What age can my baby join toddler gymnastics?

Everything to know about baby joining toddler gymnastics

By Rebecca jones
What age can my baby join toddler gymnastics?

image siurce: gu-nj.com

What is the right time to enroll your baby or toddler into a gymnastics class? Even though experts believe kids shouldn't be introduced into gymnastic until around the ages of 3-5, trust me, babies can learn the fundamentals of gymnastic from as early as 6 months old. The benefits of introducing your baby into a gymnastic class is huge. At an early stage, the focus should be about body awareness and more of a bonding time to prepare a child ahead of serious gymnastic programs, but also if you have a child who is learning how to crawl or waddle around the house, then it is probably time to let them discover their physical abilities and potentials through gymanstics. 

There is a lot of activities that goes on in a baby-toddler gymanstics that helps in building a child's ability physically and mentally. A baby learn to listen to direction and follow instruction through visualization and touching things around them, making them super aware of their surroundings and building trust and communication skills. The physical benefit of toddler gymnastics is the ability to develop strength and muscle density to give your child enough coordination and body balance. In a toddler gymnastics class, the goal is about teaching a child some developmental skills like grabbing, holding and touching. It's all about having fun and enjoying time with your little one. Toddler gymnastic class is not competitive as you may think. It's all about the love of the sport, and a child feeling their absolute best. 

Best age to start toddler gymnastics

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Nothing excite a toddler more than the ability to jump around places and make a mess, and toddler gymnastic is a fun activity that encourages toddlers moving, staying active and having fun. Even though your child won't be able to make moves like tumbling or summersaults until probably 24 months of age and above, but he/she will have a lot of fun while trying. Many toddlers won't be able to make official major moves since they are probably to young to understand, therefore letting them figure it out On their own and not forcing nor enforcing major moves on them will be best. You don't want your child hating the sport even before it began. Slowly but surely, with encouragement and a helping hand from an instructor or a teacher, a toddler should be able to jump on a tranpoline, and complete an obstacle course.

image source: under5s.co.nz

So the question here is, when should a toddler actually start taking gymnastics lessons? The answer is when ever he or she shows sign of readiness. There isn't a thing like too late or too early. There are a lot of gymnastic facilities out there that have classes for toddlers as early as 6 Month, and others from 2 years. So as a parent, if you feel your child is being adventurous towards learning either by holding or grabbing things (which child doesnt), then maybe its time to enrol he or she in a fun toddler gymnastic class. It might be a great way for the baby to releases his or her fun energetic energy in a good way, and acquire great learning skills either by communication or by observation. Which ever the case might be, just make sure you don't over do it. Make the lesson at least once or twice a week.

Healthy play classes at toddler gyms

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Different toddler gymnastics facilities operate differently, and offer different activities for baby's of different ages and milestones. It's important to ask questions and find out about the events and activities offered, and make sure it's an activity you can see your child enjoying before making any commitments. With that out of the way, the following are the most famous activities offered in toddler gymnastic classes:

1. Dancing classs

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A lot of toddler gym understands the importance of a child to be comfortable with his or her body, and discovering all the amazing fun activities they can perform with random movement. This class helps a toddler in using the whole body and exercise without even knowing. The exercise will strengthen their entire body a long with rhythms and musics that are child friendly and entertaining.

2. Running and climbing classes

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Trust me just like you read, running and climbing classes, Most toddler gymnastic facilities allows toddlers from 15-20 months a safe ground to run, walk, jump, climb, rolling, throwing and catching. All this fun activities have a positive effect in stimulating a toddler brain, and learning new skills like socializing and making new friends.

3. Creative and make believe

Nothing gets the attention of the kids more like a made believe pretend session with fun creative costumes and educational materials that captures and captivates the imagination of a child. At a young age, a toddler should be encourage to explore his or her creative side by infusing fun activities like coloring and painting. This skills not only teach them how to communicate but to also socialize and make friends.

4. Exploring new sound and music

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Music has a beautiful way of empowering and helping a child in expressing and communicating his or her feelings. Musical Instruments like drums and tambourine wee perfect tools to entertain your little toddler and help them in discovering and being aware of their sense of hearing. Kids who are into musical instruments from early stage are more likely to be sociable.

