# Looking for new gymnastics-type tricks to do with 4 year old **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 24, 2013, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-new-gymnastics-type-tricks-to-do-with-4-year-old/651291 "2013-02-24T23:25:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Rand\_Rover](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/db5fbb/32.png) [@Rand\_Rover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rand_Rover)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2013, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-new-gymnastics-type-tricks-to-do-with-4-year-old/651291/1 "2013-02-24T23:25:19Z")
Two of our current favorites are: 1. \*\* The Backflip/Frontflip.\*\* I lay on my back with knees up. She sits on my feet with her back or front on my lower legs. After the traditional three count, I flip her over my head while holding her shoulders, she lands and puts her arms in the air Mary Lou Rhetton style. 2. \*\*The Cheerleader. \*\* I lay on my back with knees up and hands up (elbows on the floor, lower arm perpendicular to the floor). She steps into my hands and holds onto my legs. I extend my arms and legs, then she lets go of my legs and puts her arms up. So what’s in your daddy gymnastics repertoire? ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2013, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-new-gymnastics-type-tricks-to-do-with-4-year-old/651291/2 "2013-02-24T23:41:59Z")
How about a Mommy one? We stand facing each other and holding hands. She walks up my front and does a backflip. I just time the letting go of her hands so I don’t actually dislocate her shoulders. There’s also a neat front flip, where the kid squats and holds their hands near their knees. You take their hands and pull them back and around. It’s hard to put into words, but super easy and fun to do. Hey! I found both on one website!: [A Different Way: Kids Flipping Out](http://differentway4kids.blogspot.com/2011/07/kids-flipping-out.html) ---
**Author:** ![andstufflikethat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/51bf81/32.png) [@andstufflikethat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andstufflikethat)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2013, 8:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-new-gymnastics-type-tricks-to-do-with-4-year-old/651291/3 "2013-02-25T08:59:22Z")
You could build a low balance beam to play on. When I was little, my friend built hers out of books. ---
**Author:** ![Weedy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/weedy/32/301_2.png) [@Weedy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weedy)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2013, 12:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-new-gymnastics-type-tricks-to-do-with-4-year-old/651291/4 "2013-02-25T12:15:05Z")
I used to lie on my back, knees to chest, feet up. She leans her torso against my feet and I lift her up to horizontal. I held her hands for stability to start with, but once she is up she can stretch her arms and legs out like she is flying. ---
**Author:** ![BetsQ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/fbc32d/32.png) [@BetsQ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BetsQ)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2013, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-new-gymnastics-type-tricks-to-do-with-4-year-old/651291/5 "2013-02-25T15:45:45Z")
Have the kid stand on your shoulders. Hold hands. Kid does a front flip. Fun! ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2013, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-new-gymnastics-type-tricks-to-do-with-4-year-old/651291/6 "2013-02-25T16:27:50Z")
Can I say that this is the cutest thread ever? ---
**Author:** ![Sattua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sattua/32/11906_2.png) [@Sattua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sattua)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2013, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-new-gymnastics-type-tricks-to-do-with-4-year-old/651291/7 "2013-02-25T16:53:40Z")
I was going to come in with the same one as WhyNot–walking up your front while holding your hands, then flipping. That age is plenty old enough to be tumbling on her own, too. Somersaults and cartwheels and donkey-kicks, anyhow. Also, help her get into a handstand and walk on her hands while you hold her feet. ---
**Author:** ![Dogzilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e480ec/32.png) [@Dogzilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dogzilla)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2013, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-new-gymnastics-type-tricks-to-do-with-4-year-old/651291/8 "2013-02-25T17:23:59Z")
Why not just sign her up for some gymnastics classes?