Anyone else's young kids do gymnastics?

[Sporkle99]

My very energetic 4yo is starting gymnastics this week. I've been looking at the club's Instagram and some of the skills their younger kids have and it's just amazing. I have no idea how they manage to teach kids so young to do what looks like such scary moves. My son is incredibly lively and both nurseries and someone from another club have both suggested he has adhd.

He's desperate to do gymnastics. He's obsessed with it. He teaches himself and can now do a headstand and the splits just from practicing in his bedroom. I just worry that he will be so much of a handful that he will be disruptive.

Thankfully I can just drop him off and watch from the balcony otherwise as his behaviour is worse when he's around people he is secure with (aka me and his grandparents).

He's not mean or aggressive, just incredibly unfocused and always moving.

Am I mad sending him to gymnastics?

Absolutely not a silly idea at all. My son was the same and went to gymnastics for similar reasons to you. He’s recently been diagnosed with ADHD and it’s been hugely helpful for him.

DS has been doing it since he was about 2 just a fun class he's now 3 1/2 and can already do forward and backwards rolls, hand stands lift up on a bar and more and he's by no means the most physically able in the group. It's a fab hobby for small energetic children.

My son is similar - but gymnastics did mot work for him as he got overexcited. He has way too much energy for gymnastics (too much standing around and waiting for your turn).
He does ballet, cheerleading and acrobatic dance now (he is 6 years old) and that works well. Especially ballet has bern amazing for him (we are at a competitive studio - ballet is focussed high energy!)

Why mad?

He enjoys

Dd 6 does gym and loves it. There tonight

so so many professional gymnasts say they started the sport as they were hyper/couldn't sit still/had boundless energy and their parents took them to burn off the energy. So no, I don't think it's crazy.

However, it is a sport that carries inherent risk, so you have to be prepared for the coach to perhaps be a little strict at times, and expect a certain standard of listening in order to keep him safe when trying new skills.

Gymnastics can be brilliant for kids like your son! It really helps them channel their energy positively and it actually helps them learn to focus and concentrate too. My nephew has ADHD and was a real handful when he was little - constantly on the go, easily distracted, impulsive - and he did really well at gymnastics.

My DD has done gymnastics since she was 3. She absolutely adores it. However, she also has dyspraxia - her club have been absolutely fantastic with her and are quite happy to work on balancing on the beam while the other 8 year olds are doing much more adventurous things. Clubs can be quite different, so don't give up on gymnastics if it's not a perfect fit. My DD would struggle at some of the more competitive clubs in my city.