1. Psycho – motor development Source: Gymnastics Canada Age 3 – 5 Age 6 – 8 Age 9 – 12 Age 12 – 15 Age 16 +

2. Characteristics age 3 - 5  Lives in a world where imagination and imitation predominate.  Highly individualistic, even selfish.  Fears unknown people.  Very poor concentration (seconds – minutes).  Low reasoning ability.  Motor performance is strongly related to touch and kinesthetic sense.

3. Suggestions age 3 - 5  Encourage children to use both sides when learning new skills.  Give simple explanations.  Teach learning activities through games.  Be aware of the child’s growth and his limitations.  Use imagery (walk like an elephant).  Generously encourage efforts and compliment the child regularly.

4. Characteristics age 6 - 8  Learns best by observing and immediatelly experimenting.  Short attention span (a few minutes).  Is inclined to imitate, be creative, curious and eager to learn.  Always in motion.  Have relatively little coordination, little endurance.

5. Suggestions age 6 - 8  Capability to gain a lot of physical and motor skills.  Use of games very popular and productive.  Very important to be successful in the different activities.  Generously encourage efforts and compliment the child regularly.  Instruction, teaching and guidance must be specific, simple, and have a clear goal.  Participation and fun are more important than the end result.1  Work on developing technical and mental qualities.

6. Characteristics age 9 - 12  Likes to work, learn and achieve  Individualistic but looks more and more to the group.  Better coordination and endurance.  Girls are generally stronger and faster than boys.  Wants to gain more independence and seeks to make himself useful.  Seeks to avoid authority and challenges adults.

7. Suggestions age 9 - 12  Group students by abilities and not by age.  Introduce more complex training and more decision training.  Develop self esteem.  Encourage interaction and cooperation with others.  Attention span is longer (over 10 minutes).  To early to work towards a high performance training.  Participate in many sports/activities.

8. Characteristics age 12 - 15  They do not like being told what to do.  Long attention span (over 20 minutes).  Some specialization can be initiated.  Appreciates individual achievement, loves challenges.  Girls gain more weight than boys.  The capacity of self analysis is developing.  Still fairly influenced by success or failure.

9. Suggestions age 12 - 15  Time of motor engagement must be as high as possible.  Teaching techniques may be more specific and more complex.  Provide opportunities for students to make decisions and solve problems on their own.  Supervise the risk-taking activities.  Make sure that they still have time for social activities.

10. Characteristics age 16 +  They need self management.  There are no limitations for training.  They assume their decisions or actions.  Winning is the ultimate goal.

11. Suggestions age 16 + Source: Gymnastics Canada  Make sure to take into account all the elements in planning their activities.  Have the students fully involved in the planning.  Likes to be treated as an adult and with respect.  Provide access to professionals of all fields.