I signed my daughter up for gymnastics when she was 3 and it has done wonders for her self-esteem, confidence, coordination and social skills. We signed her up at a reputable gymnastics training center with coaches. The older kids at this gym compete in regional and national competitions. They have age appropriate programs for all age groups, and their focus is on positive reinforcement. There is a waiting room with windows to the gym for the parents to watch, and if there is an injury, regardless of how minor it is, they tell the parents exactly what happened, what action they took, (heat, ice, etc.) and what the parent should do if the injury is still bothering the child. You may pay a little bit more for lessons than you would for a continuing education program, but it is worth it. She will get more out of it than you think! 

- Tristen

Kids need to move! What better place than a good, safe, preschool gymnastics program? Shop around for a program that includes Mom or Dad, a happy, personable teacher, a facility that emphasizes safety and a variety of movement activities. It should have a large, carpeted, padded floor area, music, lots of shaped mats, bean bags, balls, lots of places to roll, jump, climb, run, skip, hang and move. Of course, 2-year-olds shouldn't be on competitive gymnastics balance beams 4 feet off the floor, nor should they be expected to perform perfect cartwheels with toes pointed and legs straight. But, preschool gymnastics, at its best, is a program that gets kids acquainted with the joy of movement. 

- Karen

Expose them, but don't push! A gymnastics instructor who understands this, and knows how to work with very young children, can make classes fun and productive. The child will experience a structured learning environment and find out how much fun gross motor skills can be. Don't expect cartwheels, and remember that the classes are not "performances." Don't be disappointed if the child spends most of the class watching from your lap for the first few weeks. They are absorbing it all. They'll let you know if they don't want to continue, and you can try again in a year or so. 

- L.H.

Gymnastics is a great opportunity for people of all ages (adults included) to increase strength, flexibility and coordination. At the YMCA, where I work, we offer classes from birth to adult in our gymnastics department. The classes for babies and preschoolers focus more generally on gross motor skills, balance, and following directions than they do specifically on gymnastics. We do introduce basic gymnastics skills such as walking on a balance beam, forward and backward rolls, skipping, jumping and hopping and other similar skills but the focus is really on improvement not achievement. 

- Laura

From Jodie: Unless the instructor is qualified in teaching preschool children in a gymnastic class, beware. It's not that they don't have a kind heart, but, according to the latest reports on "gyms" for little people, many facilities hire individuals who like children, but have no experience. Ask for references and ask questions: glass or specified area for parents to watch all instructional movements, instructors updated and qualified in CPR, has taught for at least six months with 2-year-olds, has previously performed and/or taken lessons themselves, high beam balance, if so, is it really a "low" beam with padding underneath (as it should be), can mom or dad participate with child and how many are in class and how long is it?