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Original poster

Gymnastics - help me decide please...

23 replies

MayorNaze · 15/10/2009 12:53

dd is 7. she is not especially co-ordinated or sporty but loves gymnastics. she has been going to local classes for about 7 months (local being we can walk there).

while she really enjoys it, i don't think she is really learning a lot or developing her skills. it seems very very basic to me (i do have a bit of prior knowledge of gym classes from my own dim and distant past).

in the next town there is a very highly rated gym class. prices for a once a week class are only slightly more expensive already, but i would have to arrange with dh to have the car on those days and it would be about 20 mins drive each way with dd2 and ds also in tow. i think she would benefit uch more from a more "hard-core" class but am dithering about whether to move her or not as it would be much more faff to get to, plus she does enjoy the class she already goes to.

WWYD???

thanks

OP posts:
DailyMailNameChanger · 15/10/2009 13:01

Is she doing it as a sport to pursue or a hobby to enjoy? The benefits, are those ones she wants or ones you want for her?

If it si a hobby and she is happy then let her continue to enjoy it, she will get much more from a place she is happy and you run the risk that she will stop enjoying the sport if you move her.

If she wants to do it as a sport and the benefits to her are noticable then it is worth the extra effort...

Not helpful really I know... my instinct, on reading your post, is that you want her to have more becasue you did but that dd is not at all worried about it. I fthat is true then leave her to it!

Original poster
MayorNaze · 15/10/2009 13:07

thank you - she does it as a hobby because she wants to and i am more than happy for her to do it as i thought it will be a way of boosting her confidence as well as helping with her general co-ordination.

i think that i think that if she goes to a "better" class, then she will achieve more and therefore feel better/be more confident in herself? does that make sense?

i certainly have no ambition for her to be the next beth tweddle, nor do i think that she has olympic ambitions either

not sure i have answered any of your comments but thank you for the input - what do you think now? keep her there? change?

OP posts:
NorbertDentressangle · 15/10/2009 13:09

MY DD has been doing gymnastics for the last 2 years. She always tended to be not particularly co-ordinated, tendency to be a bit clumsy (she could fall over fresh air IYKWIM)etc. Also she isn't a very confident child.

Anyway, since doing gym I think she has benefitted immensely. At the gym she goes to she gets the opportunity to do things like the beam, vault, asymetric bars etc as well as the floor work.

TBH before she went I thought it would be all cartwheels, floor routines and so on, so I was a bit when she started coming home telling me how she'd done a forward roll on the beam etc. When I went to pick her up one week I watched (nervously!) as she stood on the lower asymetric bar and leapt across to grab and swing from the higher one. Her face was an absolute picture -she was so pleased that she could do it and that I'd seen her.

The instructors do push them (in a nice way) to try and do things, they don't let the children say "I can't do it" and leave it at that but thats what my DD needs, someone that isn't her Mum or Dad saying "You haven't tried so how do you know you can't do it" etc

What I guess I'm trying to say (in a long-winded way ) is if you think your DD would benefit, and it sounds like she might, then go for it! It sounds like she could try out new skills and new experiences at the other class

Interested in this thread?

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NorbertDentressangle · 15/10/2009 13:11

PS- forgot to add that DD has opted just to do it on a recreational level and doesn't enter any of the comps

DailyMailNameChanger · 15/10/2009 13:19

TBH I would say have her where she is happy - have you asked her what she thinks about the other place...could you go for one session to try it out?

It does not always follow that more input will yeild more reults - although I do see what you are saying. Sometimes it goes the other way and more pushing will mean she just backs off altogether, if she gets pushed to do things she is not happy with rather than evolving more slowly it may actually knock her confidence more than it builds it IYSWIM.

Original poster
MayorNaze · 15/10/2009 13:20

thank you Norbert - that is exactly what my dd is like - falls over fresh air. i really think that the sense of achievemnt she owuld get from it being a bit more difficult, for want of a better word, would do her the world of good, as well as help with co-ordination etc.

your dd doesn't go to a place in a town beginning with m does she by any chnce?!

