tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-82895407655577808562024-02-20T05:20:00.408-08:00Rapunzel's GymnasticsMiss Jeaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14521137124602027598noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8289540765557780856.post-19645285266853541042011-04-04T17:24:00.000-07:002011-04-04T17:33:47.968-07:00Gymnastics Are Physically Fit!One of the most important reasons to introduce children to gymnastics is to help them become physically fit. 16% of children ages 6- 19 are overweight or obese. That's over 9 million kids! Gymnastics is so much fun, your children will exercise in a very fun way. This week's lesson utilizes the mailbox for vaulting and cartwheel skills. Children will also work on cartwheels, handstands, and on their flexibility. Please encourage your child to work on splits and stretching every day.Miss Jeaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14521137124602027598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8289540765557780856.post-30814577896509969812011-01-30T13:50:00.000-08:002011-01-30T14:05:11.364-08:00Gymnastics builds self esteem!Dear Parents,<br /><br />Please read why skillful gymnastics instruction is uniquely beneficial for your child. (According to Jeff <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">Metzger</span>, USA Gymnastics Business Development Partner and President of Kids First Sports Center.)<br /><br />'Young human being experience life in the physical realm. It is a huge event in the life of a child when s/he learns to jump, skip, or turn a cartwheel. These events have far more impact on a person's psychological makeup that does learning to conjugate a very for solving for X.<br /><br />Good, bad, right or wrong, young children tend to from a perception of their competency as a person based on how well they stack up physically compared to their peers. For young children, feeling competent physically reinforces a general belief that "I am capable," a foundational component of a healthy self-esteem. Other components are: "I am lovable," "I belong," "my views count," "I am in control of myself." A healthy self-esteem is a requisite for inner peace and happiness and is a worthy goal for all of us.'<br /><br />This week we will work with the peanut ball to increase coordination, balance and to develop strength. We will also work on eye hand coordination with the balls.Miss Jeaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14521137124602027598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8289540765557780856.post-77077627903858368082011-01-09T16:33:00.000-08:002011-01-09T16:44:27.772-08:00Gymnastics 2011I am very excited to begin a new year of gymnastics with all of my students. I strive to make your child's gymnastics class the most fun they have all day long! There are so many great things a child gains by their involvement in this wonderful sport.<br /><br />Children who are active in their early years have a significantly great chance of achieving success in school. This is because gymnastics stimulates the brain and develops readiness skills, such as body awareness and coordination that are crucial to classroom learning. Children who do not reach this level of developmental maturity have trouble paying attention and sitting still.<br /><br />So when your child tells you that she or he had a great time in gymnastics, you will know how much more is going on than fun!<br /><br />Many new challenges and interesting experiences await your child this year with Rapunzel's Gymnastics. This week's challenges include the springboard and rhythmic skills with ropes.<br /><br />Thanks for enrolling your child in my class.Miss Jeaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14521137124602027598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8289540765557780856.post-43587765203545204612010-11-07T15:11:00.001-08:002010-11-07T15:13:11.065-08:00Gymnastics is good for your child!As a parent, you are doing wonderful things for your child by enrolling them in gymnastics. Study after study confirms that children enrolled in sports (including gymnastics) are more likely to avoid drugs, score higher on achievement tests, stay in school, have higher self esteem, and live a healthier life style. The children in gymnastics not only learn motor skills, but interpersonal skills, perseverance, discipline, commitment, humor, perspective, teamwork, humility and leadership. So be sure to give yourself a pat on the back for helping your child be more successful in life!