Create your own toddler gymnastics equipments at home

If you are a DIY kind of mom and has lots of creative juice, then i am sure you've already thought of many inexpensive ways to create a toddler play ground or space at home where you and your little one can have fun and bond all at the same time. A gymnastic facility offers over the top facility that is expert approved for every child's physical and mental development, but even at that, it doesn't mean you can't replicate such training device with the available resources you have in your possession and at home. Here are a list of things you can create as your own toddler gym equipment from your home: 

1. A soft playing mat

If you've already own a cozy playing mat for your child when he or she was a little infant trying to learn how to crawl, or sit, then it's time to reuse that mat for a different purpose, either as a comfy medium for your child to roll over and play, or a soft ground level to practice those dancing and jumping skills.

2. Cardboard tunnels for completing obstacles

You can use a construction material like cardboard boxes which are free or inexpensive to create a mini cute tunnels for toddler to go through and under in a fun adventurous way.

3. Hand weights

You can use empty plastic bottles containers by filling them up with colored beads, mini pebbles or water to add weight and give more volume. Different contents for desired heaviness, then ask your toddler or coach them to lift them carefully with it dropping it on their foot or hurting themselves. Always supervise, cause this process will help your child in mastering the art ofgrabbing and holding.

4. Coloring and painting

This is an important learning and developmental skills for baby's. You can get inexpensive way to paint with your child either by using crayons or water paint. or You can Also buy a coloring book or  download a baby coloring app on your smartphone and teach your child the art of coloring.

5. Skipping rope

Using a simple inexpensive skipping rope to get your baby jumping is a fun way to get your toddler active, but another alternative to that is jumping jack. Just pretend he or she is holding a skipping rope and encourage them to jump, but do not let them over do it, and be under supervision.

6. Throwing and catching balls

Just get your toddler some few colorful balls and always encourage them to kick, throw, and catch their balls. Using their legs to play ball helps in developing a muscle strength and providing them with great motoring skills.

In general, what ever you can come up with at home to get your toddler mobile, active and happy is a form of healthy sport. Concentrate in the child's efforts and happiness. Don't be fixated in achieving and covering every milestone at every given time, just concentrate more in helping your child enjoy his or her bidy, and it's amazing capabilities.

Suitable clothes and attire for toddler gymnastics sessions

First and foremost, the most important thing to consider when picking an outfit for a child going for his or her toddler gymnastic class should be comfort. Pick an attire that is flattering and form-fitting. Do not pick a cloth that is slightly oversize or tight. The gym ware should be free from beaded or stone accessories, ensure that the cloth isn't going to be an instrument which can hurt a child or hinder his or her ability to move and perform freely. the child should love and feel best in his or her cloth.
The following are some examples of an appropriate gym clothes for toddlers:

Snowflake leotard toddler gym clothes,

the most common gymnastic ware for baby girls either young or adults a leotard. Toddlers girls can wear leotards by themselves, with a pair of shorts on top or with a pair of elastic-waistband shorts.
 

Snowflake Designs Boys Mens Diagonal Cut Gymnastics Singlet -

When a toddler, baby boy is doing gymnastics, he needs to wear only a regular, comfortable T-shirt for gymnastics. So long as the T-shirt is not so oversized that it impedes movement, any natural fiber T-shirt works well. When attending a competition, boys may be required to wear a full-length leotard or two-piece Spandex uniform, which will take the place of practice garments. When in doubt, ask the coach beforehand what he prefers boys to wear while on the floor.

Conclusion

Working into a toddler gymnastic for the first time can be intimidating just like adult gyms. Don't be intimidated by the magnitude of equipment you see, you can notice a lot of floors or area in that gym facility is filled and lots of foam, mats and cushions. I know giving another person full trust and control over your child is hard, but learn to trust the coaches and gym instructors, and let your child enjoy his or her lesson. See it as a way of providing your baby with new skills that will improve their cognitive skills and making them more aware and sensitive to their surroundings as they develop strong, healthy bones and muscle strength. There is no such thing as starting early or strong, if you notice your baby is ready to explore gymnastics lesson, listen to your heart and do what you believe is best for your child, make memories and have fun every step of the way.

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