Parents Grateful for gymnastics

[gymcricket]

Out of all of the the things we've done to help DD with her dyslexia and ADHD, I think gymnastics -- something she does for fun and for passion for the sport -- has been the best. She used to feel lousy about herself because, though she's very smart, she struggled so hard to read. "Everyone else in my class can read chapter books. What is my problem?" Now she has daily small ups and downs in gymnastics but with a firm but encouraging coach who has helped DD to keep trying. DD's coach praises the process and the work ethic, not just the outcome. At the gym, people notice her talent and diligence; she's not the girl blurting out of turn, the one who runs with the boys at recess, or who sits on her hands so she can control them better.

A couple of days ago, I met with a dyslexia specialist who said, "Gymnastics was the best thing you could do for her bc of vestibular development." She also asked how DD approached homework on gymnastics days versus non-gymnastics days. Me: "It's weird: you'd think she'd be tired after 4 hours of practice but she actually just seems calmer and more focused." Her: "Bingo!" She wants to help get goals written into DD's IEP at school to encourage the teacher to let her do some movement or do errands to the office before big tests, using her experience with gymnastics as an example.

It's been so fun learning about gymnastics and seeing how happy it makes DD but now I'm more grateful than ever. What about you all? What are you grateful for about gymnastics?

 

[wallinbl]

We had a teacher conference yesterday, where the teacher commented on how much she sees gymnastics contributing to DD's in school performance (it was in a written portion that I didn't read until I got home, so I didn't get to clarify as to how). DD is so obsessed with gymnastics, she'll do anything to make sure she can go. Homework is never a problem for us, as she knows that she doesn't go until it's done. In that regard, I fear the day she quits gymnastics.

One thing I've learned about ADHD is that people have an ability to focus tremendously on something (hyperfocus). Most assume they can't focus on anything, but quite often, it's that there is one thing they're fixated on, and other things suffer because of it. I was diagnosed with it as an adult, and have since done a fair amount of reading about it. In general, it's important to learn how to direct your focus. There are tricks to get yourself to focus on things you otherwise don't care about, and to do so before it's an emergency. I used to think I could only focus on something when the deadline was almost upon me, but that was because I couldn't control my focus and I'd only deal with the thing my focus happened to be on.

I know that's kind of vague and unhelpful, and I wish I could describe it better. There are several books out there that treat ADHD as a benefit and a positive trait rather than something to be corrected, and it really does have benefits. That way of looking at it was very helpful to me in terms of getting some basic things together.

 

[nameless]

i am grateful that gymnastics is so expensive that i actually quit smoking after 20 years..

 

[gwenmom]

I am so glad to hear your DD is being helped with her ADHD through gymnastics. My son is ADHD and I am struggling to find him a sport to help him. He would rather play his video games all day. we are doing Muay Thai with him and when he gets into it, he is good.

I am grateful for gymnastics for the body control, discipline and life long practice of exercise it is teaching my DD. She is grateful for the fun stuff she gets to do and the thrill of competing.

 

[GymBeeMom]

I am grateful for the good, bad and the ugly of the sport. This is how life is, and so far my dd and ds love gym and life

 

[kwnative]

I'm so glad your DD is doing so well! I have two boys with ADHD (and am about to get my daughter tested as well). In my reading, I learned that activities that require balancing are good for helping them to focus, and it specifically mentioned gymnastics as something great to have a kid with ADHD enrolled in.

I am grateful for gymnastics for so many reasons. I'm grateful that my DD has found a sport that she loves and is also good at. I am grateful to have such a good gym for her to do it at, and that she is learning time management skills that will stay with her for the rest of her life. And I am grateful for the friendships that both my DD and I have developed among the other gymnasts and their parents. It has enriched our lives in every way.

 

[Amusibus]

ADHD makes so much of life so difficult for kids, and they struggle with so much that comes naturally to others. Because of this it seems like they are always being told to focus, being scolded, and getting frustrated with themselves over these struggles. Because normal things like homework and dressing and doing almost anything takes them much longer, they have less free time than the average kid. My point is, in a life that has so many areas of frustration, I am grateful for gymnastics for my ADHD daughter because it is an area where she is good at something and getting lots of praise, and feeling good about herself.

 

[GymGirl's Mom]

Wonderful news. I have 2 kids with ADHD and one of them has coordination issues. The other activity I find helpful is Karate.