Parents Advice regarding my 3 year old!

[Jessikazaar]

Hey

I'm new to ChalkBucket! My daughter Belle is 3 years old (4 in Feb)... She absolutely loves gymnastics. She watches youtube videos constantly, is always practicing, would spend all day every day in the gym if she could! The advice I need is regarding her physical capabilities. She does both acro and artistic. and does about 4 hours a week. I never force her to go, she asks if we can go and I have to try and encourage her to do other things (she also goes indoor climbing and swimming). Anyway - she has got her splits, can do handstand, is working on handstand press etc. She has been joining in with some of the older gym classes whilst I am training to be a coach. They let her practice for BHS etc, although she doesn't actually do it - more the preparations for it. Now she wants to practice bridge all the time - until I found this site I didn't know it was an issue but I want some advice. She is a tall 3 year old - 102 cm, and very strong, she can hold bridge for 10 seconds but usually will only go 3 - 5. Should I stop her doing this? Or is it okay as long as she stays in her comfort zone?

Thanks!

 

[gymdog]

I would stop all the back walkover, back bend, BHS. Some kids you can't keep down from just doing a bridge, but trust me, the later you introduce her to to other things like that she could try to chuck by herself, the better. I have had several talented 3 year olds who could kick to a handstand, running cartwheel, etc. But we didn't do bridges and no back bends (standing going to a bridge) instead work on more pullovers and overall strengthening of the body as it moves bilaterally on both sides (crawling through the pit and swimming is very good for this. Also climbing (not too high) and swinging on a rope to develop grip strength, hanging on the bar, go from moving to "freeze" i.e. freeze the end of the running cartwheel, go on tramp and "freeze" when prompted. These are all things that a talented preschooler can improve on.

 

[amphomma]

Jessikazaar, welcome! I also have a 3-year old daughter (and am pretty new here), but she turns 4 next week. She sounds similar to your Belle in terms of interest in gymnastics and early skill development. I understand and agree with your concerns about being careful with which skills get attention when their bodies are so little! My Little A does bridges, but also for just a few seconds. She wants badly to learn a back handspring, but even in her class, a teacher supports the girls' backs and helps them flip over--so just getting the idea and mechanics without too much strain (I hope I'm right!). As far as size goes, I converted the centimeters of Belle's height to inches and it looks like she's an inch taller than my Little A.

I like all the suggestions from gymdog above. I am trying to keep everything in my daughter's life fun and instructive in a broad sense--there will be plenty of time to be serious and intense about mechanical details and skills. It's hard when they watch youtube videos--my daughter started doing that over the summer, and she watches both gymnasts and ballerinas--this is motivating but also frustrating when she doesn't grasp how much younger and smaller she really is than any of them! She is extremely flexible (does splits and can raise her leg just about up to her head while standing) and can move very well on her toes. When a child seems to have gymnastics, or ballet, or anything, already flowing through their veins with not much prodding from parents, when they seem to just "move that way" without much instruction...it's beautiful and amazing and humbling to watch. And I know as parents we have the ultimate responsibility to guard, encourage, support, and protect our kids' gifts and abilities. For all I know, Little A's passion for gymnastics and ballet might fizzle, and then come back years later, or not. We just can't know this early! I'm enjoying her delight and growth so much, but I want whatever she pours herself into to be something she truly loves, and I certainly want to do what's best for her overall development.

I'm glad to see more parents of 3/4 year-olds here, in addition to the great parents who have already "been there, done that"!

 

[iwannacoach]

No backbends, bridges, back limbers, front limbers, back handsprings, and front handsprings. You daughter is a classic example of why you can't let kids get serious or over enthusiastic, as the preschool age body structure is considered too weak to withstand both the constant wear and the occasional tweak. Top that off with the probability that children this age have so many things to pay attention to they're likely to miss the early signs of overuse and the injuries that come from overuse.

There's an area at the base of the spine that is prone to micro fractures, and as I understand it they really don't hurt that much, but they accumulate over time and destabilize the lumbar vertebrae. Once that happens it doesn't matter how gifted she is/was or how advanced she was at a young age because the ppain from this injury will bring her progress to a halt...... just as the sport becomes really interesting.

Heartbreak.......

 

[GymBee97]

YIKES!! I would stop the back stuff - backbends, bridges handsprings back or front. Back handsprings front hand springs. etc. Just keep in mind just because a kid can do a think doesn't mean they should do a thing. If your child like to put screwdrivers into electric sockets would you let her do it? Of course not because it will harm her so you stop her from doing that at age 3.

She is just a toddler and still developing. She could get injuries now that might not affect her until she is older and may even require her to stop gymnastics all together. At 3 yo 4 hours a week is ALOT. You are the mom and make those decisions as to what she can do and what she can't do.

If it were my kid I would cut the hours to no more than 2 hours a week of gym and use the other 2 hours for something else completely different. You don't want to have her burn out at age 8. The biggest thing at the pre-school years - is she having FUN!! Actually that should be the first thing at any age you look at.

 

[bogwoppit]

Heartbreak.......been there....done that......actually have the scars to prove it.

 

[GymBeeMom]

Heartbreak.......been there....done that......actually have the scars to prove it.

Me too

 

[amphomma]

Thank you, parents who have wisdom and are willing to share it! Trying to encourage AND protect my daughter in a sport I know so little about is a sobering responsibility. As a non-gymnast, but a competitive athlete since early childhood (tennis and running), I know the dangers of over-training and the potential for injury, burnout, etc. My husband and I just want the best for both our kids, and it is so helpful to learn from experts. I pray that our gym's coaches are equally wise and careful, but I will have extra keen eyes as I watch Little A's class next week!

 

[iwannacoach]

I pray that our gym's coaches are equally wise and careful, but I will have extra keen eyes as I watch Little A's class next week!

Pray all you want, but be prepared to put your foot down with the gym staff and owner. Tell them in no uncertain terms where the line is drawn, and if they cross that line just once go find a gym that "gets it."

 

[amphomma]

Pray all you want, but be prepared to put your foot down with the gym staff and owner. Tell them in no uncertain terms where the line is drawn, and if they cross that line just once go find a gym that "gets it."

Thank you for your boldness; I feel like my husband and I are good at sticking up for our kids and wanting to protect their bodies over the long haul (my husband, as a physician, definitely understands preventive measures and values whole-body health). We are just starting to learn about this specific sport, and are figuring out pitfalls and red flags.