How old is too old to start gymnastics?

Aubrie Davis • January 19, 2024

Whether you’re considering gymnastics for yourself or your child, you’re undoubtedly wondering about the ideal age to start gymnastics. All-stars like Simone Biles hit the gym in earnest starting at six years of age or younger, but that’s not the journey for everyone. So, the ideal age naturally varies according to your goals. To help you find the answer to this pressing question, here’s a look at just how old is too old to start gymnastics.

Gymnastics Fun Has No Age Limit


Gymnastics is a fun activity for people of all ages. If you’re just aiming to have fun, there’s no age limit to keep in mind. If you start enjoying recreational gymnastics at a later age, you might have to work a little harder to get your flexibility back, but it’s not impossible to do so.

In fact, the challenge can add to the fun and keep you inspired to continue working toward your goals. Beyond that, you just have to start slow and work on increasing your skills – no matter what age you begin participating in this fun activity.

Ideal Age to Start Gymnastics Competitively

Competitive-minded participants should think about starting their gymnastics journey ASAP.

Fortunately, young gymnasts can start gymnastics participating in the JO and Xcel competitive programs pretty early in life. Both programs allow kids as young as five to compete against their peers. Then, they can go up the levels as they develop new skills and grow older.


Gymnastic Training Opportunities for Kids


Kids have many exciting gymnastic training opportunities to consider at Lake City Twisters and beyond. Oftentimes, they start at the recreational level before deciding to move onto the competitive world.


If you want to get your kids into gymnastics, consider starting as early as possible with open gyms. After that, you can start putting them in structured co-ed gymnastics classes at around age three to four. As they learn new skills, they can move through the recreational classes to keep pushing their journey forward.


Gymnasts interested in participating in events can move into a competitive junior gymnastic training program. With that move, they’ll learn the high-level coaching needed to excel at all levels of competition.


Whether you have a budding Olympian on your hands or a kid with a dire need to get their wiggles out, the open gym is the place to go, for sure. In an open gym, kids can come down for regular playtimes and try out all the equipment for themselves. They can bounce on the trampolines, tightrope walks across the balance beam, or just do safe flips on the mats and into the foam pits.


Obstacle courses and other interesting challenges add to the magic, often igniting a passion to start gymnastics. Before you know it, your kids will likely end up asking for even more time in the gym. You can either do that by coming into the open gym more often or adding gymnastics classes to their schedule.


Benefits of Being Able to Start Gymnastics at Any Age


Gymnastics offers many mental and physical health benefits including:


Gain Strength


As you learn how to fluidly do all the different gymnastics moves, you’ll gradually gain strength, starting with your core. Your ability to perform the movements will improve as a result, making it easier to push to the next level.


Improve Flexibility


Flexibility is key if you want to do all the gymnastics movements with ease. So, you’ll need to gradually stretch it out before every session, which will help you become much more flexible over time.


Better Balance


While tumbling, walking along the balance beam, and even stretching, your balance will improve by leaps and bounds. When coupled with your newfound strength, better balance will improve your overall coordination as well.


Increase Self Discipline


Upon starting your gymnastics journey, you’ll need to set small goals and achieve them to keep moving forward. This process will greatly improve your self-discipline, especially as you start seeing the results of your hard work.


Build Confidence


Achieving your goals in the gym helps build confidence, improving your self-esteem with every gymnastics session. As you feel better about yourself all together, your confidence can help you excel at work and in building strong personal relationships.


With a look at these benefits, it’s clear that gymnastics is a wise move at any age. Just be sure to take it slow to start, and then gradually add more and more challenging movements to your routine.


Ready to Start Gymnastics with Lake City Twisters?


If you want to explore beginner, intermediate, and competitive gymnastics classes, start with a call to Lake City Twisters at 608-345-8177. We will help you find the ideal level of support for your child – or even point you in the right direction for adult gymnastics experiences. So, please feel free to reach out whenever you want to explore the possibilities in the world of gymnastics.


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How to Prepare for Your Child's First Gymnastics Class

