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Does Gymnastics Enhance Reading? Yes! Gymnastics is more than learning how to perform a perfect cartwheel, fly between uneven parallel bars and leap and somersault on the balance beam. This challenging sport helps children develop both physically and mentally. The gymnastics environment provides an abundance of therapeutic activities to increase strength, ROM, balance and improve sensory processing, motor planning, and organizational behavior. Many times the children do not even realize how much their bodies are benefiting from their favorite activity, which is often the trampoline. The sensory experiences that are available in the gym prepare the body and its nervous system to learn. The children can then utilize their newly acquired gymnastics skills and modify them to accomplish functional goals. Children learn all-around fitness from gymnastics. It helps them develop upper and lower body strength, flexibility, eye/hand coordination and other physical skills that are basic for all sports. These skills make all athletes quicker to respond and thus less prone to injury. In addition, with slow and steady mastery of increasingly difficult skills, children can develop self- confidence and gain a healthy self-image. Not only does gymnastics help keep children physically fit, but the skills they learn may also help children develop academically. Studies by child development specialists have shown that physical skills such as balancing, concentration and sense of direction are also reading-readiness skills. As a result, children who perform better physically will be better able to learn. Children as young as 18 months can participate in "mom and me" classes. The goals of these programs are to sharpen motor development and coordination, improve body and spatial awareness, develop social skills, instill self-confidence and provide recreation. Typically, mom and baby do the exercises together. Activities include running, crawling, jumping, swinging, rolling, hanging, throwing and balancing using equipment scaled to the children's size. Although most special needs children would have a difficult time performing typical gymnastics moves, they can greatly benefit from using the apparatuses found in gymnasiums. Trampolines provide sensory stimulation as well as muscle stimulation. Gymnastics mats allow children to walk on surfaces that compress when they walk on them. This provides good resistance, which helps build muscle. Using the uneven bars, whether assisted or unassisted, helps children build upper body strength. Sitting, jumping into, and climbing out of a pit filled with foam squares provides great sensory input and excellent physical exercise. "He’s a Boy, He’ll Grow Out of It" is a great article explaining Sensory benefits of gymnastics. Physical Goals are to increase: Gross Motor Skills Postural Control Balance Coordination Strength Flexibility Stamina Social Goals are to increase: Compliance with group activities Appropriate Social Interaction Comfort level in groups and Integrate into group settings as appropriate Cognitive Goals are to increase: Attention / Focus Ability to follow directions Motor-Planning Skills Problem Solving Emotional Goals are to increase: Self confidence and movement enjoyment Frustration Tolerance Favorite local gymnastics places...see our Links page! Santa Cruz Gymnastics Capitola Recreation has awesome Preschool gymnastics programs! |
Gymnastics
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