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Original poster

does your 5yo do gymnastics?

20 replies

dinny · 14/07/2007 17:01

trying to find dd a class

she is getting her knickers in a twist because she can't do a handstand

can't remember what age I could but she says everyone else can in her class - can your reception child?

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SlightlyMadSpider · 14/07/2007 17:02

Have a look at dance schools. Our local dance schools do a gymnastics/acrobatics class.

Original poster
dinny · 14/07/2007 17:07

yeah, have got gymnastic clubs in our area have put her name down for but just wondered if she was unusual in not beign able to do one at 5...? handstand, that is?

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lulumama · 14/07/2007 17:08

DS is almost 8, being going to gymnastics for 18 months, and still cannot do a handstand

SlightlyMadSpider · 14/07/2007 17:08

DTDS have just learnt and they are 6. They learnt in the playgraound as far as I can tell

SlightlyMadSpider · 14/07/2007 17:09

..and I think it is a brief, fleeting one at that

orangehead · 14/07/2007 17:09

My ds, aged 5, has done gym for a yr he loves it and doing well but cant quite do handstand yet, but apparently it is more diff for boys. Sorry to brag but he won a trophy at gym this morning Im so proud esp as he has had a bad yr, dad stopped seeing him really knocked his confidence and he developed selective mutism he also been really poorly in hosp with pnuemonia. Anyway he class is run by the local authority at the lesuire centre. Hope you find 1

Original poster
dinny · 14/07/2007 17:10

I just spent all morning trying to teach her - she had me walking on my hands for her persual!

hmmm, so she maybe is being a bit premature...

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LadyTophamSortingHatt · 14/07/2007 17:11

ds2 (6yrs) does gymnastic and can't do one either.

Infact I don't think any of his class can wthout support, I certainly haven't seen them.

lulumama · 14/07/2007 17:12

well done to your DS oranghead

Original poster
dinny · 14/07/2007 17:13

I swear dd's class is full of superkids - the class average for Foundation Scores is so high and loads of the girls can do handstands and two can walk on their hands. mad!

also, she still hasn't quite mastered skipping and gets so annoyed about that too!

ps well done your ds, OH

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foxinsocks · 14/07/2007 17:14

honestly, they are the bane of dd's life at the moment. She is desperate to do one (is nearly 7) - that and a cartwheel. When it was raining nonstop for what felt like years, I cleared all the furniture to the sides of the room because I got fed up with her clattering into everything.

I think it takes them a while - a few of the 7 year olds in her class can do them now but certainly not all of them.

We got dd's little certificate from gym and it mentions how she's been working on her backward roll and headstand (aaaah) so I'm not sure they've got to handstands yet!

Original poster
dinny · 14/07/2007 17:19

yes, dd is also desperate to do a cartwheel

it is so linked to playground kudos, I think

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foxinsocks · 14/07/2007 17:22

yes I agree. It does look sort of Enid Blyton when you see them skip off merrily and cartwheel across the grass.

Whatever you do, DO NOT be tempted to demonstrate handstands and cartwheels yourself. Having been rather good at them in my youth, I thought I'd take dd aside and show her how to do them myself. Well, all I can say is that my weight must be distributed differently now (ahem) because I swear, my arm bones nearly came out of my wrists when I tried to do a handstand. NEVER again.

(And I landed on my arse when I tried a cartwheel )

Original poster
dinny · 14/07/2007 17:25

oooh, been walking on my hands to show dd this mornign, Foxinsocks - her jaw dropped open!

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HonoriaGlossop · 14/07/2007 17:26

Handstands are one of the harder skills actually. I'd be really surprised if EVERYONE in her class could do one - it takes lots of arm and shoulder strength.

She needs to learn with someone standing there to 'catch' her legs; that's how I learned anyway! you catch her legs and hold on to them for a second or two to hold her in the position. i think it's this supported handstand that helps the muscles get the strength for doing it alone.

However I am ancient and NOT a gymnast any more so you prob are best advised to find a class and check with someone who has the up to date approach!

HonoriaGlossop · 14/07/2007 17:28

FIS, I have to admit i did a PERFECT cartwheel to show ds the other day.

Some of us just don't lose it I guess.

.....it's helped dispel some of my mid life crisis anyway. Am 40 this year..........

foxinsocks · 14/07/2007 17:30

and at all you trim gymnasts

allgonebellyup · 14/07/2007 17:34

my dd is 7 and can do handstands and forwards and backwards walkovers. she does do 12hrs training a week though, soon to be 16hours!

Original poster
dinny · 14/07/2007 19:39

12 hours training! wowee. take it she is in a squad!

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HonoriaGlossop · 14/07/2007 19:55

oh the belly just does a cartwheel too, just with a second or two delay so it lands back in the right place but not quite at the same time as the rest of me

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