By Aubrie Davis • January 19, 2024
Enrolling your child in their first gymnastics class can be an exciting event for both you and your child! However, it can also be a little daunting to introduce your child to something new. The key is to take the time to prepare for your child’s first gymnastics class well in advance. A bit of preparation can ensure your child is ready to make the most of their new class, and it can also calm nerves. To help them have a great experience, here are some tips to remember as you prepare for your child’s first gymnastics class. Talk to the Instructor It’s a great idea to spend some time talking to your child’s instructor before they have their first class. This is a chance to get as many answers as you can. Talk to the instructor about what your child should wear, what equipment is needed, whether you can watch your child in class, and what you should expect. Then you’ll be armed with important details you can share with your child to put them at ease for their first gymnastics experience. You may also want to allow your child to meet the instructor and tour the gym where they’ll be taking children’s gymnastics. New faces on the big day can seem overwhelming. A quick meeting with the instructor ensures your child sees a face they recognize when they come in for the first gymnastics class. It’s also a great way to begin building that instructor-student rapport. Ensure Kids Have Equipment Make sure your child has all the equipment needed to have a successful class. This starts with the right attire. Kids should wear fitted clothes since they’ll be tumbling and moving upside down. You want clothing that keeps them safe while they execute new moves. For girls, a leotard along with compression shorts is a great choice. Tights are too slippery, so leggings or footless tights may also work. For boys, a t-shirt or compression shirt that can be tucked in along with compression or athletic shorts work well. Socks may be worn, and if kids find they’re too slippery, the socks are easy to remove. For beginners, beam shoes or grips aren’t usually needed unless your child’s instructor specifies. Don’t forget a water bottle for your child. Hydration is important, even during short classes. Tie Back Long Hair Long hair that’s constantly in the face will be distracting. A bun might not be the best choice since kids will be tumbling. Tying back hair in a ponytail or pigtails works well, or a braid can be a great way to keep the hair out of the face. Elastic hair ties or headbands work well for keeping hair out of the face. Along with controlling longer hair, it’s important to make sure your child isn’t wearing any jewelry that could be caught while they’re doing gymnastics. If your child cannot take out their earrings because they have newly pierced ears, they need to have low-profile studs in. Dangling earrings, rings, bracelets, and necklaces should be left at home unless your child wears a medical bracelet. Encourage Your Child to Have Fun Your child may feel pressured to do well in their class, especially if your son or daughter has serious gymnastics aspirations. Calm their nerves by encouraging them to have fun. This is a chance to learn something new in a fun environment with kids their own age. Remind them that there’s no pressure. It’s fine to make mistakes as they learn. When you encourage enthusiasm, you’ll help relieve any stress they might feel about the first gymnastics class. Be on Time Being on time gives your child a few minutes to acclimate to the new environment. Being late means your child could miss out on essential instructions. You may even want to be early on that first day. This gives your child a chance to figure out where to put their things and chat with other kids as they prepare for the first gymnastics class. Don’t be late and leave your child rushing around to dive into class after everyone else has started. Start with Stretching Not all classes have formal warmups, so your child may be expected to warm up before class. Arriving a few minutes early gives your child the chance to start stretching before class begins. Stretching is an important step to preparing their body for the activities they’ll encounter in their first class. That first day of gymnastics class can open a whole new world for your child. Help them through the transition with a bit of preparation, and they’ll be ready to have a great time while engaging in activity that’s great for their body and overall health. Enroll Your Child in Gymnastics with Lake City Twisters At Lake City Twisters , we are happy to offer kids gymnastics classes and competitive gymnastics programs in Madison, WI. Our experienced coaches are happy to guide your child through their first gymnastics class and are committed to providing them with a fun and positive experience. Learn more about our gymnastics classes and register through our Parent Portal today!
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What to look for in a children's gymnastics gym

By Aubrie Davis • January 19, 2024
Find out what to expect from our competitive programs and gymnastics classes for kids. Gymnastics offers a variety of benefits for kids of all ages, from physical strength, balance, and flexibility, to self-confidence and hours of fun! There are plenty of factors to consider when picking out the right facility, instructors, and curriculum in a children’s gymnastics gym for your gymnast, and we’ll cover a few of them in this post. We encourage parents who are considering enrolling children in gymnastics classes to drop by our facility to get a first-hand look at what makes our program so special. Here are a few things to look for when selecting a children’s gymnastics gym: Encouraging coaches in a safe environment Motivating instruction style Personal growth opportunities Fun factor Keep reading to learn more about what to look for in a children’s gymnastics gym below. Encouraging coaches in a safe environment It’s important to feel comfortable with, and confident in, the instructors who will be spending time with your young athlete. What is their training and certification background? Will your child be carefully monitored at all times? Do the personalities of the instructors and coaches mesh well with you and your child? Our instructors and coaching team are highly attentive and thoroughly trained to help athletes progress and improve their skills in a safe environment. All our coaches share the same attitude when it comes to shaping young gymnasts – positive thinking and encouragement are necessary tools to help children thrive on and off the mat. We work to help young athletes develop a “ growth mindset ,” which simply means anyone can improve through hard work and dedication, as well as learning from our mistakes. Our coaching team is dedicated to helping your child develop the skills and confidence they need to succeed. Motivating instruction style When looking for a children’s gymnastics gym, also consider the variety of classes that are available and how athletes progress to new, higher levels of instruction over time. Are you looking for a fun and playful environment for a beginner? Is your child ready for more structure and skill development? Or do you have an advanced athlete who aspires to intense levels of competition? We offer a variety of recreational, instructional, and competitive programs to fit the needs and schedules of every gymnast. Children can begin taking parent-child and tot-centric gymnastics classes as soon as they’re old enough to walk. Gymnasts as young as five can take 60-minute classes and progress to higher levels of instruction. Many continue with advanced training until the age of 18. Our unique competitive gymnastics training programs support and motivate aspiring gymnasts as they progress toward peak performance, whether their goal is to compete at a collegiate level or to compete, but still have time for other activities. Personal growth opportunities We believe that a children’s gymnastics gym should offer more than just technical instruction – it should also help young athletes develop lifelong personal skills that will stick with them for life. Our competitive gymnastics programs go far beyond physical training. We include several elements in our curriculum to help build resilience, compassion, and empowerment, such as: Monthly sessions with a certified life coach to enhance self-image, emotional health, self-awareness, and self-esteem Communication skill-building, including listening and self-expression exercises Cultivating an “attitude of gratitude” through volunteer activities Fun factor in a children’s gymnastics gym While hard work on the mat matters, it’s also important to have fun! A superior children’s gymnastics gym will put equal emphasis on fun, safety, and skill-building. If your child is young or new to gymnastics, be sure to ask them what they want to get out of their classes. (The chances are good that “fun” will be part of their list!) Our mission is to make sure young gymnasts have a good time discovering the joys of movement while they build physical, mental, and emotional skills that will serve them for the rest of their lives. We would love to meet you and your gymnast and walk you through our many gymnastics classes and competitive training programs! Contact us today or call 608.345.8177 to learn more about us or get started with the enrollment process.
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