<br /><br />This lesson focuses on the peanut ball for forward rolling skills, back limbers and strength training. It's a bit hit with the children since it's so much fun!Miss Jeaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14521137124602027598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8289540765557780856.post-18009783113977908562010-10-04T19:14:00.000-07:002010-10-04T19:19:13.764-07:00Gymnastics fosters autonomy!Experiences that encourage and nurture thinking, self-trust, and autonomy are to be valued. In gymnastics we help foster success by challenging children within their ability to succeed. In place of competition, a culture of cooperation and reward for self-improvement is fostered. Everyone can win only when winning is defined as 'your personal best', instead of being better that everyone else. This definition of winning puts each gymnast in full control of the outcome of their efforts - this is an important component of self esteem.<br />I love the sense of pride and accomplishment I see in children when they master a new skill!Miss Jeaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14521137124602027598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8289540765557780856.post-68235578616744017952010-09-12T05:53:00.000-07:002010-09-12T05:55:26.538-07:00Thanks Mom and Dad!All children benefit from gymnastics participation. Parents, you are doing a terrific job by getting your child interested in this educational sport. Many of the benefits of gymnastics are not related to learning gymnastics skills, but more important developmental areas that will help your child become a better student and young adult.<br />Some of the benefits of gymnastics participation are: self confidence, coordination, hard work ethic, flexibility, social skills, discipline, fitness, overcoming fears, learning to perform in front of people, determination, and strength development.Miss Jeaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14521137124602027598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8289540765557780856.post-21832658485825071752010-08-25T18:07:00.000-07:002010-08-25T18:17:09.381-07:00Rolling Skills and Beanie BabiesThis week's lesson focuses on rolling skills: log rolls, forward rolls, and backward rolls. All skills are done on the wedge to making rolling easier. Gymnasts will climb up the wall to practice their handstands. Please ask your child to show you how they can climb the wall! Our coordination activity is the Beanie Babies.Miss Jeaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14521137124602027598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8289540765557780856.post-2576980459493577242010-08-24T20:04:00.000-07:002010-08-24T20:12:08.497-07:00Tuesday's ClassThe gymnasts in Tuesday's class are doing a wonderful job in class! Today we worked on 7 different stations which included handstands against the wall, wall walking, a cartwheel station, rolling skills on the wedge, the balance beam, jumps for strength and endurance, and the rock climbing wall. Each station is pictured on this blog.<br /><br />Children worked in small groups and did a nice job of cooperating.<br /><br />Your child is becoming strong, flexible and determined!Miss Jeaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14521137124602027598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8289540765557780856.post-34782939401637802922010-05-25T19:20:00.000-07:002010-05-25T19:25:13.299-07:00We love to move!This week's lesson focuses on rolling and vaulting skills. On the floor the gymnasts will do forward rolls and handstands. We are getting quite good at these! The gymnasts will use the wedge for forward and backward rolls. With the wedge closed we will do vaulting skills, landing on the block, jumping off with tuck, pike and straddle jumps. Our coordination/ rhythmic activity is the hoops. <br /><br />Please encourage your child to stretch at home this week.Miss Jeaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14521137124602027598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8289540765557780856.post-17299498101339825932010-04-26T18:36:00.000-07:002010-04-26T18:43:52.807-07:00A Gymnastics Success StoryLast week I ran into the mother of one of my former students. Her daughter started gymnastics with me at her school at the age of 4. She continued for several years and eventually took up volleyball. Kim is now 17 and has college recruiters looking at her volleyball skills. They asked what other sports Kim had done. When told that she had participated in gymnastics, they said 'no wonder she has such great body awareness'. Her success can be attibuted in part to her early gymnastics training! It's the best sport for developing coordination and body awareness.<br /><br />This week we are working on the gymnastics bar for strength and skill training. Each week we practice cartwheel drills and handstands. We are working with the Beanie Babies for eye hand coordination.Miss Jeaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14521137124602027598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8289540765557780856.post-89193596248003438292010-02-21T15:44:00.000-08:002010-02-21T15:58:45.226-08:00Balance Beam and ParachuteThis week we are working on the balance beam. Gymnasts will work on forward, backward, sideways and bear walking on the beam. We will also do leaps and cartwheels over the beam. More advance gymnasts will do these skills ON the beam.