Kiddipedia
By Laura Sereno, BK’s Gymnastics Program Manager
Gymnastics is currently booming across Australia with Sports Australia reporting it as the third most popular sport in the country. Meanwhile, BK’s Gymnastics , for example, an Australian network of specialty kids’ gymnastics centres, has seen a 225% growth in participation over the least two years and is set to open 10 more centres across Australia before the end of the year.
When you look at the benefits, it’s easy to see why. Gymnastics provides children with an experience and love for movement, core strength, body awareness, coordination, timing and balance skills, just to name a few – these physical skills are key no matter what other sports and activities they participate in and puts them in good stead to be strong and active adults.
In fact, some of Australia’s top athletes started out in gymnastics classes as children including Olympic swimmer Emily Seebom, hurdler Sally Pearson and former Roosters captain Anthony Minichiello.
Beyond the physical benefits there are also many other, lesser-known skills gymnastics can help develop, here are just a few:
- Risk management: One of the greatest benefits of getting your child started in gymnastics at an early age is that they’ll learn risk management. Many toddlers don’t understand that climbing on certain objects can be problematic. That’s why gymnastics programs like KinderGym focuses on teaching kids how to climb, fly and fall safely.
- Listening and learning: Gymnastics involves processing large amounts of information, including instructions, safety rules and other directions and kids need to quickly learn to focus their attention. Research also suggests that regular gymnastics can assist kids’ cognitive development and intellectual abilities, because of the number of body-to-brain signals that gymnastics requires.
- Goal setting: Gymnastics skills can be technically difficult and require a lot of practice and determination. Classes are structured so that once you achieve a set of skills, you can move up to the next, more advanced level. This process assists kids in the development and understanding of setting targets and working hard to achieve them.
Ultimately, the skills learned through gymnastics set a great foundation for kids as they grow and continue to participate in physical activity. It also teaches kids that moving your body is fun and rewarding. Kids as young as 3 months old can join a program and remember, it’s not just for girls! Boys need core movement skills too and they can take this with them to other sports.
This article is written by Laura Sereno who is the Program Manager for BK’s Gymnastics nationally. BK’s Gymnastics offers classes suitable for ages 3 months – 8+ and aims to empower kids through gymnastics to build confidence and performance in all sports by helping children master vital movement skills. For more information visit: https://www.bkgymswim.com.au
