Why teach gymnastics in primary school?
When it comes to a child’s development, gymnastics can be transformative.
The impact ranges from physical to emotional to cognitive to social.
Here we break down that impact and take a closer look at why gymnastics is an essential sport to teach in primary school.
Teaching gymnastics develops key physical skills
If you’re looking for a sport that covers just about all of the physical skills that children need to develop, gymnastics is your answer.
Flexibility, strength, technique, speed, control, coordination and balance are all developed through gymnastics. Which leads us on to our next point…
Teaching gymnastics is in line with the national curriculum
KS1:
“Pupils should develop fundamental movement skills, become increasingly competent and confident and access a broad range of opportunities to extend their agility, balance and coordination, individually and with others.”
KS2:
“Pupils should be taught to develop flexibility, strength, technique, control and balance [for example, through athletics and gymnastics]”
There may not be a direct mention of gymnastics in the KS1 curriculum, but the sport can be inferred from the mention of fundamental movement skills and the other physical characteristics listed.
The moves, exercises and activities that make up gymnastics help children to understand the way their bodies move, and how these movements can be coordinated and controlled.
And as we mentioned in our first point, flexibility, strength, technique, control and balance are all developed through gymnastics lessons, making the sport an ideal fit for the national curriculum.
Teaching gymnastics helps children improve in other sports
Gymnastics is known as a foundation activity, meaning those fundamental movement skills and other key qualities we just mentioned come in extremely handy when tackling other sports and physical activity. The coordination children develop improves their performance on the basketball court. Enhancing flexibility can help children become better football players. Developing strength is invaluable for swimming. Balance is fundamental when it comes to skating, whether it be on ice skates, rollerblades or a skateboard.
Perhaps gymnastics isn’t a sport some pupils want to pursue outside of school, leading to disengagement in lessons. Explaining to pupils how gymnastics can help them develop and progress in their favourite sport can be a strong motivator.
Teaching gymnastics aids the development of strong and healthy bones
With up to 90% of peak bone mass acquired by age 18 in girls and by age 20 in boys, investing in bone health during childhood is key. Physical activity that involves safely putting pressure on bones through weight-bearing is understood to be beneficial for bone development. As gymnastics is a weight-bearing sport it helps improve bone density and strength.
As we get older our bones deteriorate. This means developing strong and healthy bones when we’re young is crucial, helping to lessen the chance of fractures and prevent osteoporosis.
Teaching gymnastics develops children’s social skills
When we think of gymnastics, it’s common to think of it as a solo sport. But communicating with peers and adults is an essential part of gymnastics. Activities call for children to listen carefully and follow instructions. The turn taking that’s involved teaches children about patience, fairness, respect and cooperation. They also learn to work as a team and support each other to achieve a goal.
Teaching gymnastics develops children’s cognition
Gymnasts exercise body and mind.
Bilateral coordination is using both sides of the body in a controlled and organised manner. Since the left side of the body is controlled by the right side of the brain and the right side of the body is controlled by the left side of the brain, when doing bilateral activities both sides of the brain are engaged. Bilateral coordination has been found to facilitate academic success.
Bilateral activities are common in gymnastics, therefore both sides of the brain are put to work. This encourages communication between the two sides of the brain, stimulating cognitive development.
Teaching gymnastics helps children overcome fears and build confidence
Gymnastics takes children out of their comfort zone, encouraging them to move in new ways. And that means it can be scary. But this fear is normal and can in fact be useful when it comes to staying safe in the sport.
Balancing, rolling, leaping, vaulting, it can all seem daunting at first, if not near impossible. But that’s what makes gymnastics so worthwhile. Children are faced with challenges that may at first seem scary and unachievable, only to discover by the end of the lesson that through determination, perseverance, patience and practice they can succeed.
This in turn is a huge confidence booster, showing children what they’re capable of.
And it’s not just scary for the children learning, gymnastics can be scary for the teacher delivering the lesson.
There’s a huge lack of confidence amongst primary school teachers when it comes to delivering a skill-based gymnastics curriculum. Why? Because of the inadequate focus on the sport during initial teacher training.
But in light of the key developmental benefits it offers, and the fact that it’s in line with the national curriculum, gymnastics cannot be a sport left out of PE lessons. And with the right training and support, it can be transformed from being the lesson that fills you with fear into your favourite to teach.
That’s the vision behind the new online course from Ryan Bradley, former international gymnast and founder and director of RB Gym & Sport.
The course develops your knowledge and understanding of primary gymnastics skills and progressions, increases your confidence and ability to teach and physically support gymnastics elements, and supports the planning and assessment of gymnastics in your primary school, enabling pupils to thrive as physically competent and confident individuals.
Learn more about the on-demand course and start gaining the confidence to enjoy teaching gymnastics today.
