Preparing Your Child for Their First Gymnastics Class: A Comprehensive Guide 

Starting gymnastics is an exciting milestone for any child! They’re about to take their first steps into the magical world of gymnastics and will soon fall for the many flips, tumbles and rolls. However, being well-prepared can make all the difference to their first gymnastics experience.  

To help prepare your child physically and mentally and ensure your child’s first gymnastics class is a positive and empowering experience, we’ve created this complete gymnastics beginners guide that will take you through the necessary steps. 

Preparing Your Child for Their First Gymnastics Class

Understanding Gymnastics for Children 

The Different Types of Gymnastics 

Before your child begins their gymnastics journey, it helps to understand the various disciplines within the sport.  

Every child will develop different strengths and interests as they continue along their gymnastics path. It’s helpful to know what options there are in the future and what path they could take. If they love dancing and performing, rhythmic gymnastics may be the best fit. If they enjoy tumbling and apparatus work, artistic gymnastics could be more suitable.  

Take a look below at all the wonderful ways gymnasts can move! 

• Artistic Gymnastics: Focuses on floor exercises, balance beam, vault, and uneven bars for girls, and floor exercises, pommel horse, still rings, vault, parallel bars, and high bar for boys. 

• Rhythmic Gymnastics: Combines elements of ballet, gymnastics, and dance, using apparatus like ribbons, hoops, and balls. 

• Trampoline Gymnastics: Involves routines performed on a trampoline, emphasizing high jumps and flips. 

If your child is a gymnastics beginner, there’s no need to be too concerned with niching down for their first lessons. We recommend enrolling them in gymnastics classes that will teach them the basics and cover a variety of skills so your child can begin to understand what they love and wish to pursue in the future. 

Choosing the Right Gymnastics Class for Your Child 

So your child has expressed an interest in gymnastics – fantastic! But now you need to unearth the best gymnastics classes in your area and explore the local gymnastics clubs. Finding the right club is crucial for your child’s safety and enjoyment. 

When looking for a reputable gymnastics club, ask for recommendations from other parents, search online, check Google and/or Facebook reviews, and check the gym’s accreditation. 

If you’ve narrowed down your search, we recommend visiting the gym and meeting the instructors if possible. A visit allows you to see the facility, observe the gymnastics classes, and meet the coaches who will teach your child. This will help you gauge if the environment is welcoming and safe for your child, and see if your child feels good about the club as well. 

At Gymfinity Kids, you can book a free gymnastics class as a taster to see how your child gets on in our club. They will meet their coach and classmates and get a taste of what one of our classes offers. We understand that giving your child the best experience is crucial for their enjoyment, as we want all children to fall in love with movement when visiting our clubs. 

Class Levels and Age Groups

Before booking a gymnastics class near you, make sure that you understand the class structures, so you book your child into the right level for their skills.  

Gymnastics clubs typically offer beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels. Ensure your child is placed in a class that matches their age and skill level. It’s crucial to book the right level and age-appropriate class for your child so they’re not overwhelmed and feel out of their depth. Having a bad first experience can deter a child from pursuing the sport further, which we want to avoid. 

We recommend booking a beginner class regardless of their experience so the coach can assess their skill level and let you know which gymnastics class you should enrol them in. Beginner classes focus on basic skills and safety, while more advanced levels introduce complex routines and apparatus work. 

Before booking, also be aware of class length. Gymnastics classes typically last 60 minutes, but you may spy longer sessions on timetables. Please don’t book a 2-hour session if this is your child’s first exploration into gymnastics. It can be quite an intense workout for children new to the sport so they may need to get a few classes under their belt before you consider moving them to longer training sessions. Always speak to their coach and monitor your child’s energy levels – please do not push your child beyond their capabilities if they’re not ready. 

Gymfinity Kids Gymnastics Classes

Gymfinity Kids offers a variety of gymnastics classes for children of all ages and abilities, including beginner, intermediate, and advanced classes: 

• Beginner gymnastics:
For children aged 4.5+ with little to no experience. 

• Intermediate gymnastics:
For children aged 5–14 who have mastered the basics of gymnastics and want to learn more challenging skills like handstands and cartwheels. 

• Advanced gymnastics:
For children aged 7+ who want to master higher-level skills like tumbling passes and more difficult bar skills. 

Gymnastics Class Preparation 

Preparing Your Child Mentally and Emotionally 

Some children may feel nervous and anxious about trying something new. It’s a new environment where they may initially not know the other children and won’t be familiar with the moves and equipment. However, there are some tactics you can use to put them at ease and help them overcome their fears. 

Talking to Your Child:  

Prepare your child by having some conversations prior to the class. Make sure you broach the topic early so they have time to mull things over and process your words.  

• Discussing their expectations and addressing any fears: Ask your child how they feel about starting gymnastics. Address any concerns they might have, such as fear of trying new skills or meeting new people. 
• Setting realistic goals: Encourage your child to set achievable goals, like learning a new move or making a new friend, to help them stay motivated.  

Let them know that when people try something for the first time, they must not put too much pressure on themselves to nail every move and be perfect. It’s important they understand that they will receive kindness and support from the coaches – no one will judge them. 

Building Excitement: 

Get your child excited about their first class! Build a sense of anticipation by helping them understand how much fun they will have and what they could achieve if they attend their classes.  

• Watch Gymnastics Videos Together: Viewing videos can help your child visualize what they’ll be doing in class and build excitement. Our gymnastics ambassador, Beth Tweddle, won many medals with amazing gymnastics performances – take a look! 

