Gymnastics

This was the first two minutes of gymnastics the first day.  Unfortunately it went downhill after this picture.  First we stretch and she wasn't too sure about that.  Then the class splits in half and we do different circuits.  A circuit could be walking on four different balance beams or four different floor activities.  We have to take turns at this part and wait patiently.  This is where Amelia really struggles with gymnastics.  She cried the whole time the first day.  She didn't want to wait and by the time it was her turn she was so mad she didn't want to do anything.  Then we go play in the foam put for awhile.  Which you don't have to wait turns so of course this part is awesome.  The final thing is to sing a song and receive a sticker.  The first few times she didn't want the sticker. 

In her defense she did come down with her first cold the first day of gymnastics, which was not a good combination.  Each week of gymnastics slowly got better in some ways.  She first got better at participating during stretching.  Then she began to want to do some of the circuit activities.  Then she was better at waiting her turn and last week was our break through week where she was very well behaved.  She finally waited her turn very well and wanted to do all of the activities.  She even enjoys that sticker now and is distressed when it falls off. 

I do have to stand and hold her in between turns.  While waiting we talk about whose turn it is and what each child is doing.  We also cheer everyone on, this helps distract her enough that she has become better at waiting.  It also helps her to watch everyone else so when it is her turn she knows what she's supposed to do.  It has been a very good learning experience for both Mommy and Amelia.