Anyone know of a good gymnastics school in which I can enroll my 4 and 6 year old kids? I am looking for something pretty casual, ie, not too competitive. Thanks!
In this part of Switzerland the phrases 'good gymnastics school' and 'pretty casual' cannot be used in the same sentence.
In your region it might be different.
The National Orgnisation for gymnastics and other forms of 'sport in the hall' is 'STV', in the French-speaking part of Switzerland 'FSG'. So if you look down the list here , to some group with these initials, they might be able to help you further. Around here there is 'Muki or Faki Turnen' (Gymnastics for Mother/Father with Child) and the next step is 'Kinderturnen' where the child goes to the group alone. This is all pretty casual.
After that it becomes slightly (understatement of the year) more serious.
Thank you for the info. This confirms what I found on the internet: the FSG web site made the programs all seem very serious. In the US, my kids were taking more of a playing-around tumbling class, with some gymnastics fundamentals, but not at all competitive. I'm not sure they could cut the mustard in Swiss gymnastics!
Our serious gymnastics for 3yr olds was in fact nice and casual, once a week one hour. They do get more serious further on, I think the level of competitiveness depends on the commune/gemeinde.
Hi. I've been trying to find Gymnastics classes for my 5 year old daughter. The online information seems tricky to navigate given that it's all in german and seems to be related to the government /sports/city sites and not a private school... any insights? I need to find something in the Zurich, Zollikon area. Thanks!
I'm also looking for a gymnastics class preferably around the Säuliamt area of Zürich or Zürich city for my five-year-old daughter. I'm not interested in the "kinderturnen" that is offered to Kindergarden kids, but a real pre-gymnastics course. The 2 that I found (in Urdorf and Bonstetten) are not possible for us to attend due to timing. Thought I'd try my luck and see if anyone has any suggestions. Thanks!
We sent our eldest to a gymnastics try-out class when she was around 6 (her best friend at the time was a participant). The "instructor" for her group, who was no more than an adolescent herself, tried to make them do the splits. My daughter subsequently hurt herself and never went again.
I know this is an isolated case, but just a word of warning on the competetiveness, expectations and level of instrûction you might encounter.
I would also second that about Gymnastics being taken VERY seriously. My daughter went for Kindergarten Gymnastics, for 6 months, and then the year ended, so I naturally thought, well, then she will advance into the next level. Until I got a call, and the instructor told me she was too tall for her age group, in her words, directly translated - Such a tall child I would never take on! WTF!
Stupid, stupid people........
Now she goes for Classical Dance lessons, no height limits there!