Unless you've done the sport yourself, you and your child might not know what to expect from their first gymnastics lessons. Being prepared ahead of time will help them transition smoothly into their classes and pick up the sport faster. Here are a few things to know before you head to the gym.

4 Things to Expect at Your Child's First Gymnastics Lesson

1. New Sensory Experiences

Many new gymnasts, especially younger ones, are surprised by all the new things they encounter at their first session. Gyms are often loud, wide-open spaces filled with people working hard and lots of specialized equipment. This means a child is sure to encounter new sights, sounds, scents, and sensations. It's normal for a child to experience slight sensory overload in a new setting like this, and it's so helpful to prepare them and to support them through it and encourage them to come back. Schedule a tour at the facility before their first day so that they and you know what is going happen, where they are going to be going and what the facility looks like.

Kids will also experience new bodily sensations as they stretch, practice strength training, and learn how to control themselves while spinning or upside down. This is all normal and takes some time to get used to. 

2. Coaches Taking It Slow

Before learning any exciting tricks, new gymnasts need to gain strength and figure out the limits of their flexibility. Expect the first few sessions to be very slow and involve lots of stretching and strength training. Putting this work first allows children to become familiar with the motions of gymnastics before taking on any intense activities. This training also helps avoid injuries. Only once the coaches are confident that their students have the necessary control will they progress to more intense moves.   

3. A Dress Code

Gymnastics competitions have strict dress codes, and coaches will likely enforce these guidelines early on to help your child get used to the required costume. There will be restrictions on earrings and other jewelry, and the types of clothes the children can wear. If your gymnast needs a leotard, make sure to get one that fits perfectly to help them feel more comfortable during practice.   If they are younger, make sure that they can get it on and off on their own.  Sometimes really ornate straps look pretty but get confusing when they try to get it on and off to use the bathroom.

4. Other Students and Parents

Don't expect to be alone while accompanying your child to their first few practices. You'll likely run into other parents in your position. Please remember that each child progresses at their own rate and each student has unique experiences before arriving to gymnastics.  Just like each child learns to speak and walk on their own schedule, sometimes students fly quickly through gymnastics skills and other students need to take their time to understand how to move their body and sometimes trust in themselves.  Please try not to compare students and just ask if they are trying their hardest, listening to the coach and practicing safe skills at home.   As a parent, it is understandable to want to see how they are doing.  Please make sure to contact your child's facility to find out how best to do that.  It's important to stay in designated areas both for safety and comfort when you can watch. Many children can be uncomfortable practicing in front of an audience, so you should give them their space to grow. 

Have a lovely time exploring your child's new experience.  Ask open-ended questions such as what was your favorite event or what were you most excited about to hear things they enjoyed.  Enjoy!

If you have a child interested in becoming a gymnast, schedule them for classes at The Gymnastics Training Center of Rochester. Serving the communities of Monroe and Wayne counties for over 30 years, this gymnastics center offers classes for students as young as pre-school age. Students can choose their desired level of competitiveness and join either recreational or advanced classes. Learn more about their services online, and call (585) 388-8686 to ask about classes.