About DD gymnastics class?

[mizzles]

I've been taking DD to a parent and 'toddler' (up to 4 1/2) class since last autumn. The format is a whole class warm-up and then a circuit using equipment (balance beam, bars, mat, etc). DD is clearly not an Olympic gymnast in the making but has made progress over time, e.g. can now balance much better on the balance beam etc. My memory of school PE is that there's a lot of gymnastics-type stuff (which I always hated) so I'm keen for her to develop those skills so she can join in effectively and not feel unconfident in school classes. (She starts in September.)

The probIem is that the coaches provide essentially no input during the circuit bit of the class, beyond a brief demo at the beginning (which is mostly done by the coach's daughter who is maybe 7). This has got worse now that the main coach has a new baby whom she brings to the class and spends a lot of time feeding/settling. This is ok for the simpler exercises but I really struggle to help DD with the more complicated ones e.g. today she was supposed to bunny hop with her legs on a trampoline with her hands on a mat below, then do a forward roll down onto the mat. I couldn't explain how to do it and couldn't attract the coach's attention.

Is this just standard for preschool classes and I should suck it up? Or can I reasonably expect DD to get some teaching time and, you know, coaching from the coach?

It think it's standard for parent and toddler sessions where it's largely about playing.
The gym may run a pre-school class (for 3-4 year olds) where it is more coached (so like the gym classes for older children) but those will be child only classes.

Well my DD does dance and cheer..I would not expect to be coaching her myself. at any age. maybe gymnastics is different but it sounds a bit rubbish tbh. I would find another class

Unless things have drastically changed over the years she should be monitored by the coach whilst on the equipment.
Not only for coaching but for safety.

@Moonshine11

Unless things have drastically changed over the years she should be monitored by the coach whilst on the equipment. Not only for coaching but for safety.

😂😂 ignore me! I’m thinking of gymnastics not a toddler group

I would try to find out exactly what type of class it is. Is that the only class they run?

That sounds standard (in my limited experience) for a preschool drop in / stay and play type class where the parents stay. If you want taught classes could you see if there is a preschool type class without parents that they run as UserAtRandom suggests?

I have no experience of gymnastics specifically but my DC goes to a toddler football class and that’s run by the coaches the whole way through. They demo the task and then support through each one. Some parents join in, others don’t, depending on task and child. I would’ve thought that at the very least, the coaches would loiter nearby ready to step in and support where required. It seems odd to me that they just let you get on with it, without any support. Annoying.

I do a parent and child class much like this. My dd who is in the class above gets much more support from the coach. Little kids need lots of encouragement and it's too much to expect the coach to do everything when you are right there. The coach at our class usually stays near the bars to support for health and safety.

Sounds like an “open gym” session rather than a “proper” class. A bunch of fun things to do with a parent supervising / helping child.
Depends what you want: either you’ve to pay for British Gymnastics membership (for insurance), and leave child there to pick up later, but get a coach supervising and actually coaching. Or something like now, where parents supervise.

Hi, thank you for the helpful responses. It's the only one they run for her age group, there's another class for 4 1/2 upwards which parents don't attend, but as she's only just 4 it's a while before she would be old enough. I wouldn't mind paying extra for a class with more input but there aren't many weekend classes locally and as a non-driver I'm a little more limited (I get DD to cycle everywhere but we're probably at our limit distance-wise - we did gymnastics in the morning, swimming in the afternoon and she cycled 10km getting to/between activities and back home, which feels like enough on a hot day). I think I should find a different class for September, as school finishes much earlier than nursery and so we could manage a weekday class. Also I might be a bit more direct about getting coach time when we need it as I am neither an effective nor super-patient teacher.

I’d be concerned the coach is busy settling her child. This could actually be an insurance issue for the coach - if her attention is diverted for example. I’m sure bringing a baby to work isn’t mentioned in her risk assessments.