OP posts:
Original poster
MayorNaze · 15/10/2009 13:21

but on the other hand that is exactly what i am concerned about DM!! it may well be that if it gets a bit more advacned she might go off it altogether

gaaaaahhhhh!!!! have not spoken to dd about it am still working out logistics and don't want to get her hopes up and then not be able to do it.

am going to talk to dh later.

OP posts:
Original poster
MayorNaze · 15/10/2009 13:28

have to go - back later - thank for the views, really appreciate it

OP posts:
DailyMailNameChanger · 15/10/2009 13:31

Get the logistics sorted, make sure it is possible and try to arrange a trail session, explain to the gym that you want to be sure your dd will be happy there. Then ask dd, explain they do things that are a bit harder and you thought she may enjoy it so would she like to go and try it one week?

Doing it that way has a few advantages, one is that you know it is possible, two you are preparing her for it being a bit more tough so it will not be asurprise to her, three she knows it is only a one off for the time being so is far more likely to go with an open mind than if you said "ok we are now going to this gym".

If she goes with an open mind and an expectation that she will enjoy it then she will most likly be totally fine and happy there!

LostGirl · 15/10/2009 13:33

Could she go to both sessions for a short while and then let her choose which one she would like to stick with?

NorbertDentressangle · 15/10/2009 13:34

MayorNaze -it is a town beginning with M , yes.....spooky!

(in a county beginning with W. Are we talking the same place here???)

InSync · 15/10/2009 13:47

I would talk to your DD about the pros and cons of both gymnastic clubs, and maybe go and have a look round the bigger club with your DD so she can see what it's like. And then let her decide for herself

Original poster
MayorNaze · 15/10/2009 15:30

Norbert - yes!!! how strange...!what day does your dd go?!

i think you are all right - logistics permitting we will have a look round and see what dd thinks. i don't think a trial session will be possible because of insurance though that was a good idea.

at the end of the day if she wants to stick with the more basic one then that is up to her.

thanks all

OP posts:
NorbertDentressangle · 15/10/2009 16:00

Mayor -I've CAT'd you

ellokitty · 15/10/2009 20:02

Ask about the trial session. My DD's gym club offers them. Tbh, I'd do the trial and see if she wants to swap. Learning new things and progressing is a real ego boost and my DD loves all the new things she does at her large gym club.

ellokitty · 15/10/2009 20:03

P.S. If she does gymnastics already, she should already have her insurance shouldn't she? It covers all clubs, not just specific clubs!

DailyMailNameChanger · 15/10/2009 23:42

ellokitty, it depends on whether she is a member of British Gymnastics, if she is not then it is down to the clubs insurance. The chances are that she is not a member given her age and the fact that she is not competing. It is to do with how private clubs are run.

Original poster
MayorNaze · 16/10/2009 20:47

after all that there is a 6 month waiting list for the other place!

so i have put her on it.

come back in 6 months guys and we'll have a review

thank you all

cheers for the CAT Norbert

OP posts:
NorbertDentressangle · 16/10/2009 21:57

Thats OK m'dear.

Who knows, in 6 months time my DD will have got bored of gymnastics and I can give you a load of leotards, palm guards etc.

BTW have you/your DD been watching the current Gymnastic World Championships on TV?

sylar · 16/10/2009 22:04

I used to coach gymnastics. Bear in mind that if she progresses she will need to be going more than once a week (min of twice and generally three times) and so you could end up spending a lot of time ferrying her backwards and forwards.

DailyMailNameChanger · 16/10/2009 23:56

Lol - well that is better than us, here we have a two year waiting list and that is for the second rate gym!

Ah well, hope it goes well when the place does come up

Original poster
MayorNaze · 22/02/2010 14:35

oh gosh they have just rung and dd1 has a place if we want it

all reasons listed below still apply...what do we dooooo?????????

thanks

OP posts:
Original poster
MayorNaze · 22/02/2010 14:38

actually have re-read thread and all sound advice thanks

have emailed dh to discuss logistics and if can, will see if dd1 can go and have a look round maybe.

as you were

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