This winter, Colin started taking gymnastics through Chicago’s park district programming. I grew up taking gymnastics, and I love the idea of giving his intense toddler energy a focus. Rather than treating our home like a jungle gym, this class has given him an outlet where it is encouraged to run and jump and swing. And in a city where children’s activity costs range from expensive to extortion, the fact that this class is $50 for 10 sessions is incredible. At nineteen months, I initially thought he would be much to young for an organized “sport,” but I have found that despite the obvious fact that he is too young for cartwheels and back flips, this class has many tangible benefits.

ADVERTISEMENT

Following Directions

Class begins with ten minutes of open play where Colin can take the lead and explore any of the apparatuses, from the beam to the bars, to the cushy mats or his favorite – the giant trampoline. (Colin is absolutely obsessed with the trampoline, and dragging him away is like taking a moth from a flame.) But after that, we all get together to stretch, and the instructor places a strong focus on following instructions. She leads them in five minutes of “stretching” (nothing in the world is cuter than watching toddlers who do not need to stretch “stretch”). Then we put our backs to the wall, and she gives instructions for the obstacle course that we all lead our toddlers through twice. She shows us all what to do (ex: walk across the beam backwards, jump onto vault, climb down, do three leg lifts on the bar, jump…), and then we all spread out along the course and go for it. Colin is still young, but it is wonderful to watch him improve his listening skills and watch him follow Miss Jessica’s instructions.

Transitions and Waiting

Toddlers aren’t known for their patience, and my child is no exception.  Because the class is a series of obstacle courses, there are tons of transitions involved. This has been a great challenge for both of us, mostly for Colin of course, but also for me as I figure out how to navigate this as a parent. In the beginning, this meant carting him over my shoulder as I dragged him away from the trampoline every time he bolted over there from across the room, but it is getting better by the session. Moving from obstacle to obstacle is teaching him how to control his emotions, stay calm, and be patient. Because there are 20 kids in the class, and usually about 10 obstacles per course, there is always a bit of waiting time, which helps with this skill building as well.

Gross Motor Development

Since Colin started class a month ago, he has learned how to jump on two feet, his running looks a little less “drunken sailor” and more “running toddler,” he can balance while holding my hand as he walks across a balance beam, and has figured out how to adjust his hands and feet as he sidesteps along the parallel bars.  He will touch his toes, hop from star to star and hop along the trampoline. Gymnastics is the ultimate kiddie sport when it comes to gross motor development.

Amazing Naps

After an hour of running around and jumping like a maniac at gymnastics, Colin is absolutely WIPED OUT.  Enough said.  My Wednesday afternoons are glorious.

Have you enrolled your toddler in an organized sport?  Have you found it to be worthwhile?