The Benefits of Gymnastics on Children’s Development
Gymnastics is one of the most comprehensive exercise programs available for young children, combining physical activity with mental and social development. What’s unique about gymnastics is the development of the entire human, rather than simply the physical aspects like most sports out there.
Here’s how it can shape their growth and how we build better humans through our incredible sport:
1. Physical Benefits
Gymnastics provides full-body development and training that improves strength, flexibility, coordination, and balance. These skills are not only foundational to gymnastics but are also transferable to other sports and physical activities, including school!
- Improved Strength and Flexibility: According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, activities that emphasize body control, like gymnastics, improve muscular strength and endurance in children. These benefits help in everyday physical activities and foster better posture and body awareness.
- Enhanced Coordination and Balance: Gymnastics promotes both fine and gross motor skills, which are essential for balance and agility. In our younger aged programs like Gym Fun and Kindergym, participants develop these skills through the use of small objects that make developing coordination and fine motor a fun activity for them!
- Bone Health and Reduced Risk of Obesity: Regular weight-bearing activities, such as gymnastics, help to increase bone density, which is crucial for growing children. Additionally, the physical activity in gymnastics can contribute to maintaining a healthy weight, helping prevent childhood obesity.
2. Mental and Cognitive Benefits
Gymnastics not only enhances physical fitness but also contributes significantly to cognitive and mental development.
- Improved Concentration and Discipline: Children engaged in structured physical programs, such as gymnastics, often develop better focus and discipline. These programs require concentration, commitment, and a continuous learning mindset, which can improve children’s attention span and ability to stay on task.
- Creativity: Children who participate in gymnastics at a young age foster a greater sense of creativity and learn to create their own games, activities and be creative in using equipment – Our open play sessions allow kids the chance to build and craft using our safe equipment, coming up with new ideas and fun activities all on their own!
- Enhanced Problem-Solving Skills and Resilience: Gymnastics teaches children how to overcome challenges. The progression-based nature of gymnastics, where they learn one skill before moving on to the next, can build resilience and self-confidence as children learn from trial and error.
- Reduced Anxiety and Increased Confidence: Regular participation in gymnastics can lead to improved self-esteem as children reach new milestones. Dr. Justin J. Annesi’s study on youth sports programs noted that children involved in gymnastics exhibited higher levels of self-confidence and a more positive self-image due to the goal-oriented nature of the sport.
3. Social and Emotional Benefits
Gymnastics provides a unique social setting where children can develop crucial social skills by working individually and in a team!
- Teamwork and Friendship: While gymnastics is often seen as an individual sport, it promotes a team environment where kids support each other during training. According to a study by the Youth Sports Trust, sports like gymnastics foster a sense of camaraderie and teamwork, even in non-competitive settings. Children learn to encourage each other, celebrate each other’s successes, and offer support during challenging times.
- Improved Communication Skills: Working with coaches and peers helps children improve their listening and communication skills. Gymnastics requires children to take instruction, ask questions, and sometimes even help each other out, which are all valuable social skills.
- Learning Respect and Discipline: The rules and structure inherent in gymnastics teach children about respect—respect for coaches, teammates, and themselves. A participation in sports with a strong emphasis on discipline, such as gymnastics, fosters respect for authority and an understanding of structured environments.
Through gymnastics, children not only gain the physical, emotional, and social benefits of the sport, things that will last them a lifetime even outside of the gym – But they get to have a load of fun in the process!
If your interested in giving your child the best start to life, reach out to our team to find out more about the programs on offer!
