7 Reasons Gymnastics Is A Great Sport For Kids

7 Reasons Gymnastics Is A Great Sport For Kids

(By guest contributor Amanda Borden)

It’s a sport for all sports

Gymnastics provides a great foundation for ALL sports. Gymnastics develops strength, flexibility, balance, agility, and coordination…all skills needed for sports like hockey, basketball, volleyball, and football.  The flexibility used to do a leg split is the same flexibility a hockey or soccer player uses to save a goal. The balance and coordination a gymnast develops to jump on a balance beam are similar to the skills needed by a pitcher on the baseball mound. Whether you become a competitive gymnast or participate in other competitive sports, gymnastics gives you a great foundation to succeed!

It makes you a better math student

That’s right, math is considered a spatial sport, which means the more children move in different ways, the more connections are made in the brain that improves spatial awareness. Kids need good spatial skills to understand mathematical equations and geometric principles. Gymnastics does just that! Gymnastics moves improve body awareness and help wire the brain for math success.

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Weather and seasons aren’t a factor

Gymnastics is a year-round sport, so there is no need to wait until gymnastics season; you can participate year-round or on your schedule. It’s an indoor sport, so you don’t need to wait for the weather to warm up or cool down. Plus, you can participate in your “off” season from other sports to build strength and coordination.

It teaches resilience and mental toughness

In a sport where the best athletes at the highest levels still fall and make mistakes, gymnastics teaches resilience and mental toughness.  It’s a sport where you fall again and again and have to continually “get back on the horse.”  In 1992 I was crushed when I didn’t make the Olympic team. But the culture of gymnastics is to continue to get back up and never quit trying.  Four years later, I not only made the team but was named the captain of the gold medal-winning team known as the Magnificent Seven. Gymnastics is a sport where you learn to quickly put your mistakes behind you and move on.

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The outfits are awesome

Leotards have evolved over the years allowing gymnasts to infuse their own style into their outfits. Gymnasts can express their personalities through the vibrant colors and stretchy and shiny fabrics they wear. The variety is endless!  Who doesn’t love stepping out in a bedazzled, glittery, sparkling outfit covered in crystals?

Social Skills and Life Lessons

Gymnastics requires kids to stand in line, take turns using equipment, to listen to and apply a coach’s feedback. All things that develop real-life skills like patience, following directions, being quiet, and respecting others. Gymnastics teaches commitment, dedication, respect, and time management and builds confidence and self-esteem…. all the qualities we want our children to have to be successful students and human beings. With gymnastics offering programs starting at toddler age, gymnastics can be great social preparation for starting school. 

Flying, swinging, climbing, and bouncing

Swinging, climbing, jumping, and flipping…..is fun!!! What’s a child not to love about gymnastics? With participation in youth sports declining and the obesity rate in children increasing…it’s important that we keep kids involved, engaged, and, most of all, having FUN while participating in sports!