Toddler Gymnastics at Home vs Gymnastics Classes for Toddlers
Afraid toddler gymnastics classes will leave you broke? Did you know many of the toddler gymnastics teachers at gyms actually have no (or very little) gymnastics background? Gymnastics classes for toddlers are hard enough to come by, but those that are high quality and affordable are nearly non-existent.
If you are lucky enough to find a great class near you, fabulous! If not, no need to deprive them of the many benefits of gymnastics for toddlers! Your child can learn gymnastics at home, starting with the gymnastics activities for toddlers below. In most toddler gymnastics classes, you are in class with your child, being their best teacher, until about 3yrs.
Gymnastics mats and toddler gymnastics equipment can make gymnastics activities for kids more fun and exciting, but they should not substitute for plenty of outside time and are not necessary at all. All your toddler needs is you to be engaging and the toddler gymnastics skills below will be activities your child will want to do with you!
Toddler Gymnastics Activities
#1 – Log Rolls
- Have your toddler start lying on their back (supine position) with their legs straight and together and arms straight above their head.
- Encourage them to roll over to their stomach and keep going back to their back.
Variations:
- With young toddlers or babies, you can start with partner log rolls. Lay on your back and hold your child on your chest. As you roll, form a ‘cage’ for your child with your arms so you roll on your elbows, not them!
- Try to keep a tight body!
- Roll down (or up!) hills
- Create obstacles, like towels, to roll over!
- Don’t forget to encourage rolling both ways
- Start on the end of a sheet or towel, help the child bring the edge of it with them as rolling, so they’re rolling up like a burrito. Then, lift the end of the sheet/towel so they roll quickly down and off! Go slow your first few times and make sure to do it on a bed or something with padding!
Benefits: develops proprioception, strengthens the torso, aids vestibular system
#2 – Donkey Kicks
- Show your toddler what to do by putting your hands on the floor and jumping slightly while keeping arms straight.
- Stress straight arms. When they jump, weight is quickly transferred to their arms, often causing them to bend and land on their head.
- Practice on a soft surface u
ntil they are used to the feeling of straight arms. - Keep looking at the ground to help prevent them from crashing to head or rolling.
Variations:
- Add a loud “hee-haw” with your donkey kick!
- Do three in a row
- Try to get feet higher (careful they don’t get so high they fall over!)
- Use a folded gymnastics mat or other raised stable surface to put their hands on when donkey kicking. This will create much more power so be careful when returning to a flat surface.
- Instead of jumping with both feet, leave one foot in the air (it’s a donkey with a sore leg!) and hop on the other. This is the next progression for a handstand.
Benefits: upper body strength, increased proprioception, aids vestibular system, lead up to a handstand
#3 – Forward Roll
- Have toddler put hands on floor in front of him/her.
- Tell them to look at their belly (or glue their chin to their chest), which will tuck their head under.
- Gently lift their hips over (do NOT push them over) and on to their back for the roll.
- You may have to put one hand on the back of their head to keep head tucked, while grasping around their waist with the other arm and helping them roll that way.
- Do not try to get them to roll without a tucked head (chin to chest) position, it can injure their neck! Many kids will untuck and straighten out when you begin initiating the roll. This is a normal response to their body going in a position it’s not used to. Ease into it.
- They can begin initiating the roll on their own around one year. For most toddlers it will take much longer for them to push themselves over. You can try this on a hill or a cheese mat to help.
Variations:
- For toddlers that are apprehensive about rolling over, let them stand in the beginning position (hands on ground in front, tucked head) with their head on the floor, swaying back and forth.
- Try it on a hill or incline gymnastics mat for a boost from gravity
- Once they can do the roll, encourage them to stand up at the end, reaching hands up
- Do two or more rolls in a row
- Start in a straddle body position
Benefits: builds risk-taking skills, aids vestibular system, builds proprioception and kinesthesia
Kids Gymnastics at Home
Gymnastics for toddlers at home can be ongoing. Creating a space, perhaps with a mat, encourages gymnastics for toddlers at home. The benefits of gymnastics for toddlers are far reaching. It’s widely known that physical activity can help motor skill development, but the specifics of gymnastics activities increase that.
Gymnastics helps with overall gross motor development, as well as coordination, strength, confidence, and much more! The best part is it’s so much fun! Also check out more gymnastics activities for babies and toddlers and for kid’s gymnastics at home.
