Toddlers benefit from tumbling
By Beckey Arnold - Argus Observer
Sunday, March 25, 2007 12:46 AM PDT
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| Beckey Arnold | Argus OBserver
Adriana Lopez, 5, and Dahlin Beus, 4, stretch during gymnastics class Tuesday before begining their obstacle course. |
Fruitland - One way children’s brains develop hand manipulation and body awareness is through tumbling or gymnastics, Becky Wolery, All Star Gymnastics and Cheerleading, said.
“People don’t realize how important it is,” she said. “Motor skills are very important for the brain.”
When Wolery is focusing on hand manipulation, she said she uses ribbons or maracas with her students. When she is focusing on body awareness, she said she stresses tumbling, dance and large motor activity.
Wolery, who has a degree in health and psychology, said she will have her young students walk like animals, such as the crab walk.
“The crab walk requires connections from both sides of the brain,” Wolery said. “This helps with motor and brain development.”
Gymnastics offers duel purposes, Wolery said. As the students learn, they gain muscle and memorization skills — a key to building coordination with the physical development process.
Wolery said gymnastics will also stimulate the brain, causing the brain to develop faster reflexes. This will help with reading and other types of learning.
Many children learn by the “hands-on” method — they need to feel the motion, Wolery said.
“Physical activity increases their learning,” she said.
Children should be involved with physical education, Wolery said. Whatever the child is interested in — dance, soccer, t-ball — will help their attention to focus, she said.
“Find something they love,” Wolery said. “They will grow.”
Wolery said she highly recommends children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder to be involved with gymnastics.
“It helps them focus and use their energy,” she said.
Children with delayed development will benefit from really basic motor movement classes, Wolery said.
“Studies show gymboree benefits children with Asperger and Autism,” she said. “Although it does depend on the child.”
Wolery said she worked with two children, one with Asperger and one with Autism.
“Both children increased in their ability and articulation. It was amazing,” she said.
The child with Autism would not talk, Wolery said. After two months of gym class twice a week, he verbally began to express himself, she said.
“He started connecting words,” Wolery said. “Incredible progress.”
Wolery said she also recommends premature or small children to take part because it will help them to build self-pride.
Toddlers participating in gymnastics or tumbling will develop basic skills they could use for any other activity, Wolery said — whether it be academic or physical.
“It works with emotional and mental (development),” Wolery said. “As they gain the physical aspects, they build confidence and self-esteem.”
Wolery said she tells parents with 1- and 2-year-olds that children are different and they all have their own developing process in physical activity.
She recommends parents have their children participate in low structure classes, and many times it is better if the parent is not present during class time. Wolery said most of the time she can have toddlers’ attention in minutes of their age. For example, most 3-year-olds can focus for three minutes.
“The children have low attention spans — they will get frustrated,” she said. “The classes must have an open process, versatility and variety.”
By age 3 the child will start to build control, she said.
“Parents have too high of expectations,” Wolery said. “The child is not always mentally ready to focus for long periods of time. Every child is different.”
Wolery said it is unfair and unrealistic to expect one child to perform as another.
“Children are set up to fail because they are set up to meet the standard of the next child,” Wolery said.
However, she said doing activities that stimulate the brain through motor movements can help speed up the developing process.
Some things Wolery said students learn in class is how to take turns and sequencing skills, such as obstacle courses.
“That’s the concept of reading — sequencing is a serious skill,” she said. “They will start to understand the procedure.”
All Star Gymnastics and Cheerleading is situated at the Olde School Community Center in Fruitland. Wolery offers all kinds of classes for all ages. For more information, call Wolery at (208) 452-7474.
