Can Gymnastics Really

Help My Child in School?

Absolutely!! Here’s How…

Social and Organizational Skills

 

Gymnastics:

  1. Participates in class calmly and controls anger

  2. Takes risks when learning new movement patterns

  3. Moves from station to station without getting "lost"

  4. Tunes into coach's instructions

  5. Remains focused while watching others perform

  6. Completes activities without constant prodding

  7. Confidently learns new skills

  8. Joyful child who you hope will come back each session!

School:

  1. Self-regulates in the classroom

  2. "I can do it!" Attitude when it comes to academic skills

  3. Easily transitions between academic subjects

  4. Tunes into teacher's instructions

  5. Cooperates and gets along with others in the class

  6. Completes class assignments without prodding

  7. Confidently meets new goals

  8. Joyful child teachers love to have in class!

Sensory Processing

 

Gymnastics:

  1. Participates in activities requiring deep pressure to the joints as in mat and bar work

  2. 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

  3. Listens to coach's instrucitons and processes multi-step directions including sequential routines and completing complex movement patterns

School:

  1. Joint sensation adequate for correct pencil grip, forming letters accurately, and appropriate pencil tension

  2. 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.

  3. Listens to teacher's instructions and follows multi-step directions; understands complex math patterns

Postural Control

 

Gymnastics:

  1. Balances on Beam

  2. Performs tuck and extension patterns with ease

  3. Participates in warm-ups requiring strong abdominal and back muscles

  4. Accomplishes all movements on various equipment requiring core postural strength

  5. Performs sequential rhythmic activities using full integration of auditory, visual, and tactical systems

School:

  1. Balances in chair

  2. Writes with ease due to good strength and balance

  3. Has strength and endurance for seat work; legs comfortably on floor and not wrapped around chair legs for stability

  4. Sits without rocking the chair, knee sitting, or lying body across desk

  5. Learns with ease and can process auditory, visual, and tactile information as needed for academics.

Bilateral Integration

 

Gymnastics:

  1. Performs movement requiring crossing the midline of the body

  2. Performs movement that requires using both sides of the body together and separately

  3. Enjoys activities including ribbons, hoops, balls, rope

  4. Understands directional terms including over, under, next to, and between

School:

  1. Writes while using complete page with print following a left to right sequence

  2. Full brain integration to decode and comprehend what is read

  3. Enjoys Physical Education games and recess

  4. Distinguishes between letters b/d/p/q and writes with no reversals

Body Awareness

 

Gymnastics:

  1. Sits and waits for turn without bothering other children

  2. Aware of the body in space and makes adjustments as needed

  3. Enjoys warm-up routines with music and keeps a steady beat or rhythm with ease

  4. Accurately integrates vision with motor skills and makes adjustments in timing as needed to complete complex skills

  5. Lines up without pushing and tripping others; honors other's personal space

School:

  1. Patiently waits turn in class and honors other student's personal space

  2. Flexible with schedule changes and substitutes

  3. Understand the rhythmic nature of reading and speech leading to fluency skills

  4. Good letter spacing while writing; while reading relates story to self and others due to good self awareness

  5. Lines up without messing around and obeys teacher's requests