Deacon is literally a little monkey around here. When he was very little he started climbing in and out of his crib. At night we would tell him to go get in bed and he would crawl into his crib! In the morning he would get out all by himself. At first it freaked me out then it was kinda nice. He literally is amazing at this kind of stuff.
We started thinking about putting him in gymnastics about a year ago, but didn't do anything about it because frankly we weren't ready for the sort of activities that you pay for monthly with your kids. I mean paying a fee one time for a 9 week sport is one thing, but paying every single month for something adds up with four kids. One kid is not a big deal. Four kids at $60 a month for a “lesson”, yeah that gets expensive.
Finally we caved in and he LOVES it and frankly he's pretty good at it! When school is out and I'm not paying for him to be in preschool each month we're going to move him up a level to an all boys class. I think he'll do even better in there.
We were having a discussion one time and someone said that they wouldn't ever put their boy in gymnastics. I thought that was crazy and never even thought twice about putting my son in gymnastics. It's not like he's taking ballet or something.
What's your thoughts on this? Is gymnastics a girl sport? i don't thinks so since obviously we have our son in it, but I'm just curious on your thoughts. Are there girl and boy sports at this young of an age? I mean he's only 5.
*** EDITED March 26th – okay last night Aaron and I were out and we ran into a couple from our church. The girl was telling me how she loved that Deacon was in gymnastics and the guy couldn't believe that Deacon was in gymnastics. He thought that was weird that we had our son in gymnastics. Women have no problem with it and then there are some men that think it's weird that we have our son in gymnastics. 🙂
I don’ t think so!! My son is 4 1/2 and has been asking to go to gymnastics. We will probably sign him up this summer. 🙂 I have heard of so many great athletes that took gymnastics. It helps their flexibility and other skills.
I think it is cool that you are looking to your kid’s natural inclinations and abilities to decide what activities he should do. I hope that I take the same approach with our kids instead of imposing on them what I think they should be interested in.
No way… and honestly, even if he was in ballet, it wouldn’t change the fact that he is a child. Children should be able to explore and experience a variety of activities (within financial reason, of course). Whether it’s ballet, baseball, painting, music or whatever else is out there, I don’t think it matters at all the gender of the child. It’s about the experience and being active, not about what stereotypes we as adults place on that particular activity.
No I don’t think it is a problem at all!!! I coach gymnastics and I love when there are little boys. I did gymnastics for a long time and the boys team at our gym was awesome. I think it is a great sport for both girls and boys. Not just at a young age but every age. It’s a tough sport.
Ugh – I hate that you even have to ask that question! God made us, fearfully and wonderfully, and if we (or our kids) are interested in a healthy sport, whether it’s gymnastics/ballet for boys, or football for girls, do it! Don’t let our society/culture define what you or your family is interested in!
Halim wants to put Malachi in gymnastics because he is also a little monkey 🙂 Where do you guys send Deacon? How old was he when he started?
Angela he started this Fall when he turned 5 …. but in his class he’s the oldest and there are kids that are 3 and 4 as well. 🙂 I’ll email you where we go!
Definitely not! I live in the mountains of East TN and know some pretty hard core manly men (not that “manly” is a concern, just saying…) who can still do the back flips and crazy jumps they learned in gymnastics. I think it is great that he is getting to learn something he loves so much!
No, I think it’s a great idea! In dance there’s a similar stereotype that’s it is mainly a girl’s activity. But it takes extreme athleticism and strength to be able to perform the jumps and turns. Gymnastics is similar and I knew lots of guys who did it and I never thought of it as weird. We thought they were cool actually 🙂
not at all! we have family friends who both their boys & girls did gymnastics until high school and all were amazing at it. and as long as deacon is enjoying it, thats all that matters! ps – love your new blog look & you look amazing in the new picture up there!
My son LOVED gymnastics when he was a little guy (he’s 11 now…) And now he would love to do Parkour for a living. Boys need gymnastics 🙂
P.S. I am DYING to know what’s happened with the DJ gig. Hoping alongside you!
I’m thinkin’ the mens gymnastics division of the Olympics would say it is a coed sport. When they are young I think it can all be coed but when they are older, not so much. I know my girls physically couldn’t handle a ‘hit’ on the high school football field, but my sons team did have a girl on it. I don’t like watching our coed wrestling team in middle school. But that’s me, I’m not saying the girls can’t be on the team but I just prefer not to see it.
and what IS wrong with boys doing ballet????? but Gymnastics? so then boys can’t jump on trampolines or do summersaults or cartwheels because they are only for girls? don’t second guess yourself. Your child loves it and he’s getting a portion of his weekly exercise. Does that mean girls can’t play hockey?? here in Canada there are tons of boys in gymnastics…heck, we even have a handful in ballet.
I wish i could get my boys to take it–cheerleading scholarship, yes, please–nothing wrong with ballet either. It’s really good for agility and balance. Both Walter Payton and Hershel Walker took ballet while playing in the NFL. 🙂
One of my sons had balance and coordination issues and gymnastics helped him tremendously. LOL He was 4 or 5 and the only boy and he thought it was great because all of the girls swooned over him.
Ditto to what Heather said – hello cheer scholarship! That can be lots of money…and he gets to work with cute girls 🙂 Bottom line I agree with pretty much everyone else here — he is enjoying it, it is a good use of his God-given talents, and people who are still stereotyping things as “boy” sports or “girl” sports make me sad.
AAAANNNNNDDDD what is the deal with KVET!?!?
I think it is great! Rosa Grace started gymnastics this year. I sit in amazement at what the girls and boys can do!!! There are alot of boys at her gym. I’m amazed at the crazy strength it takes to do gymnastics! Asher wants to do it but he’s just three and only been home a year. I think it’s still to much for him now but I am considering letting him try it out this summer and start in the fall. I’m all for the “let them try and explore and find their strengths and interests”. The monthly bill hurts…but is totally worth it in my opinion! 🙂 I love keeping up with your family through the blog Jamie!
From a guy’s perspective.
NO. Gymnastics is not a “girl sport.” I don’t know why people would think that. Maybe they think of girls doing the floor exercise in the olympics or something, but seriously have you seen those male gymnasts in the olympics? Holy cow! Buff!
I took gymnastics when I was little and I thought it was a blast to flip and tumble and jump around. Don’t worry about it. (not that you are) 🙂
My husband’s mom was a gymnastics teacher when he was growing up so he did gymnastics from birth to about age twelve or so. If anyone ever teased him, his reply was, “I hang out with girls in leotards.” He can still please a crowd with backflips and I attribute his attractive figure (wide shoulders, small waist) to years of gymnastics. I highly recommend it for boys. 🙂