On the planet of gymnastics, comparability generally is a slippery slope. One minute your youngster is watching a teammate’s routine in awe, and the subsequent, she’s questioning her personal talents, feeling discouraged, or shedding confidence. Whereas a little bit of statement will be wholesome and motivating, an excessive amount of comparability—particularly the damaging form—can rob your gymnast of pleasure, focus, and progress.
As a father or mother, you play a crucial position in serving to your gymnast develop a robust mindset. Listed below are three highly effective methods to information her away from dangerous comparisons and in direction of a more healthy, extra grounded view of herself and her journey.
1. Rejoice Progress Over Perfection
The most effective antidotes to comparability is specializing in private progress. Gymnastics is a person sport at its core, and every gymnast’s path seems to be totally different. Your gymnast might grasp a brand new talent weeks after a teammate does—or she would be the one main the way in which. That’s regular.
What you are able to do:
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Ask, “What’s one thing you probably did as we speak that you just couldn’t do a month in the past?”
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Hold a “progress journal” the place your gymnast can log abilities they’ve improved or fears they’ve overcome.
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Reward effort, not outcomes. As an alternative of claiming “Nice job for sticking the touchdown!” attempt “I’m pleased with how onerous you’ve been engaged on that talent.”
This helps your gymnast acknowledge development as success, not simply successful or being “one of the best.”
2. Educate the Energy of Aware Social Media Use
In case your gymnast is sufficiently old to be on Instagram or TikTok, chances are high she’s seeing spotlight reels from elite gymnasts or influencers. These polished moments could make it onerous to not evaluate.
What you are able to do:
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Discuss brazenly in regards to the curated nature of social media.
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Encourage your gymnast to observe accounts which can be encouraging, lifelike, and numerous in talent degree.
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Set boundaries and even create “no telephone zones” earlier than and after follow to maintain their head clear.
Educating digital literacy isn’t about banning content material—it’s about serving to your gymnast perceive what they’re consuming and the way it impacts them.
3. Mannequin Confidence and Self-Compassion
Kids discover ways to deal with themselves by watching the adults of their lives. In the event you typically evaluate your self to others—whether or not it’s about parenting, health, or profession success—your gymnast may mirror that mindset.
What you are able to do:
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Converse kindly about your self in entrance of your youngster.
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Share tales of once you struggled and the way you centered by yourself path.
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Remind her (and your self): Another person’s success isn’t your failure.
When your gymnast sees you practising self-compassion and confidence, she’s extra more likely to undertake the identical habits.
Remaining Ideas
Comparability is regular—particularly in a aggressive sport like gymnastics. Nevertheless it doesn’t have to manage your gymnast’s mindset. By serving to her deal with her personal progress, make sensible selections round social media, and embrace self-compassion, you’re giving her lifelong instruments that go far past the fitness center.
As a result of the actual win isn’t an ideal routine—it’s a assured, resilient gymnast who is aware of her price.
