What's the Difference Between Gymnastics and Tumbling?

Parents often have many questions about gymnastics when they first enroll their children in a class. After all, just spending a few minutes watching little gymnasts flip, leap and balance on the equipment always sparks amazement. Among the most often asked questions is what is the difference between gymnastics and tumbling. While these two are interlinked, knowing the differences between them will help you know which type of class will best fit your child’s skill set and interests.

What Happens in Gymnastics?

In a gymnastics class, gymnasts learn how to perform acrobatic movements such as flips and handstands on different types of equipment. In women’s gymnastics, they learn how to perform maneuvers on the vault, uneven bars and balance beam. Men’s gymnastics uses different equipment such as the rings, parallel bars and high bars. There are also rhythmic gymnasts who use hoops and ribbons as they artistically perform tumbling moves intermingled with dancing. Since many of the tricks performed in gymnastics are done at a height, you will also see thicker floor mats and harness equipment used to keep kids safe as they learn new skills.

How Is Tumbling Different?

Tumbling is simply another type of gymnastics. However, it focuses less on using equipment and more on floor routines. While your child will learn tumbling moves such as somersaults and back walkovers in gymnastics, these types of maneuvers will take on greater importance in tumbling. Due to the emphasis on learning how to do handsprings and other types of acrobatics, tumbling is also sometimes incorporated into cheerleading and dance classes. When performing a tumbling routine, kids tend to use a thinner mat than you would see under the uneven bars. However, they utilize thick mats, foam pits and other cushioned training surfaces as they learn how to do tricks such as flips and aerials.

Which One Is Best for My Child?

Taking your child’s physical strength, previous experiences and future goals into consideration is the best way to choose between gymnastics and tumbling. For children who are interested in learning how to perform tricks on equipment, gymnastics offers the best of both worlds since it also includes tumbling during the floor routines. Dancers and cheerleaders, however, may choose to focus strictly on tumbling so that they can reach advanced levels at a faster rate. Some children may lack the physical strength to perform tumbling on its own and prefer gymnastics since the equipment helps them to use momentum to complete their moves.

Do They Offer Similar Benefits?

Whether you choose gymnastics or tumbling, you can expect your child to learn similar skills. Strength building, mental conditioning and flexibility training are all critical components of both types of classes. Due to the complexity of the maneuvers, children in gymnastics and tumbling also learn perseverance, as they must practice a skill many times before it reaches perfection. While many gymnastics competitions include individual routines, children in these classes also learn teamwork and how to trust their peers and instructors as they spot each other on complicated moves.

Enrolling your child in a beginner’s gymnastics class is the perfect way to let them test out their skills. For many children, the prospect of learning to leap and fly between bars or balance on rings is all it takes to motivate them to engage in physical activity. By understanding the difference between tumbling and gymnastics, you can steer your child to the course that best fits their athletic goals and dreams.

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Cool Gymnastic Poses for Kids

Gymnastics is one sport that allows kids to stretch their ability to compete individually as athletes while also learning how to work as a team. While parents love the confidence that gymnastics classes promote as kids learn how to perform tricks under the safe guidance of an experienced instructor, kids find the sport alluring due to the wow factor of being able to “fly through the air”. While flips are impressive, some of the most challenging moves are those that are held in a static position. These cool gymnastics poses for kids emphasize poise while also developing the strength a gymnast needs to perform complicated routines.

Front and Back Scale

This standing balance move is required in most gymnastics floor routine competitions. Although it looks simple from the stands, it requires strong core muscles along with the ability to be able to do almost a full split. To perform a scale, a kid will simply bend forward or backward while placing one leg straight out as they stand on the other. Proper body alignment is critical for performing the pose correctly, which is important because the scale often is used to lead into other moves such as a forward roll.

Front and Straddle Splits

Splits demonstrate flexibility and it takes time for kids to master this position. Through consistent stretching exercises, kids can increase their flexibility until they are able to sit on the floor with their legs in a split position. It is also one move they can practice at home without any extra equipment so that they can continue working on their goal when they are not in class.

Handstand

Handstands are an essential, gymnastics pose that is one of the first advanced skills that kids master. Usually, this skill is learned through different stages with kids first learning how to do a headstand before starting to use a wall for balance. As kids progress in their abilities, a spotter will assist them until this position can be held independently.

Planche

Many of the coolest gymnastics positions are designed to emphasize a gymnast’s strengths. A planche shows off upper body strength along with the athlete’s endurance. At first glance, a planche looks like a basic plank or push-up position, but it differs slightly due to how a gymnast places their weight on their upper body rather than distributing it all over. Over time, kids can even work their way up to lifting their feet and legs off the floor so that they balance completely on their hands.

L-Seat

This strength position is commonly used in men’s gymnastics, and it is performed on the parallel bars or rings. The L-Seat looks exactly like its name implies. To hold the position, a gymnast places their hands on the rings or bars and use their arms to maintain a lift while keeping their legs parallel to the floor. Since this position requires serious abdominal strength, it is one of the more advanced moves that kids work towards in their summer camp gymnastics classes.

While kids look forward to their time working on gymnastics equipment such as trampolines and balance beams, learning these positions helps them master skills both on the floor and as they fly through the air. Summer camps offer gymnastics classes that make perfecting these poses possible while always maintaining a safe environment for kids. This way, every kid can reach their full potential for mastering their goals as a gymnast.