<br /><br />We will also work on cooperation and social skills with the parachute. The gymnasts really love to play cat and mouse, shark attack and to run under the parachute.<br /><br />Gymnastics provides the opportunity to learn about team work, sportsmanship, fair play and dedication. Because gymnastics is so very difficult to perform, the learning time is long when compared to other sports. The long time required to attain mastery of the fundamental skills requires patience, dedication, perseverance, and planning. Gymnastics helps people learn to work hard for objectives that can take years to achieve. In the modern world of quick-fixes, instant communications and instant entertainment, there needs to be a place for children to develop their character.Miss Jeaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14521137124602027598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8289540765557780856.post-51331925950195434422010-01-11T20:10:00.000-08:002010-01-11T20:18:14.087-08:00A New Year Of Gymnastics!I am thrilled to begin a new year of training with all of my gymnasts. Great things are in store for them. All of the gymnasts will be challenged with the right level of skill for their ability. This means enough difficulty to make things challenging, but not so difficult as to be overwhelming.<br /><br />Our first lesson is the peanut ball. All of the gymnasts love to see this piece of equipment. It's been requested many times! We are doing forward rolls and back limber over it. Very advanced gymnasts are doing front limbers over it.<br /><br />We are also working on eye - hand coordination with the balls. These skills will give your child an advantage when they join a basket ball, base ball or volley ball team. Coaches love to have players who have gymnastics experience.<br /><br />Please encourage your child to do their gymnastics 'homework', better yet, do it with them! This will be a real treat for your child.Miss Jeaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14521137124602027598noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8289540765557780856.post-16291209620494183252009-11-13T18:15:00.000-08:002009-11-13T18:19:55.243-08:00The Mailbox and Hula HoopsThe gymnasts are enjoying working on the mailbox. We are doing back limbers, cartwheels and vaulting skills on the mailbox. The gymnasts are vaulting on top of the mailbox, jumping off with tuck, straddle and turns. We are also trying to 'stick' our landing and finish with a big stretch.<br /><br />Hoops are a favorite activity for many of our gymnasts. We are working on coordination and rhythmic skills with the hoops. Please see how long your gymnast can hold their handstand against the wall.Miss Jeaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14521137124602027598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8289540765557780856.post-58623786633908322592009-10-26T20:07:00.000-07:002009-10-26T20:20:41.684-07:00Gymnastics Bar and Strength TrainingThe gymnasts are working on skills on the gymnasts bar this week. The bar takes a great deal of strength. Shoulders are strengthened by doing front supports (and the 'space walk'). Core strength is build by doing leg lifts (by taking a Beanie Baby for a ride!) The bar is also a great deal of fun! Most gymnasts say it's their favorite piece of equipment (though a some children find it a bit scary.) It's always a big moment when they can 'flip' over the bar by themselves.<br /><br />The gymnasts worked on improving their balance with the 'monster stompers'. They were ever so cute doing this activity! We also worked on our eye - hand coordination with the ring toss.<br /><br />Please ask your child to 'climb the wall' for you and show you how long they can hold their handstands.Miss Jeaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14521137124602027598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8289540765557780856.post-23444489268376851982009-10-04T19:40:00.000-07:002009-10-05T07:25:03.784-07:00The teacher goes to school!Miss Jeanie went to a great gymnastics workshop this weekend. All good gymnastics instructors attend workshops and training seminars to keep up with the lastest trends in the gymnastics world. This Gymnastics Educational Seminar covered skills for preschoolers and school age gymnasts on the bar, beam and floor. It included hands on spotting techniques and skill progressions. Look for some new cartwheel drills and fun activities for your child.<br /><br />This week's lesson includes balance beam skills and parachute games. The beam is great for developing coordination, agility and balance in children. Parachute games help children learn to cooperate in a group ~ they are also so much fun! Ask your child about the 'cat and mouse' game on the parachute.Miss Jeaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14521137124602027598noreply@blogger.com0