BridgetHelen
Proud Parent
Anyone else have a child with ADHD in gymnastics? I’m getting super frustrated.
My daughter is 10 and just now competed level 3. She started gymnastics at age 3, did a year, then went back when she was 5. She has been in gymnastics ever since. My frustration is due to the fact that she’s already 10 and hasn’t progressed much.
When she was 5, the gym owner shared that she thought my kid had amazing flexibility and strength, that she was a natural, but she couldn’t focus. She was finally placed on team at age 8 in our local league, level 1. She started the season taking 7th and 8th, I started her on meds, and then quickly jumped to placing 1st or 2nd. She competed level 2. Coach wanted to hold her back because of her lack of focus. At this point I’m like, my kid is 9 - no way. I took her to another gym and she competed level 3 this year.
Even when my kid takes meds, she is all over the place at the gym. She’s focused when it’s time to learn new skills, but when perfecting things, she is bouncing all over the place, talking, or dancing. Her maturity level is more similar to a 6 year old, though her intellectual level is much higher than a 10 year old.
The gym she’s at now is AMAZING. She went from not having a RBHS, front hip circle, vertical handstand, 1/2 turn on beam, etc. to placing in typically 2 events and AA at every meet this year. That being said, they stated she does not have her level 4 skills needed (she got her rbhs at this gym, but can not get the legs straight) to move up to 4, so they are putting her in Xcel gold. I’ve never heard positive things about that program, so my heart broke for her. I emailed the coaches and they think it will really be good for her because she can learn new skills when she has mastered others instead of working on perfecting things all year, so that should hold her attention better. She will also be with older girls.
I guess my question is - does anyone else have a kiddo like this? It makes me sad because she loves this sport and is good at it, she just can’t seem to understand that it’s not just about what she can do; her focus and behavior is important as well. She’s told me she “tries” to get straight legs but it “just happens” like her brain can’t catch up with everything she needs to do since it’s a newer skill. Does it ever get better? I’m just sad that I didn’t know any better and she wasted basically 5 years at a different gym that didn’t care to work with kids who weren’t incredibly easy to coach. She’s 10 and it’s not like she walked into the gym last week, she’s been doing this sport for 6 years.
I trust these coaches 110% and know they are making the best decision for my child, it just is rough because my girl really wants to move up and do 6-10 if she is able.
My daughter is 10 and just now competed level 3. She started gymnastics at age 3, did a year, then went back when she was 5. She has been in gymnastics ever since. My frustration is due to the fact that she’s already 10 and hasn’t progressed much.
When she was 5, the gym owner shared that she thought my kid had amazing flexibility and strength, that she was a natural, but she couldn’t focus. She was finally placed on team at age 8 in our local league, level 1. She started the season taking 7th and 8th, I started her on meds, and then quickly jumped to placing 1st or 2nd. She competed level 2. Coach wanted to hold her back because of her lack of focus. At this point I’m like, my kid is 9 - no way. I took her to another gym and she competed level 3 this year.
Even when my kid takes meds, she is all over the place at the gym. She’s focused when it’s time to learn new skills, but when perfecting things, she is bouncing all over the place, talking, or dancing. Her maturity level is more similar to a 6 year old, though her intellectual level is much higher than a 10 year old.
The gym she’s at now is AMAZING. She went from not having a RBHS, front hip circle, vertical handstand, 1/2 turn on beam, etc. to placing in typically 2 events and AA at every meet this year. That being said, they stated she does not have her level 4 skills needed (she got her rbhs at this gym, but can not get the legs straight) to move up to 4, so they are putting her in Xcel gold. I’ve never heard positive things about that program, so my heart broke for her. I emailed the coaches and they think it will really be good for her because she can learn new skills when she has mastered others instead of working on perfecting things all year, so that should hold her attention better. She will also be with older girls.
I guess my question is - does anyone else have a kiddo like this? It makes me sad because she loves this sport and is good at it, she just can’t seem to understand that it’s not just about what she can do; her focus and behavior is important as well. She’s told me she “tries” to get straight legs but it “just happens” like her brain can’t catch up with everything she needs to do since it’s a newer skill. Does it ever get better? I’m just sad that I didn’t know any better and she wasted basically 5 years at a different gym that didn’t care to work with kids who weren’t incredibly easy to coach. She’s 10 and it’s not like she walked into the gym last week, she’s been doing this sport for 6 years.
I trust these coaches 110% and know they are making the best decision for my child, it just is rough because my girl really wants to move up and do 6-10 if she is able.