ellie
http://Www.Maplesyrupandteacups.blogspot.com
Thanks! I didn't realize there were so many activities for kids her age to do. It's been fun so far.
It's great for kids to learn to be active when they're little so they keep it up throughout their life. I would probably be more coordinated now if I had taken gymnastics when I was a child!
I agree! I wish I would have been able to do gymnastics. Now, I can learn, too while helping Mylee.
We do baby yoga but I love gymnastics. I think this is great for little ones. Gone are the days when I could do the splits but I can still do my front and back walkovers. 🙂
I would love to do the splits! I'm just not flexible at all. Baby yoga sounds fun as well.
I never knew that the YMCA offered such services. This is great
Yes! I"m sure every Y is different but our Y offers a multitude of activities for all ages. It's so great.
How sweet! My daughter would have LOVED this at one. She actually started gymnastics at 4 though because she had the attention span of a gnat at one. So there would be no way she'd listen. She'd be the one running around like a crazy person.
That is ok - There's no real structure to parent-tot gymnastics. The kids just run, play, and do whatever they want. But they don't know they are learning. I found it best to do the obstacle myself and then she would want to try it. I hope your daughter is enjoying gymnastics.
Aww this looks so cute!
Never too early to start teaching them to keep their body active, and I do agree that "Bounce-A-Ability" is a good place to start from for the young ones.
LOL - because they are so bouncy already! But teaching them to bounce on two feet takes a while. I never knew how difficult it would be to help her learn this skill.
Wow that is awesome! I didn't even know you could get them started that young...we should get the Pea in a class 🙂
Definitely! I'll be you can find one. 🙂
What a touching article. I had never thought of gymnastics as something for toddlers, but it makes sense. It also keeps kids from taking in too much television. I'm all for tha!
I love this! Gymnastics is such a fun activity for children. I also did it when I was little. Getting the courage to try new things when you're young and unafraid, because it encourages them to continue to try new things!
I' not a one year and I strive to learn and get better at these abilities as I age. Fitness and fun are a great way for her to learn about health and wellness from a young age.
Mobility, balance and endurance are so important! I hope all children get to experience this. When we have ours, I will consider it!
I am almost 30 I am still trying to learn half of these skills, its good to start them young.
She is so cute! It's to important to teach her being fit and healthy at this young age.
I'm all for putting kids in activities at a young age. It makes a difference.
Wow. Its a good thing you let her start at a very young age. Wish I had too. Lol!