My daughter wants to switch from dance to gymnastics?

Question

My 6-yr-old has been in dance since she was three. She's always enjoyed it and it really good at it. But now she wants to do gymnastics. If I could afford for her to do both, I would but unfortunately it's either/or. I really don't want her to leave dance because I think she would get much more out of it in the long run. Also, I think the potential for injury is much higher in gymnastics. Plus, because she is tall for her age and will always be on the tall side, I don't think she'll be as good in it as she is in dance.

On the other hand, since I don't expect her to become a professional dancer or an Olympic gymnast, should it be completely her choice?

Okay, okay, you guys are right. I'll call the little gym tomorrow.

Answer 1

Im gonna share my experience and I hope it helps.

I started gymnastics when I was 3 years old. I did gymnastics from 3 to 16 years old. It was fun when I was younger and not in the high level classes. I started competing when i was 9. Every weekend during the gymnastics season, which is from Sept to April/May, there is a competition and it is very time consuming. When I was 3, I was going to gymnastics 1 day a week. As I got older it went to 2 days, then 3 days. When I reached the age of 7 or 8 it was 5 or 6 times a week for 4 to 5 hours a day. I would go to school, get done at 3, do homework on the way to gymnastics, be at gymnastics by 4 and then be done gymnastics at 9, pick up dinner on the way home, then finish any homework and go to bed and start the whole day all over the very next day. Its alot.

There are some positives. It was like my second family. You are with your team and coaches for so much of your life. If you feel like you do fit in at your school, you know if fit it at your gymnastic school. It keeps you in excellent shape. Another thing I feel it keeps your child away from drugs and alcohol. They are soo busy they dont have time to get involved in that kind of mess.

Negatives: It takes over your whole life! Seriously! I quit when I was 16 years old. I was a Sophmore in Highschool and I had no time to do anything. Also, the risk of injuries is great. I dont know how many injuries I saw at my gymnastics school. I suffered a few myself. Gymnastics is levels. Levels 1-10 then elite. You move through the lower levels quickly, but once you get to the higher levels it slows done. You might have to repeat a level twice or maybe 3 times. That can get frustrating and discourging. Its just like being left back in school.

Your daughter should be able to pick what she wants to do, and as long as she is doing it as a casual past time than its fine. But I would really try to get her out of neither sports before she gets too involved. I would recommend her doing a highschool sport instead of a independent sport. I did not get involved in school b/c i had to time. I couldnt stay after for big school sporting events or anything. Also, no one appericates or understands gymnastics. If you are good at soccer on your higschool team, everyone knows about you and they will make annoucements saying congrats and all that good stuff. In gymnastics, no one cares because no one sees it. (Unless your highschool has a gymnastics team, than its ok).

If i have a daughter I am going to try and talk her out of any sport that gets too involved.

I hope that helped.

Answer 2

My daughter, also 6, has made this same decision. She is quite very intelligent for her age, and because of this, she has the common side effect of being a perfectionist. I am fairly sure she wants to switch because she doesn't feel that she is doing ballet perfectly, and although I have repeatedly tried to show her that not even the girls who have been dancing for years are perfect, it hasn't changed her mind. I tried the one about the costumes they have for recitals, etc, etc. Nothing has fazed her. She WANTS to do gymnastics. So I will let her try it and see how it goes for a year. Thank goodness the cost is about the same! The best part is, if they decide after a year or even two to go back to dance, they already know most of the basics, and will pick up on new stuff pretty quickly.

Answer 3

She is 6 years old. And while I do believe that she should have a say-so in what she desires to do, I think I'd want to know why she wanted to change. You are correct that the potential for harm and injury is greater in gymnastics. As her mother you are challenged to guide her. Get books, see videos, talk to trainers, etc. Make sure she understands fully and completely the pros and cons for both. One of the decision making ingrediants for my daughter was in gymnastics - there would be no 'pretty' dance outfits...(smile) That's a minute offer of consolation, but it worked for mine. If your daughter is determined, make sure you provide her with all the information, comfort and security she will need. Also, check in your neighborhood, there may be some community classes available which are a lot cheaper and she can still get the exposure she needs and wants.

Answer 4

Actually when I was three, i started dance. At age 5 I still liked it but I switched to Gymnastics. I did Gymnastics till I was 11 but I was signed up for one dance class that year. I became really dedicated to my dance and joined the Junior Competion Team. When my Gymnastics session was over, I stopped. I really miss it but I know dance is what I really wanted to do. I'm not saying that you should keep your daughter in dance maybe you should let her decide. Try a session, if she likes it stick with it if she doesn't she can finish it up and start dancing again.

Good Luck! <3

Answer 5

To be quite honest the choice should be your daughters. It sounds like you enjoy the dance more than she does. If she has decided she wants to do gymnastics and you continue to keep her in dance you are just wasteing your money. Let her do gymnastics she may decide to go back to dance or she may fall in love with gymnastics but either way let her be her own person. Its part of who she is.

Answer 6

I think you should let her try it, there isn't much chance for injury at that age. It'll take a couple years for her to get to high risk stuff without spotting. Who knows? maybe she'll go back to dance in the end anyway because a dancer's life is longer then a gymnast's life

Answer 7

My cousin did that as a girl. She did gynmastics right through high school. Her only injury was a broken arm.

I hated dance. Did it for 6 weeks to please my Mom.

My neighbors daughter started in dance...then went to gymnastics. She ended up being the star basketball player on her high school team. You'd never know it now (she is 30 and so girly).

I think let her decide. There is always the option to return to dance at a later time.

Answer 8

I was a figure skater since i was 18 months old, my mom was way into it and I never did anything else. Granted I had a talent not many could say they have, and got a job teaching it, but looking back I wish I could have learned something else, not that I am not grateful the my mother put all the time and money into it, but I do wish I could have tried something else. If she wants to switch I say let her, she is young enough that if she really wants to, later she can get back into dance.

Answer 9

i don't know what to tell you really. you could let her chose, she might not like gymnastics. And you were right since if she is on the tall side......it might not work out with gymnastics. my friend was on the tall side too.....she had to quit b/c she felt it just wasn't really working out. but you never know, maybe your daughter might be better at gymnastics even though she is tall. Good Luck!!!

Answer 10

I WAS IN GYMNASTICS
IF SHE WANTS TO DO IT LET HER TRY
BUT LET HER KNOW THAT YOU CANNOT AFFORD FOR HER TO DO BOTH NOT THAT SHE CANNOT DO BOTH BECAUSE SHE CANT BUT BECAUSE ITS NOT FINANCIALLY POSSIBLE.....IF SHE DO SENT LIKE IT LET HER GO BACK TO DANCE.....CHANGE IS GOOD AND GYMNASTICS IS A WONDERFUL ACTIVITY......DO NT BE SCARED. LET HER DO IT DON'T WORRY MOM SHE WILL BE OK AND WHEN SHE FLIES AND DOES A LITTLE DANCE AT THE END OF HER ROUTINE YOU WILL BE SO PROUD THAT SHE MADE A CHOICE AND HAS PUT HER HEART INTO IT :)