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Early Years (2-6)
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 These kids are good, and they didn’t get that way by accident. They are starting their training young – very young. Music classes are offered for infants. Toddlers are given small rhythm instruments and encouraged to find a beat. By the time they can hold a pencil, they are learning musical scales on pianos and violins. Then there are the parents who can be heard proudly saying things like, “Oh yes, she started ballet when she was 2.” Or “He began t-ball at 4.” It is all to get a leg up on the “competition,” I suppose, but I wonder what is too young to begin these extracurricular activities. And could starting young harm kids in any way? To find out, I talked with a few Orange County experts. The first stop was to my local Catz Sports Performance Center, located in Yorba Linda, where personal trainer Cameron Miille was happy to discuss this topic with me. He is well known for his work with O.C. children to help improve basic skills for sports, as well as with those who do not participate in organized sports but like to be active. For sports activities and general PE-type training, he suggests 5 as a good starting age. Children wanting to complement their team-sports training with gymnastics or dance lessons should adhere to some special rules. “Children should start additional training no younger than 8,” says Miille. “And even then it should involve training without the use of weights. The main focus of sports training for children should emphasize body control, dynamic mobility, balance and coordination.” Wondering whether or not this recommended age applies to dance and gymnastics as well, I consulted the American Academy of Performing Arts. “At 4 years old,” according to Academy reps, “a youngster’s bones are quite soft and malleable, and severe damage could result from overly arduous training or exertion. Even the best and most caring teacher is not equipped to pinpoint a child’s level of development at this young age; only a pediatrician could know for certain.” I was feeling a twinge of regret, wishing I had done this research many years earlier, some time before starting my sons in baseball at 4, and football, basketball and martial arts at 5. Happily, I found someone with better news. Deidre Madrigal of The Dance Spot School in Fullerton explained to me that precaution and teacher training are keys to early instruction. She says that if done under proper supervision, children as young as 2 can begin their dance careers. This startled me a bit, so I asked her about injuries. “In the 30-year history of our school, we have taught more than 25,000 students and have never had a child injured,” Madrigal happily informed me. “We take great care in understanding the biomechanics for each age.” Even though it was too late for my children, I was forming a good picture on the appropriate ages to begin physical activities and the precautions needed. Now I wondered about the visual arts and music instruction. I thought back to the music “classes” I took both my children to when they were barely old enough to walk, all because I had given in to mommy peer pressure and was told it was certain to turn them into geniuses. “Starting visual and musical art training early in a child’s life allows children to express themselves and foster creativity, which will help them in nearly every subject,” says Talena Mara, vice president of education at the Orange County Performing Arts Center. “There is no ‘too young’. And there is no ‘too late.’” Good to know I hadn’t completely messed up my boys with my overeager need to enroll them in every class I heard about at the local playgroup. Yet all this research had me seriously regretting starting my boys in organized sports at such young ages. I realize, now, there was no rush at all. Of course, well-suited physical activities can benefit a child of any age, if the instructor has the knowledge and expertise to avoid injury. It’s essential to take the time to question the new dance teacher and soccer coach about the level of activity that’s appropriate for your child’s age and physical development. So if your young child is showing an interest in sports, dance or learning the guitar riff from “Smoke on the Water,” then encouraging those passions is natural. After all, as parents we are all eager to see our kids find their talents. We can’t wait to see them happy and excelling in activities they enjoy. However, that early excitement should be tempered with a heavy dose of precaution and balance. Marcy J. Massura is a mom blogger and author of the Glamorous Life Association. ART & SPORTS: WHEN SHOULD YOUR KIDS GET STARTED? > Visual arts Start at birth with exposure and experience. Finger painting in the bathtub is still a highly respected art form for the little ones. > Music As soon as your child’s body ‘fits’ his musical instrument, he can begin to learn how to play it. Expecting excellence should not be the goal. All musical instruction can be beneficial for a child, regardless of the skill level achieved. > Sports When your child should start varies greatly, depending on the specific sport. Generally, age 5 is a good time to be exposed to a new sport, but this should involve help from an experienced, knowledgeable coach. > Dance Rigorous training should be put off until ages 6 to 8, when the bones are more fully formed. For children ages 2 to 6, less-intense movement classes are encouraged. Use a talented instructor who will not push the child to work through physical pain. |
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