Kehler's
Gymnastics

Do Kehler's Tumble Tykes Learn Real Gymnastics?

     Tumble Tykes do learn real gymnastics. The old fashioned way of teaching gymnastics was to line the kids up and have them sit or stand at attention while the instructor taught the children one at a time.
     About 20 years ago we realized that this resulted in about 15% gymnastics and 85% sitting for the average preschool class. Today those who are experts in preschool gymnastics know that there is a great deal that the children can practice on their own.
     By setting up learning stations we can create an atmosphere where the children are kept active for the whole class. This gives the children time to rehearse basic skills on their own while waiting for the instructor to give them individual attention. The children stay more alert, they have more fun, and so they actually learn more.

     Our Learning stations are set up so that the child may walk across a beam, go through a tunnel, swing on the rings, roll down a wedge and then do a trick on the bars with the help of the instructor. This way as the children work their way around the station the instructor is able to teach them one at a time, according to their individual ability level.
     So if the first child is just starting, the instructor may just ask the child to swing or to touch their toes on the bar. If the next child is ready for more challenge the instructor can teach hip circles, sole circles, cast to handstand, or flyaways.

     Not only is Tumble Tykes more fun but it gives the instructor the freedom to teach an unlimited range of skills on an individual basis to each child according to readiness. Along the same lines, as the children work their way around the stations there are good educational reasons for all the activities they are practicing.
     Going across the low beam develops balance and coordination (if the child needs more challenge they are instructed to walk backwards, sideways, on their toes, or to hop, etc.), going through the tunnel exploits the child's curiosity which creates a fun learning environment. Fun, of course, is important to learning and keeps the child focused on the task.
     As they swing on the rings, rope or trapeze the children are developing the upper body strength they will need for more advanced skills (for more challenge they are asked to touch their toes to the rings to work on stomach and thigh strength).
     Doing rolls on wedge mats makes it easier to learn those skills because the downhill momentum carries the child through the skill. These mats are used for children of all ages and even team kids use them. (If the child needs more challenge the instructor will ask them to practice back rolls straddle rolls, or back straddle rolls).

       Inmost classes we will have a tumbling station where the children learn to tumble on flat mats as well. There is no limit as to what children can learn in Tumble Tykes and it is unquestionably the best way to learn gymnastics. Many children who have started in our Tumble Tykes program have gone directly into our team program when they were old enough and they have even won awards at State & Regional, National and International meets at very early ages.

     In 1992 a little girl who was one of Mr. Kehler's first Tumble Tykes qualified for the US Olympic Team! Yes, our system does work. Yes, Tumble Tykes do learn real gymnastics.

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