Q&A for How to Do Gymnastic Moves at Home (Kids)

You can probably learn how to do a front flip within 6 to 8 weeks. Front flips are so much more natural for us because we can see what's in front of us, and the motion isn't as challenging or scary.

By practicing a lot. The more you practice, the more flexible you will become. And the earlier you start, the better.

Practice bridges first. Then, try to lift your legs, one at a time, over your head.

Practice stretching daily, increasing your flexibility. Keep trying splits and practicing, and you will eventually be able to do them.

Yes. Leggings are very easy to move in. Just make sure your tank top isn't loose. You should wear "yoga clothes," not jeans or other clothes that may be hard to move in.

Put your hands out, shoulder width apart, and then plant them onto the ground and kick up. Try to get your feet up higher by pushing harder off the ground. Do it on a soft surface in case you fall. Once you're up, keep your balance by using different parts of your hands. For example, if you start to fall forward, use your fingers to push yourself back.

Just be confident and remember that the more you practice, the better you will become.

You could lose some weight with these exercises, but you should also follow a healthy diet and do some cardio exercises every now and then.

Yes. Your legs are designed to move forward and back, so will more readily adapt to this posture than sideways, which is far less natural.

Try doing push-ups, working on bars and pull-ups.

If your parents let you, take your mattress off your bed you can use it as a mat.

Yes, you can. Most places offer beginner classes for people of all ages.

Do basics, such as forward rolls, bridges, splits, or handstands. You can also do stretches and workouts, like pushups and sit ups.

A round off is like a cartwheel except you run into it, in the middle you put your legs together, and jump up for a rebound at the end.

Just go as far as you can today and each day go a little bit further. Soon enough, you'll be doing successful splits.

Yes, it certainly does. Try brushing your teeth with the other hand. It gives you body awareness. You can already walk, but to dance requires you to move that same body in different ways, so you have to think about when and where you want your arms and legs to move. Practicing body awareness helps with any sport, and certainly with gymnastics. Other ideas are: drink tea without your thumbs. Take an escalator on the tips of your toes. Balance on a rail (not a train rail, please; that's dangerous). Walk on all fours. Get dressed using only one hand.

Carpet provides nice cushion, if you have some in your house. Make sure you have enough room and always have a grownup at home.

Try a back handspring next. It is a level 2 move and pretty easy for some people, but have a parent or coach spot you or at least observe you to make sure you don't hurt yourself.

If you're a teenager and a professional gymnast, you can go to UCLA, if you're just a child, you can practice at home or you can go to some inexpensive gymnastics school. Lastly, you can always enroll in gymnastics classes at your school, if they are offered.

You get on a bouncy surface, such as a trampoline and work on bouncing forward, then you have to work on getting up from a bridge.

Talk about why you want to do it and how it will improve your health.

The only difference is that you pick up your hands before landing. It's pretty simple if you know how to do a cartwheel.

Explain that you need to practice in between your lessons so that you do the best you can. Explain that being committed and having a good work ethic, on any topic, can only benefit you later in life to be committed to achieving goals and working hard in anything you do. Also offer to allow them to observe you practicing the first few times so they can be sure that you are doing so safely.

Everyone has a different way. One way is to do things slowly. Another way is to just do it without thinking about it. Use a spotter if you're a beginner, and don't do moves until you feel confident and ready.

You don't need bars, vaults or beams to do gymnastics. You can easily do things on the floor and, in fact, that makes you a better gymnast.

It depends on how flexible you are now and how much you practice. If you are somewhat flexible and you practice every day, than it should take around one or two months to do a full split.

You use a mat, especially when learning a new skill, because a bad landing can cause a head or back injury.

Ask a friend or an adult to help hold your legs and try not to wobble because it can cause serious injuries. Another helpful solution: Do it against a wall.

You can just wear clothes that are stretchy but tight and aren't loose or hanging.

Yes, unfortunately "carpet knee" is a dangerous and unsightly part of gymnastics. While painful, symptoms should subside within a week to ten days. Of course this does not apply to shag carpets or any treated with anti-knee-darkening products.