There is nothing E enjoys more than flinging herself around the living room with wild abandon - cartwheeling, forward rolling, hand springing... Kick overs, walkovers, and handstands are practised daily, over and over again, until she can do whatever it is that she has set her mind to. She has been doing gymnastics for a couple of years now, first starting in the preschool group aged three learning lots of basic tumbling skills and how to move around on the different apparatus.
On her fifth birthday she moved up to the beginners group and started her badge work. She quickly completed badge eight and has now just completed badge seven today.
Last month her gymnastics club invited girls from the recreational classes to take part in trials for places in their development squads, which E was keen to do. Her dad took her along to the trial as it was arranged for the same day as H's guard of honour for the 1st XV team at his rugby club and I'd already promised him I would stay, so unfortunately I didn't get to watch her but I knew she would try her best.
We found out whether or not she had earned a place the following week with a letter home after her class, and was absolutely delighted to find out that she had been offered a place in the "mini squad". She has now started her squad training which is two hours a week at this stage, and she still attends her hour long rec class at the moment too.
I'm so proud of how hard she works to master new moves, and how keen she is to try everything and give it her best. Her bravery astounds me, watching her swinging around on the bars, flipping over backwards on the mats and tiptoeing across beams makes my stomach lurch - she's so small but she is fearless, and so strong.
I can't wait to see how far her training takes her and to see what she will achieve in the mini squad.
#LoudnProud is taking a break over Christmas and New Year, but will return in 2016 with 3 Children & It on Thursday, January 7th.
That is amazing! Very well done to her. No wonder you're proud. You could have a future Olympic star on your hands :)
ReplyDeleteThank you, she absolutely eats, sleeps and breathes gymnastics - I can't wait to see how far she will go!
DeleteFantastic achievement. And how lovely that she has such a flare for it! You might like to read an article I read on Guardian magazine today that TrulyMadlyKids retweeted all about a school in North Carolina that's trialling a 'Don't Sit Still' approach to education. Genius! http://www.theguardian.com/education/2015/nov/21/schools-education-teaching-exercise-better-learners Oh, and i'll link up my LoudnProud as soon as i've got the badge. Sx
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, I love to watch her - I am in awe of how fantastic she is at it! I will take a look at that, thanks!
DeleteSounds like she's doing really well. I was always crap at all the stuff so very impressed by people who are good at it! & I agree - very brave! Happy Christmas #SSAmazingAchievements
ReplyDeleteHaha me too, I'm not even remotely bendy or agile I have no idea where she gets it from!
DeleteWell done to your E and congrats for her getting into the squad. A very proud moment for you and her flexibility and stamina are great. Thanks for linking up with #SSAmazingAchievements
ReplyDeleteThank you very much, she is a little firecracker!
DeleteWow, well don E. What a brave little lady you have. It must take up a lot of her time to be part of the team so she must be very committed x
ReplyDeleteIt does, she is there three hours at a week now which is a lot for a 5.5 year old and it only stands to increase as she gets older. But she loves it so I will encourage her as long as she is willing!
DeleteSport is so good for teaching children about perseverance and progress and those are skills she will take into all the other areas of her life too - so many reasons to be #loudnproud !
ReplyDeleteIt really is, gymnastics is 'her thing' and she absolutely lives and breathes it
DeleteFabulous Julie! My eldest used to do gym and gave up a couple of years ago. She still misses it now. So great for active, busy, energetic kids. She looks like she loves it!
ReplyDeleteShe really does, I love watching her learning new moves and seeing how much she enjoys it :)
DeleteThat's fantastic, what an acheivement, I hope she has lots of fun on the mini-squad - well done to her!
ReplyDelete'Little but fierce' would be a good description of our Kara, who turns four in May. She's recently started doing gym classes too and absolutely loves it - she's on badge four at the moment. No idea how far she'll go, but seeing her talk so enthusiastically about her classes is lovely. Maybe one day I'll sneak off on a Friday and watch her!
ReplyDeleteAhhh... I miss my gymnastic days! I used to love it! Looks like your little lady does too! What a proud Mama you must be!
ReplyDeleteMy eldest loves gymnastics and is doing around 8 hours a week now. I was surprised to learn that it's not that much compared to what some of them do. We've gone from a couple of hours on a Saturday, to travelling far and wide to competitions (so be warned!). It's great when they get to excel in something they love though.
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