More big news for us.....after lots of patience (from us) and practice (from Laura), Laura has been promoted to Eel, the next level in swim lessons!! She has really made big progress this session. She can now jump in without being caught, go under the water, and dog paddle a few feet back to the wall. She is starting to learn to float on her own for a few seconds, and with a float belt on or with a kickboard, she can swim all over the pool. A lot of her fears have started to subside, and she is now much more confident in the water.
And now to the title of this post.....Laura LOVES gymnastics. Last year, she took a few sessions at the Y, and we decided to get her started back up this session. Since last year, though, the gymnastics program at the Y has really taken off, and the Y has invested in more equipment, resulting in much more valuable lessons. Laura now gets to walk on a real, regulation balance beam and work on a parallel bar, in addition to the floor and springboard work they have always done. We have seen an increase in her coordination and overall strength, and her interest level in gymnastics is through the roof. She often uses a floor pillow in front of the big toy box in our living room as her makeshift springboard, and in parking lots you can find her using parking barricades as little balance beams. Tomorrow, we are going to watch the Husker gymnastic meet as a family, and guess who is the most excited to go?? :-)
No fear whatsoever as she walks across the beam!
Practicing balancing on one foot.
One of many springboard exercises done in class. They jump off the springboard and jump onto and/or over the block in various ways (straddle, pike, etc.).
Using those abdominal muscles to bring her toes up to the bar.
Hanging from the bar and preparing for the instructors to help her flip over.
This grin is a permanent fixture during class!
Gina
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