What is Gymnastics?

Gymnastics (educational, body management): The term educational gymnastics emerged in Great Britain in the 1950’s to describe a child-centered, non-competitive, creative approach to movement (i.e., body management). Educational gymnastics is committed to the unique way each child moves and learns. Gymnasts develop locomotor and nonlocomotor movement, static and dynamic balance, rotation within three planes, and combine these skills into a sequence. Educational gymnastics allows all students, regardless of their skill level, to achieve success.

The Olympic style of teaching gymnastics focuses teaching one specific way to perform skills. This style is unrealistic and inappropriate for students of varied skill levels and body types within a general physical education class. Olympic gymnastics requires uniformity. Conversely, educational gymnastics relies on a divergent teaching style. Here, there are many ways for learners respond to movement problems. The Olympic gymnast would execute the handstand with fingers spread on a mat with hands shoulder width apart and the arms, head, torso, legs and feet in perfect vertical alignment with the toes pointing up. In educational gymnastics, learners could respond to the movement problem of taking the body’s weight on the hands through a wide variety of movements.

“I don’t like to use the words “loss” or “failure” because nothing is a total failure. It’s a partial success.

Suzanne Yoculan

During educational gymnastics lessons all students will remove their shoes and socks to promote safety and efficient movement.