As parents, you must have heard or even read a lot about the different development stages children go through. The most important years in a child’s development is from birth to the age of five, during this time intellectual, social and physical development is very crucial.
12 to 24 months
The most imperative thing I have noticed in encouraging good child development during this stage is praise and routine. Doing the same things over and over may become boring to parents and older children, but it has been recognized to help toddlers in becoming good at the tasks at hand and preparing their mind and body for what should come next. Making changes to their routines should be done with great care and proper planning.
Due to a lot of repetition of exercises and getting praised for it; Gymnastics is great empowerment for learning and self-confidence. Attending the same classes every week is important since it enhances discipline and memory, which will enhance intellectual development. During this period toddlers have also just started walking, but they still require balance and tend to fall a lot; Gymnastics will improve strength, balance and co-ordination, which will then contribute to walking and other physical development qualities.
At this stage toddlers still have a lot of fears, like separation, sounds, hights and big objects or movements, just as parents have natural fears for their toddler to get hurt or lost. During a Parent and Toddler class, the fear of separation is accommodated due to parents participating in the class with their toddler; this can also result in a strong bond between the caretaker and child. At an appropriate pace the toddler gets use to other people in the midst of their guardian, while safely using obstacles to overcome any possible fears. They are also more inspired to participate due to having someone they know by their side.
3 to 5 years
This stage is known as the pre-school years, which can become increasingly busy for children. They are very energetic and have amazing imaginations. By this time, they can understand words and tend to be less reliant on their parents, in which case their parents do not have to be actively involved in the training sessions anymore. Having friends to play with becomes crucial for motivational purposes, but sometimes it is necessary to show them how to play nice and resolve conflicts…
For those who may have heard that Gymnastics has negative effects on growth, let me explain that this is only true when a coach does not keep the gymnast’s best interests at heart and when his/her main purpose for coaching is WINNING. Such situations will much rather exist in serious competitive gymnastics, rather than recreational and FUN gymnastics. A child should not feel pressured at this stage of their lives, but can rather start with competing from the age of 6. Enrolling them for recreational gymnastics in this stage is a much better option, because the exercises are more fun-orientated, and it will still encourage children to give their best and keep fit.
Other general benefits of Gymnastics to help children succeed in school and life!
Develops determination.
Cultivates courage.
Plans persistence.
Garners a growth mindset.
Demands a balanced lifestyle.
Following directions.
Following safety rules.
Encouraging patience.
Working co-operatively.
Responsibility in cleaning up.
Asking for help.
Coping with jealousy.
Building character, resilience and grit.
The value of effort.
Developing ambition.
Muscle strength.
Flexibility.
Cognitive benefits.
Healthy bones.
Reduce risky behaviour.
For further reading and sources used in this post:
Written by Lynelle de Villiers
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