Gymmie knows kids can be nervous about trying new things. At gymnastics camp recently, preschool campers were waiting their turn to swing on the rope. Tommy (not his real name) did not even want to climb up on the block with the other kids and definitely did not want to touch the rope. The coach coaxed Tommy up on the block and his first turn was to push the rope away and say “goodbye rope”. After a couple of turns of that, the coach persuaded Tommy to try one swing with her help. Tommy sat on the knot in the rope, then with one hand holding the rope and the other clamped around the coach’s neck, Tommy did one swing. His look of fear turned into a cautious smile as he climbed off the rope. The next day Tommy needed a little help but held onto the rope and exclaimed, “I’m getting good at this.” By the next day he was swinging on the rope with no help and beaming from ear to ear.

Gymmie loves to see the smiles and pride that children get when they try something that makes them nervous or fearful. “I can’t do it” dissolves into “I can!” with a little help and patience.