Teaching a child to cartwheel

Teaching a child to cartwheel can be a fun and rewarding experience.

Here are some steps you can follow to teach a child to cartwheel:

Warm-up: Before starting with the cartwheel, make sure the child is warmed up and stretched. Have them do some jumping jacks or light jogging to get their heart rate up and their muscles warmed up.
2. Demonstrate the cartwheel: Show the child how to do a cartwheel by performing one yourself. Explain the steps as you go along.
3. Hand placement: Start by having the child stand with their feet shoulder-width apart and their arms extended above their head. Their dominant foot should be in front. Then, have them place their hands on the ground in front of them with their fingers spread wide.
4. Lead with the dominant foot: Instruct the child to step forward with their dominant foot and kick their back leg up and over their head. As they do this, they should swing their arms down to the ground.
5. Follow with the other foot: As the dominant foot lands, the child should bring their other foot down to the ground, keeping it straight. Their hands should still be on the ground at this point.
6. Practice, practice, practice: Repeat the cartwheel several times, allowing the child to practice until they feel comfortable with the movement. Encourage them to keep their body straight and their legs and arms extended throughout the cartwheel.
7. Spotting: While the child is practicing, you can stand behind them and support their midsection with your hands to ensure they don’t fall over. As the child becomes more confident, you can gradually reduce your support.
8. Encourage and praise: Finally, encourage and praise the child for their efforts and progress. Cartwheels can be challenging to learn, so it’s important to acknowledge the child’s hard work and progress along the way.
9. Remember to be patient and supportive throughout the process, and to celebrate each small victory with the child.

With practice and perseverance, they will soon be cartwheeling like a pro! Good Luck.

At The Little Gym, We also run classes and holiday camps teaching children to cartwheel as well as many other skills, please click here to see our schedule

http://camberley.thelittlegym.co.uk/blog/2023/02/23/teaching-a-child-to-cartwheel