Is Gymnastics Right for Your Child?

by Lindsay Hutton

Gymnastics has long been considered a sport of immense skill and dedication. However, those admirable qualities often come under scrutiny from critics who think the sport causes physical delays in young athletes and might, in the long run, do more harm than good to a child's well-being. Is the sport of gymnastics right for your child, or does it pose a threat to her physical development and health?

Gymnastics: Pros and Cons

Children are competing and training at earlier ages, many as young as six or seven years old. According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, about 600,000 kids participate in school-sponsored or club-level gymnastics in the U.S. Participating in an organized sport such as gymnastics offers kids important benefits. Regular physical activity can help children avoid the risk of developing serious health problems such as diabetes, heart disease, and obesity. Organized activities and sports also provide opportunities for children to learn team skills and find out how to work with others.

However, some risks come with participating in gymnastics. According to the April 2008 issue of Pediatrics, more than 26,000 U.S. children, or about one in five participants, go to the emergency room for gymnastic-related injuries every year. The sport has one of the highest injury rates of all girls' sports, including soccer, basketball, and cheerleading.

Physical risks aren't the only concern for young athletes. Placing expectations on children to develop advanced motor skills before they are developmentally ready could also have emotional effects. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, a child may experience feelings of failure and frustration when the demands of the sport exceed her cognitive and physical development. She may not understand what is being taught, even if a coach is available to teach the rules and skills.

For some, high-level sports become a way of life, and a normal childhood is no longer possible. According to Pediatrics, when children participate in a high-level sport, there is usually a shift from child-oriented goals to adult-oriented goals. Although few young gymnasts reach this level, many attempt to achieve it through rigorous training and a demanding lifestyle. The International Gymnastics Federation has found that the majority of these athletes are pushed to perform at a high level by their coaches, and sometimes even by their parents. These parents and coaches often lack the knowledge and environment to support this level of training, leading to unhealthy habits.

Many parents who are considering gymnastics for their children worry that there may be a relationship between gymnastics and delayed physical development. According to the International Gymnastics Federation, some professionals believe that physical development can be affected by a lack of sunshine and light, which gymnasts experience from being inside all day for school, training, or sleep. This fear is not without foundation, since the sun's ultraviolet rays help to synthesize vitamin D, which plays a role in building bone calcium. But the federation postulates that if there is a relationship between gymnastics and delayed growth, the main cause more likely would be intense and repeated physical effort.

Many studies have shown that intense physical activity causes changes in the secretion of hormones that control growth and maturation. Some hormones are known to reduce secretions and therefore slow growth. Physical signs of this include small stature, delayed bone growth, delayed onset of menses, and menstrual disorders. However, while some studies have focused specifically on gymnastics, others have not found any difference between the effects of gymnastics and other sports in general. Although gymnastics is often singled out, any sport can cause growth delays and postpone maturity, depending on the intensity at which the youth trains. Factors such as diet, climate, stress, and travel also affect many athletes.

The International Gymnastics Federation also notes that there is a "catching-up" phase in the research studied. Although there may be delays or disorders during training, the body is able to catch up during rest periods or at a later stage, with no aftereffects. A balanced diet and physical and mental health are as important as good training, and play a vital role in the catching-up phase.

There are several factors to take into consideration before getting your child involved in any sport, but especially a high-level sport like gymnastics. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, readiness is defined relative to the demands of the sport. In other words, the more demanding a sport it, the greater amount of readiness your child needs. Your child's pediatrician can help you determine whether your child is ready to participate in an organized sport, and can also recommend a sport that matches your child's maturity.

In addition, consider the qualifications of your child's coach. Coaches need to have a thorough background in child development so that they can properly monitor the health and safety of young children participating in an organized sport. But, according to Pediatrics, most coaches are not trained to deal with the specific developmental and physical needs of young athletes. Ask questions about your child's potential coaches and research their qualifications.

Most of the research shows that the sport of gymnastics does not specifically hinder the development of young athletes. Any sport that requires a high level of physical activity and dedication could have the same effect. When getting your child involved in a sport, it is important to keep in mind her physical and mental needs. Young children have not yet developed the mental and physical capacity of teenagers and adults, and allowing their participation in extreme sports will not speed up this process. Sports and organized physical activity are great for young children, and help to instill healthy, lifelong habits. Enlist the help of professionals to ensure that your child's level of participation in sports is healthy and age-appropriate, and you can find a balance that allows your child to be a successful athlete while still being a kid.