What is the first "real" thing young kids learn?

[littlekateskate]

I was watching my three year old. In his three year old class yesterday. And one of the three year old girls was doing front walkovers! (while coach wasnt looking). I was just suprised how strong the little girl was to start and why they havent at least put her in a kindergym class or something. She is doing more than my almost 5 year old can do, lol.

But it got me thinking. What comes first for these little guys. I assumed it would be a backwalkover.. Well cartwheel first of course, lol.

Just curious what you typically see come first.

[Geoffrey Taucer]

It depends on the coach, but for me, the first real skill I teach is a handstand (unless you count candlesticks and forward rolls).

[lannamavity]

jumping, rolling, shapes (straight, tuck, straddle, pike, arch etc...), lunge, hang, support, releve, plie, arm position (fwd, crown, side-middle...call them whatever you want), 3/4 handstands, cartwheels

I would bet anything that this 3-year-old is doing a front walkover with horrible form and technique. Just because she can do it, doesn't mean she should. While it's impressive, there are a million other things she could be taught while her back develops.

[Aussie_coach]

Yes, it does depend on what you mean by skill. We teach the basic shapes and probably the first "real" skill would be a forward roll followed by handstands, cartwheels, backward rolls.

[Valentin]

Hi

I think it also greatly matters on the routines this kid will have to do. I know that being in NZ lots of time is spent teaching little things that i would pref not to have to teach at all, but regadless of what i think i still need to teach it.
For a beginer competative kid, the basics really are the first skills (eg, forward, backward rolls, cadle sticks, handstand a must, casts, glides, stretch jumps of the springboard etc. All and all there is heaps that needs to get taugh simultaneously. But the basic stuff really is always first up.