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Benefits of Summer Camp Gymnastics Class

Let your child check out the amazing sport of gymnastics at camp this summer. Many of today’s summer camps feature well-organized gymnastics programs, geared to every child from novices to rising stars. This fun yet disciplined sport not only boosts strength and coordination, but can improve confidence, teamwork skills and self-esteem. As every kid who loves to run, race and jump will tell you, gymnastics is also loads of fun, and summer camp’s easy-going, supportive atmosphere is the perfect place to take on those first somersaults.

Physical Benefits

Like so many youth sports, gymnastics promotes important lifelong healthy habits. Getting out there and running, jumping and tumbling is so much fun, youngsters won’t even realize they’re setting the stage for a lifetime of healthy living. Whether they remain in gymnastics programs as they grow up, or branch out to other sports or physical activities, kids learn the joy of movement on the mat, the horse and the balance beam. These youngsters are not only less likely to become obese, but they are generally happier, healthier and perform better in school. Learning different movements and combining them into routines leads to increased agility, flexibility and body control. Kids who take part in active sports like gymnastics are even found to sleep better!

Coordination and Strength

Young gymnastics build up a superior range of motor and coordination skills, learning to use different parts of the body in various ways. These strengths and skills also translate well to other sports and to overall physical well-being. Improved muscle strength, confidence and power promote lean, toned muscles, excellent balance and improved posture. The weight-bearing component of gymnastics means it also helps build strong, healthy bones, reducing the risk of bone loss conditions like osteoporosis later in life.

Super Safe and Super Fun

Gymnastics is the perfect activity for kids who love to run and tumble. Performing “tricks” in the gymnastics gym has been found safer than attempting similar stunts in the backyard. With soft landing areas, full overhead spotting belts, bungee systems and foam pit technology, kids who take part in gymnastics with certified instructors learn each move in the safest way possible. Improved safety designs are credited with the 25 percent drop in gymnastics injuries between 1990 and 2005.

Social Skills

Gymnastics, like most other group sports, is a great way to get to know other kids with a similar interest, fostering friendships and increasing independence. Gymnastics can be a complex sport and kids need to learn how to listen, take turns and respect others. Although the sport is largely based on individual performance, classes both at summer camp and at home are run in groups, giving youngsters valuable social time and helping hone skills like patience and cooperation. They are also more likely to lead a healthy lifestyle, make wise eating choices and meet the American Heart Association’s recommendation that children engage in about an hour of physical activity every day.

Self-Confidence and Discipline

Learning gymnastics takes a lot of discipline and determination and children learn fairly quickly that perseverance and hard work pay off. Whether learning the right way to do a forward roll or finally mastering a tough math concept, perseverance is a quality that will serve kids well all their lives. Safety issues require that gymnastics programs follow strict rules of conduct and learning to follow these rules reinforces the importance of safety and respect toward others.

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Is Gymnastics Right for Your Child?

Have you ever wondered if gymnastics is the right sport for your child? With some children competing and training for high level competitions as early as age six or seven, it can become a very intense part of a child’s life. However, most kids who take part in gymnastics reap the benefits of improved coordination, physical health and self-confidence without infringing on other important parts of childhood.

Active Benefits

The American Academy of Pediatrics believes kids benefit from the increased activity and social outlets provided by organized sports. Gymnastics can help youngsters develop in a broad spectrum of areas including strength, flexibility, coordination, balance, speed and discipline. A good gymnastics program can help your little one develop physically while staving off the specters of childhood obesity and other health issues that can accompany an inactive lifestyle. Benefits of childhood exercise programs can last into adulthood by encouraging a healthy lifestyle and reducing the risk of obesity, diabetes and heart disease throughout life.

Does Your Youngster Love to Race and Tumble?

Kids who just naturally seem to enjoy jumping, racing and tumbling may take to gymnastics right away. It gives them the chance to do what they love while experiencing the joy and increased confidence that comes from perfecting new skills and “tricks”. Learning new physical skills helps youngsters develop both muscles and brains in a healthy way and increases self-esteem.

Social Time

Does your child like to socialize? Because gymnastics lessons are usually run in groups, they provide a healthy social outlet for kids. They learn to work as a group and to listen to their instructor and classmates. Kids who take part in gymnastics may also sleep better and show a better ability to handle any physical or emotional challenges in their lives. Being in this type of class improves skills such as listening, taking turns and respecting others while still allowing kids to have fun, become more independent and make new friends.

When Can a Child Start Gymnastics?

Kids can start gymnastics around three or four, when they have the necessary motor skills and balance and are old enough to listen and follow instructions. Younger children’s classes are usually relaxed and informal, with kids romping around a bar, ball pit, trampoline, tunnels and balance beam, often to the tune of lively music. Always be sure your child has a qualified instructor.

Improved Safety Equipment

When performed in the controlled environment of a gymnastics gym, the sport is safer than when attempted in the back yard. Gymnastics gyms have soft areas for landing and today’s equipment has been re-designed to make it safer for gymnasts. Overall gymnastics injuries have dropped 25% between 1990 and 2005, mostly due to improved safety measures including redesign of the horse and thicker safety mats. Training safety equipment includes full overhead spotting belts, bungee systems and ramped up foam pit technology, and kids practicing gymnastics with a certified instructors learn how to perform each maneuver in the safest possible way.

High-Level Kid Sport Issues

Like all high-level sports, when gymnastics competing becomes the center of a child’s life, he or she may miss out on a normal childhood. Training and competing take precedence over other activities and can even harm academic work. No sport or hobby should “be” a child’s life, just a part of a normal, balanced routine. Kids should have time for family, friends, school and other hobbies and activities.

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