Gymnastics can offer amazing benefits for toddlers such as improving strength to helping develop cognitive and social skills. Click here to learn more benefits of gymnastics for toddlers!
5 Benefits Of Gymnastics For Toddlers
Children between the ages 1 and 3 seem to have endless energy reserves. These exciting and action-packed years are also when little ones learn and acquire healthy behaviors that they carry into adulthood. Gymnastics is one of the best activities for channeling that non-stop energy into positive play, social skills, flexibility, strength, coordination and most importantly — fun!
The following are five of the benefits of gymnastics for toddlers and why you should consider starting your son or daughter in the sport of gymnastics during these developmental years.
1. Gymnastics Builds Strength
Strength is what your toddler needs to develop new physical skills and stay safe while having fun. This weight-bearing sport helps your child develop strong, healthy bones that can prevent injury and even reduce the negative impacts of osteoporosis as an adult. It may seem like your child is just having fun tumbling on the mats, but he or she is building important core strength as well as upper- and lower-body strength.
2. Gymnastics Provides the Exercise They Need
According to the American Heart Association, children should get at least one hour of physical exercise each day. Anyone who has ever been around a toddler knows most don’t run out of energy reserves after a single hour. Gymnastics gives little ones at least the one hour of physical activity they need on class days. With proper mats and equipment, they can continue that exercise at home on non-class days, too.
3. Gymnastics Improves Cognitive and Social Skills
Gymnastics isn’t a purely physical sport. It involves learning routines, practicing body awareness and being a positive, participating member of a team. Toddlers quickly learn the importance of body and spatial awareness when practicing even the simplest tumbling routines. Early gymnastics classes also teach the importance of patience (waiting your turn), sharing and positively interacting with fellow athletes.
4. Gymnastics Improves Coordination
Toddlers often appear clumsy as they master the skills of standing still, walking, jumping, running and rolling. Early gymnastics programs focus on alignment skills, which help your child become more agile and less likely to sustain injuries.
5. Gymnastics Is Fun!
Early gymnastics is an ideal way to introduce your son or daughter to active, productive play. Your toddler will probably see gymnastics class as a fun playtime with friends. Yet while children are having fun with their fellow gymnasts, they’re also exercising and developing physical and mental skills that will play important roles throughout their lives. Active play — enjoyed through activities like gymnastics — also teaches children that exercise is something to be enjoyed, never dreaded.
Nimble Sports specializes in gymnastics equipment specifically designed for kids. Browse our gymnastics equipment today to build the perfect home gym for your little one’s age and skill level.