• Reading Books About Gymnastics: Storybooks about gymnastics can be a fun way to introduce the sport and inspire your child. Take a read of Olympic champion, Simone Biles’, children’s book! 

Dealing with Anxiety: 

Understandably, some children may feel nervous and anxious before their first class. They’re about to embark on something new, so help ease their fears ahead of time. 

• Talk through specific fears and let them know that no matter what, they will be safe. 

• You can stay in our Gymfinity Kids clubs for their taster class in case your child needs a moment of encouragement. Many of our clubs have viewing areas by the gym floor so they can even see you from their class. 

• Help them practice deep breathing exercises or positive affirmations to help them stay calm. 

• Practice positive reinforcement techniques. Praise your child’s efforts and encourage them to focus on having fun rather than being perfect. Movement must be fun so the child looks forward to their class every week!  

Physically Preparing a Child for Gymnastics 

When your child starts our beginner gymnastics classes, we ensure to teach them all the basics without assuming any certain fitness level. However, if your child wishes to prepare as much as they can before attending, we have some tips below to help your child prepare physically for their first gymnastics class: 

• Stretching can help your child get ahead of the game! Gymnastics requires flexibility, so integrating daily stretching into your child’s routine can help loosen them up for their classes. 

• Basic exercises can also help your child build strength if they aren’t currently leading an active lifestyle. Even if they are active (let’s face it, all children are bursting with energy!), forward rolls, jumping jacks, squats and other simple exercises can begin building muscles that will help them in their gymnastics class.  

• Don’t forget to make these preparations FUN! Turn exercises into games, such as obstacle courses or timed challenges, to make physical preparation enjoyable. 

Nutrition and Hydration: 

Proper nutrition and staying well-hydrated will fuel your child’s performance! Ensure your child has a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, protein, and whole grains to provide the energy needed for gymnastics. 

When attending a class, bring a water bottle labelled with your child’s name. It’s so important for your child to drink before, after and during their class to stay hydrated and healthy. Our coaches will always pause class to allow the children to take sips of water. 

Your Child’s First Gymnastics Class: What to Wear 

Your child must dress appropriately for gymnastics as their comfort and safety are paramount!   

Appropriate Gymnastics Clothing for children:  

• We recommend children wear shorts and a t-shirt or a leotard to class. Please avoid any baggy loose-fitted clothing as this can get caught on equipment.  

• Most gymnastics is done barefoot but check with the gym to see if special footwear is required. Avoid jewellery and ensure long hair is tied back. 

Gymnastics Class Essentials: 

• As mentioned earlier, please bring a labelled water bottle so your child can stay hydrated and bring a light snack for after class. Other essentials may include a small towel and spare hair ties.  

• You may also bring personal hygiene items, such as deodorant, wipes, or a change of clothes for older children, especially after an intense class. 

First Day of Class 

Woohoo! It’s the first day of class and we bet both you and your child are excited to get started. Here are some tips to make sure that your child’s first day at gymnastics will be the best experience: 

Arrive Early

Arriving at the club with plenty of time to spare sets a positive tone to the session. We recommend arriving 10 – 15 minutes before class.  

It will give your child time to adjust to the new environment and mentally prepare for the class. They will also get to familiarize themselves with the new gym environment. Show your child where the toilets are, the waiting room, where the class will take place and where you’ll be to meet them after class.

At Gymfinity Kids, we encourage parents to stay on-site during their child’s taster session in case they have any wobbles of confidence. If you need to leave, ensure your child is aware and knows to stay in the club to wait for pick-up.  

Meeting the Coach and Classmates

How exciting! Your child will get lots of important social interaction in their class and potentially make a whole new host of friends outside of school! Here are some top tips for them to get started in making new friends: 

• Encourage your child to introduce themselves! A friendly introduction can help your child feel more comfortable and begin forming friendships. 

• Let your child know that being supportive and uplifting to their classmates can help them form bonds. Offering help during activities or supporting others shows kindness, which can attract friends. At Gymfinity Kids, we run a Values Recognition Scheme which recognizes and rewards children when they display core values, which can in turn help them form friendships.  

Parental Involvement

We understand that this is also a new experience for parents when their child enrolls into gymnastics. You may feel nervous about how your child will find the class and may want to be there to support them, but finding the right balance is key: 

• Observe the class routines and rules – pay attention to how the class is structured so you can help your child remember important rules and routines.  

• Knowing when to step back: While it’s natural to want to stay close, allowing your child to experience the class independently is important for their confidence and development. 

• Supporting from the sidelines: Offer encouragement, but let the coach lead the class. 

After Your Child’s First Gymnastics Class 

Your child has just finished their first gymnastics class – now is the time to get them to do some post-class reflection by discussing the experience as it will help solidify learning. It’s also a great opportunity to celebrate their achievements with them and work through any concerns they may have. 

• Talk about what they learned and enjoyed. Find out what they liked most about the class and what new skills they learned! 

• If they have any concerns or dislikes about their experience, discuss it calmly and explore solutions together. Please speak with the club if you need any help with this.  

• To help support your child’s ongoing gymnastics journey, you can help them set small goals for future classes based on post-class discussions, like improving a particular skill. 

• Recognize and celebrate progress, whether its mastering new gymnastics moves or simply gaining confidence, all milestones deserve to be celebrated! 

Preparing your child for their first gymnastics class is an exciting journey that requires both mental and physical readiness. By following our first-time gymnastics advice, you can ensure that your child starts their gymnastics adventure with confidence and joy. 

Ready to take the next step? Find your closest Gymfinity Kids club and book a free gymnastics taster class today! We look forward to welcoming you and your child into club.