Kids love the challenges presented by gymnastics, and you can enjoy knowing that the gymnast in your family is strengthening their confidence as well as their body in every lesson.

However, you also know that gymnastic programs can vary greatly regarding the things that they offer, and your child deserves to be in a class that allows them to try out new skills while feeling safe.

Use these strategies to choose the right gymnastics program to fit your kid’s learning style and goals.

Consider Your Child’s Abilities

Gymnastics classes can range from simple tumbling classes to impressive acrobatics that reach competition levels.

The ideal program should be able to take a beginner and help them progress to advanced levels.

The coaches should also be capable of working with kids of all ages so that your child can benefit from continuity in their training.

Ask your child about their goals for training, and find a program that offers recreational and competitive levels of lessons so that your child can benefit from lessons that are tailored to fit their aspirations.

Assess the Training Facility

When you walk into a gymnastics training facility, you should see state-of-the-art equipment that is expertly designed with safety in mind.

For instance, beginner acrobats can practice their ability to fly through the air with belts and bungee systems that gently glide them back to the ground when they are done.

Additionally, you should see systems such as foam pits in place that give gymnasts extra cushioning while they are still learning how to stick a flip.

Look for Expert Gymnastics Coaches

A gymnastics coach plays a big role in maintaining safety during lessons, and they should possess the unique ability to both push a child to tackle a challenge and provide comfort if they get frustrated trying to master a new trick.

If your child has an interest in competitive gymnastics, then you will also want to search for programs that recruit some of the top international and national coaches so that your gymnast benefits from their experience.

Questions to Ask

Naturally, you should spend time talking to the gymnastics program staff to get to know more about how they teach new skills and reinforce your child’s learning.

For instance, you will want to find out if the program supports special niche areas such as trampolining or silk ropes. You may also want to find out how long the lessons are. While some children prefer shorter lessons, others may prefer to train for half a day or longer.

Create a list of questions to bring along with you on your tour so that you are prepared to find out the answers that make you feel sure about the program that you choose.

The sport of gymnastics is unique among other special activities because it requires a serious training facility that is equipped with everything necessary to keep a kid safe.

While it does take time to explore potential programs and check out where your kid will train, the effort is worth it the first time that you stop in and watch your kid show off the amazing skills that they are learning in their lessons.

Contact us if you are interested in getting your child involved in gymnastics, or want them to improve their skills. We'd love to show you how much fun we have and how much your child would learn in the gymnastics program at our summer camp.

Canadian Adventure Camp is a North Ontario coed sleepover summer camp for kids located on a beautiful private island in the wilderness lakes region of Temagami. Founded in 1975, it provides acclaimed programs to children from around the world! 

Cirque du Soleil is world-renowned for their professional acrobatic performances. Each show somehow manages to create a magical world that captivates audiences from beginning to end. The performance troupe was first formed in the 1980s, and it didn’t take long for them to gain worldwide recognition.

Depending upon the performance, you may see performers juggle, dance, and fly through the air on various pieces of equipment. For many young athletes, working on silk and hoop skills paves the way for the ability to perform breathtaking tricks.

Learning the Backstage Secrets

The performers in the troupe are known for doing death-defying stunts that are often shown without a safety harness or net. The decision to do so without safety gear is only made after a performer has undergone years of training and can demonstrate perfect moves every time.

One of the things that you don’t see when the acrobats are flying through the air on stage is the hours of hard work that go into learning their tricks. Long before the performance occurs, aerialists practice learning their routines using state-of-the-art harnesses and trampoline systems to keep them safe.

It is also worth noting that many of the performers are using safety gear. The wires and harnesses are sometimes disguised by costumes and strategic lighting.

Mastering Silk and Hoop Tricks

Every professional performer started out where many of our campers are today. Beginner silks and hoops programs teach the basics of safety along with foundational moves and positions that can transition into more difficult maneuvers.

New aerialists must first learn to master skills such as the various ways for mounting the hoop. Then, students learn simple poses such as the Mermaid and Man in the Moon.

On the silks, aerialists learn special climbs and foot locks in the early stages. They then move on to more complicated wraps and drops.

Developing Troupe-Level Skills

Many hours of practice go into those amazing performances that inspire gasps of awe from the crowds. Cirque du Soleil aerialists often work on silks and hoops that are lifted high off the ground. Their equipment may also raise and lower during their performance, and there may be several people performing at the same time.

Troupe-level skills include those that are done from incredible heights. A Cirque du Soleil performer may also transfer from one hoop to another or perform tricks with a partner. They also use advanced tricks such as neck spins that enthrall the audience.

In one popular show, Corteo, an aerialist performs on an aerial chandelier. This impressive piece of equipment includes a horizontal and vertical hoop. Variations of the chandelier may also have a pole in the middle. This allows for the ultimate level of creative expression during a performance. It also demands a high level of skill since it blends the elements of trapeze, pole fitness, and hoops performances.

Cirque du Soleil is made up of 1300 performers who come from around 55 different countries. According to the Cirque du Soleil website, 35% of their performers come from athletic backgrounds that include sports such as rhythmic gymnastics, trampolining, and tumbling. Others began their career with artistic training in circus performance and dance. 

Learning how to perform on silks and hoops could easily be a young acrobat’s first step toward developing a career in the performance arts one day.