Gymnastics has numerous benefits for children. In other words, they can have a significant impact on their cognitive, social, and physical development.
In a nutshell, gymnastics is the harmonious amalgamation of strength, endurance, coordination, flexibility, speed, power, and balance. It is a sport that demands immense skills and perseverance.
One way to start your child’s gymnastic dream is to teach them how to do a simple cartwheel. If you’re not sure how to do that, below are a few steps to follow while teaching your child how to do a cartwheel. Exercise is great for kids and you can also grab a fitness tracker for kids to help motivate them.
What Is A Cartwheel?
In its basic sense, a cartwheel, as the name suggests, is a body movement wherein an individual makes a complete rotation while standing in an inverted position and back again. The best way to think of it is the process of spinning a wheel.
As a crucial and fundamental technique in the vast field of tumbling and gymnastics, a cartwheel is a step forward from handstands and somersaults.
Steps To Do A Cartwheel
Step 1: Start In A Lunge Position
The first step to successfully doing a cartwheel is to start in a lunge position. To get into that position, ask your child to place their dominant leg in front bent slightly.
Furthermore, their non-dominant leg should be kept straight. They should place their arms straight right about their head and close to their ears.
Step 2: Place Your Hands On The Ground
Once your child has started in a lunge position, the next step is to place their hands on the ground. As a parent, you need to make sure that their hand is on the ground at a 90-degree angle.
Step 3: Kick Off Your Feet
After they have placed their hands at a right angle, the next step is to kick off their feet. A helpful tip would be for them to kick their back leg up and over their body. Next, ask them to keep their front leg in a split position.
As a parent, it is essential to remember that their legs are kicking right to the ceiling and not by their side.
Step 4: Land In a Lunge Position
The last step to master the craft of cartwheeling is to land in a lunge position. Ensure that your child lands the cartwheel with their back leg first. This way, they can square their body and hips as they land.
Once they have done this, they have to continue to bring their other leg to a parallel position to the ground. At the same time, they should make sure that their arms are close to their ears.
If you look closely, you will find that their non-dominant leg will be slightly bent forward, while the dominant leg is straight at the back.
Tips And Tricks To A Good Cartwheel
If you would like to teach your child how to do a cartwheel, it is important to follow the steps mentioned above. Apart from those, below are a few tips to remember as a parent.
Firstly, always make sure that your child’s back is as straight as possible. This will teach them to do a cartwheel effectively.
As cartwheels demand immense amounts of upper-body strength, try encouraging your child to do push-ups. This way, their shoulders, and arms are stronger.
Lastly, always make sure that they are doing it on a soft surface. This way, they don’t hurt themselves while learning how to do a perfect cartwheel.
Founder and a 36-year old mother of one who has gone through the usual problems of parenting herself and shares her own experiences through this blog. Ruby is a great writer who researches well before putting forth facts in the articles.