Can Gymnastics Really
Help My Child in School?
Absolutely!! Here’s How…
Social and Organizational Skills
Gymnastics:
Participates in class calmly and controls anger
Takes risks when learning new movement patterns
Moves from station to station without getting "lost"
Tunes into coach's instructions
Remains focused while watching others perform
Completes activities without constant prodding
Confidently learns new skills
Joyful child who you hope will come back each session!
School:
Self-regulates in the classroom
"I can do it!" Attitude when it comes to academic skills
Easily transitions between academic subjects
Tunes into teacher's instructions
Cooperates and gets along with others in the class
Completes class assignments without prodding
Confidently meets new goals
Joyful child teachers love to have in class!
Sensory Processing
Gymnastics:
Participates in activities requiring deep pressure to the joints as in mat and bar work
Participates in vestibular and heavy work activities: rolling, climbing, jumping, swinging, trampoline activities, creeping, crawling, movements at floor level on the stomach, hanging from the bars, handstands, headstands and cartwheels
Listens to coach's instrucitons and processes multi-step directions including sequential routines and completing complex movement patterns
School:
Joint sensation adequate for correct pencil grip, forming letters accurately, and appropriate pencil tension
Vestifular system is working properly so that visual, auditory, and tactile information is integrated, leading to reading with ease, sitting upright in the chair, enjoying rich tactile experiences with glue, paint and other textures.
Listens to teacher's instructions and follows multi-step directions; understands complex math patterns
Postural Control
Gymnastics:
Balances on Beam
Performs tuck and extension patterns with ease
Participates in warm-ups requiring strong abdominal and back muscles
Accomplishes all movements on various equipment requiring core postural strength
Performs sequential rhythmic activities using full integration of auditory, visual, and tactical systems
School:
Balances in chair
Writes with ease due to good strength and balance
Has strength and endurance for seat work; legs comfortably on floor and not wrapped around chair legs for stability
Sits without rocking the chair, knee sitting, or lying body across desk
Learns with ease and can process auditory, visual, and tactile information as needed for academics.
Bilateral Integration
Gymnastics:
Performs movement requiring crossing the midline of the body
Performs movement that requires using both sides of the body together and separately
Enjoys activities including ribbons, hoops, balls, rope
Understands directional terms including over, under, next to, and between
School:
Writes while using complete page with print following a left to right sequence
Full brain integration to decode and comprehend what is read
Enjoys Physical Education games and recess
Distinguishes between letters b/d/p/q and writes with no reversals
Body Awareness
Gymnastics:
Sits and waits for turn without bothering other children
Aware of the body in space and makes adjustments as needed
Enjoys warm-up routines with music and keeps a steady beat or rhythm with ease
Accurately integrates vision with motor skills and makes adjustments in timing as needed to complete complex skills
Lines up without pushing and tripping others; honors other's personal space
School:
Patiently waits turn in class and honors other student's personal space
Flexible with schedule changes and substitutes
Understand the rhythmic nature of reading and speech leading to fluency skills
Good letter spacing while writing; while reading relates story to self and others due to good self awareness
Lines up without messing around and obeys teacher's requests