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Home › Articles › Development › Tumbling Toddlers

Tumbling Toddlers

Good for the Body and Brain

By Gwen Morrison

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"Believe it or not, we start as early as 4 months old," says Kellie Woodford, owner of The Little Gym of Saddleback Valley in Lake Forest, Calif. "You might be surprised at what an infant or toddler of 8 or 9 months can do. There is a benefit to rolling, hanging and moving even with the help of an adult."

Toddlers between 11 and 18 months usually make plenty of new friends, as the emphasis on most programs at this level is exploration of motion and the early development of social skills. Equipment that is introduced around the age of 2 includes the balance beam, climbing apparatus, uneven bars, tunnels and floor mats.

"We work on rolls, gripping on the bars, jumping, balance beams and basic body positions (straddle, pike, tuck, etc.)," says Woodford. "We have some very special pre-crawling and pre-walking exercises for the young ones. For the toddlers, we actually begin teaching skills like cartwheels, handstands and rolls."

Most programs for younger children are musically accented to enhance the experience and keep the tone light and lively. Younger children can be easily distracted, and it's up to the coaching staff to keep the kids interested in the activities.

"My daughter likes using the tumbling equipment like mats and balance beams," says Lori Scott of Kearney, Neb. "She thinks that's way cool. She likes to try and do cartwheels and other exercises the 'big kids' can do."

Reaping the Benefits
Scott emphasizes how beneficial it is for her child to be physically active at a young age. "It builds her flexibility and strength; develops gross motor skills and coordination," says Scott. "The emotional benefit is the pride she feels when she is able to make it across the beam or do a omersault."


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