The Sweet Pea Vine: 5 Reasons Why Sweet Peas Have a Leg Up

Gymnastics Gives Kids a Leg Up in Life

Who did 12 ups at school? A gymnast. Who just tucked and rolled on the soccer field? A gymnast. Who's the 1 year old climbing over the back fence? A Sweet Pea gymnast! How can you spot a gymnast?

1. The 1 year old climbing over the back fence is a gymnast.

   Gymnastics promotes motor planning. Motor planning is the brain's ability to assess, organize and carry out the motions needed to complete a task. When a Sweet Pea grips the bar, swings forward and taps their feet on a barrel, that young brain is processing multiple complex movements including grip, head positioning, stepping forward, supporting full body weight by the arms, gauging the swing, lifting the legs, tapping the barrel and landing back on the mat. Getting a leg up over the back fence is a piece of cake for a Sweet Pea. 

2. The 2 year old shimmying up the pole is a gymnast. 

   Gymnastics builds whole body strength. Gymnasts use all their muscles! Gymnasts hold on tight, balance, swing, roll, dive, run, jump and twist their way to amazing muscular development and strength. Even the 12 or so muscles in your child's smile will get a work out in gymnastics class!

3. The 3 year old swinging the highest is a gymnast.

   Gymnastics provides amazing sensory processing opportunities. Inversions, rolls, spins and jumps are developmental powerhouses. Gymnastics engages our Sweet Peas' vestibular system and helps them develop their proprioceptive sense. The vestibular system provides information to our brain about where our body is in space. It helps our brain determine if our body is stationary or moving, how fast it is moving, and in what direction. The vestibular system is crucial for balance, coordination, motor control of the eye and bilateral integration. A well developed vestibular sense helps little ones develop confidence and trust in their movement. This is why Sweet Peas rule the swings.

4. The 4 year old high chanting and clapping for everyone is a gymnast.
   Gymnasts learn side by side. They try new skills, fall down, get up and try again. Gymnasts learn about sportsmanship, courage and determination. They understand what it feels like to succeed and they know what it feels like to miss. Gymnastics helps children develop pride in their accomplishments and in their friends' accomplishments. The little one at the bottom of the slide clapping for each child as they slide down? She is a gymnast. 

5. The 5 year old who has fallen on her skates three times, and got back up four... A gymnast.

   Gymnastics teaches kids that they can do hard things. Gymnasts know that it's okay to fall or slip. They learn to keep trying. Gymnasts learn how to listen to teachers and coaches. They learn how to apply corrections and strive for improvement. Gymnasts are teachable. Gymnasts are ready to learn.