u/Reasonable_Patient92

Hi everyone! Repost because I wasn't clear

I am an educator myself (I teach older grades), but I’m looking to borrow some wisdom from the early childhood experts here.

This season is my first time coaching a youth cheer team, and my co-coach and I have an age range of 3 to 6 years old. The majority of the athletes fall right in the middle, but we do have one particular child at the 3-year-old minimum.

I do have experience working with this age group in a structured class setting (I teach youth tumbling classes), but transitioning from a "class" environment to a "team practice" environment is a brand new challenge for me. As a cheer coach, I know it is 100% possible to get 3-year-olds engaged and working together—I've seen it done! I just haven't personally cracked the code on how to achieve it yet, and I want to make sure I’m facilitating that engagement correctly without burning them out so early in the season.

We only have them for one hour practices (2x a week), and while we aren't running a full routine at this point in the year, we do need to lay the groundwork for basic choreography, motions, timing, and learning how to move to specific spots/formations cleanly.

I have the station-based aspect down for improving physical skills, but I would love advice from an ECE engagement standpoint - Any creative games, phrasing, or behavioral strategies you use to keep this age group engaged in a group dynamic would be incredibly appreciated!

Thank you all so much!

Hi everyone!

I am an educator myself (I teach older grades), but I’m looking to borrow some wisdom from the early childhood experts here.

This season is my first time coaching a tiny age cheer team, and my co-coach and I have an age range of 3 to 6 years old. The majority of the athletes fall right in the middle, but we do have one particular child at the 3-year-old minimum.

I do have experience working with this age group in a structured class setting (I teach preschool/youth tumbling classes), but transitioning from a "class" environment to a "team practice" environment is a new challenge for me. I want to make sure I’m facilitating engagement correctly without burning them out so early in the season.

We only have them for one hour practice 2 times a week, and while we aren't running a full routine yet, we do need to lay the groundwork for basic choreography, motions, timing, and learning how to move to specific spots/formations cleanly.

I have the station-based aspect down for improving physical skills, but I would love advice from an ECE engagement standpoint:

* **Teaching Formations:** What are your favorite, developmentally appropriate ways to teach young kids how to find and move to "their spot" cleanly?

**Introducing Timing & Counts:** How do you translate concepts like rhythm, synchronization, or basic counts to 3 and 4-year-olds without losing their attention?

**Bridging the Age Gap:** How do you keep the youngest 3-year-old engaged and focused while still keeping the 5 and 6-year-olds challenged and interested?

**Pacing the Hour:** What does a successful 60-minute flow look like for this age group so they leave feeling successful rather than completely exhausted or overwhelmed?

Any creative games, phrasing, or behavioral strategies you use to keep this age group engaged in a group dynamic would be incredibly appreciated!

Thank you all so much!