At Winterset Gymnastics, It’s About So Much More Than Just Cartwheels!
We believe that gymnastics is a powerful tool for teaching life lessons that extend beyond the gym. Here's how we help your child grow through the sport:
Self-Confidence
As children work to master new gymnastics skills, they build confidence with every achievement. This boost in self-assurance carries over into all aspects of their lives, including school and relationships.
Coordination & Fitness
Gymnastics fosters improved coordination, strength, flexibility, and overall fitness. A child with better coordination and strength is more likely to enjoy and engage in physical activity. In today’s fast-paced world, cultivating a love for exercise through gymnastics helps lay the foundation for a lifetime of health and well-being.
Hard Work & Determination
Gymnastics is a challenging sport where success is earned through persistence. Kids learn that the harder they work, the more they achieve. Mastering tough skills requires patience, determination, and the ability to keep going, even when things get tough.
Social Skills
Gymnastics classes provide regular opportunities for children to develop essential social skills, such as listening, following instructions, taking turns, and respecting others. These experiences build friendships and improve communication, both inside and outside the gym.
Discipline
Our gymnasts learn the value of discipline through the rules and boundaries we set to keep them safe, focused, and progressing in their skills. Adhering to these guidelines helps prepare them for success in all areas of life.
Politeness
We emphasize treating others with kindness and respect. Our coaches model this behavior, creating an environment where students are encouraged to show the same level of courtesy to their coaches and peers.
Learning to Perform
By regularly practicing in front of others, our students become comfortable performing in public. This experience gives them the confidence to volunteer, speak up, and perform in other settings, both in and out of gymnastics.
Coaches Who Care
At Winterset Gymnastics, we care deeply about each student. Our coaching philosophy is built on positivity, combining specific praise with constructive feedback. We believe in the power of encouragement—hugs, high-fives, and words of affirmation are a core part of our approach. Positive reinforcement is powerful; we use it to help our gymnasts thrive.
Mastery Before Advancement
At Winterset Gymnastics, we ensure that students move up only after they have fully mastered the necessary skills. This guarantees that every gymnast is confident, capable, and prepared to tackle the challenges of the next level. By building a strong foundation first, we set them up for long-term success.
Unlocking Reading Readiness through Fun and Movement at Winterset Gymnastics!
Did you know that children under the age of five have an incredible ability to absorb information at an astonishing rate? In How to Teach Your Baby to Read, Glenn Doman reveals that young children are full of energy and a natural desire to learn. This is the perfect time to lay the groundwork for future success – and at Winterset Gymnastics, we harness this energy to build foundational skills that go beyond gymnastics.
Our Tiny Tumbler Program isn’t just about learning gymnastics—it’s about setting your child up for success in reading and beyond! Research from experts like Frost and Kissinger in The Young Child and the Educative Process and Spache in The Teaching of Reading shows that the key skills needed for reading readiness are closely linked to motor development. By blending physical activity with early learning, we give your child the tools they need to thrive!
Here’s how we make it happen, all while having a blast:
Visual Differentiation: Children engage with a variety of mats and trampolines, learning to see and feel how different surfaces are used for different movements—an essential skill for early reading!
Laterality: Whether moving sideways down a beam or jumping down the TumblTrak, children strengthen their understanding of left and right—crucial for reading and coordination.
Directionality: As they practice handstands and cartwheels, kids begin to grasp the concepts of directionality, understanding the spatial awareness needed for reading words and letters.
Hand-Eye Coordination: Children develop hand-eye coordination through activities like cartwheeling, balancing on the beam, and catching or tossing objects. These skills help improve the connection between what they see and how they move, enhancing both their gymnastics abilities and early learning skills.
Spatial Awareness: Rolling to stay on the mat and landing with precision helps children understand distance, size, and shape—skills they’ll need for both gymnastics and reading.
Small Muscle Coordination: From pointing toes during a skill to passing a bean bag, kids work on fine motor skills that improve their physical and cognitive abilities.
Large Muscle Coordination: Learning gymnastics movements like jumping and tumbling helps kids build strength, balance, and coordination in their larger muscle groups.
Sensory Discrimination: Mastering the right momentum for jumping and landing teaches children how to tune into their senses—helping them focus and learn.
Auditory Skills: Listening and following directions strengthens memory, attention, and understanding—key elements in both gymnastics and early literacy.
Expressive Language: After class, children love sharing what they’ve learned with family—boosting their communication skills and reinforcing their new knowledge.
Attention Span: Working on focused skills at various stations helps kids build the attention and patience needed for reading and learning.
Imitation: By watching their instructor or peers, children learn to imitate movements, which helps them build both motor and cognitive skills.
At Winterset Gymnastics, we believe that learning should be fun, engaging, and full of possibilities. By combining reading readiness with gymnastics, we’re helping children develop the skills they need to succeed in both the classroom and life!