Kids that pole

babygems started this discussion · 5/25/2015

My daughter is 7 and loves pole and she's getting so much stronger in the 6 weeks we've had a pole. She can do all kinds of spins and this morning was practicing a thigh rest. Everyone that comes in the house has to watch all her spins :). I just walked in the sittingroom where our pole is and she was teaching my 5 year old son how to do a pole hold to get stronger it was so sweet. Anyone else's kids love pole? I have had some negative reactions to letting my daughter pole but I see nothing wrong with letting her do a sport that will make her strong and will build confidence. I obviously don't let her learn sexy dance moves.

18 replies

Andrea Pole · 5/25/2015
I don't have kids but I think it's a great sport for them, for anyone! I saw this amazing girl in youtube and I was in awe: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LayO1wW-b2o So I see nothing wrong letting kids do pole dance! :)
babygems · 5/25/2015
That little girl is amazing! I wonder how long she's been poling. Thanks for posting that video xx
Girl On A Pole · 5/25/2015
My son poles. He trains twice a week with the current doubles world champion and her partner who is an Irish Male champion (pole theatre and male pole acrobatics). He does a mix of acro, hand balancing, pole, cirque. He's amazing. Hyper flexi, nimble, musical. He'll be competing next year. We train together at home most days. He's particularly good on spin and working on his Iguana at the moment. We are very excited about him. He's 9.
wolfwitharose · 5/25/2015
My 7 yo daughter loves to spin and climb and also "inventing" tricks. She is very flexible and with her dance and ballet background it looks good too, nice lines and pointed toes. Im positively envious :-) and we fight for the pole time. She wants to take classes, but i dont know any studio in my town that accepts kids and she is so unpatient when i try to teach her something. Everything she does comes from copiyng me or just by playing around. Funny thing happened when during an introductory talk w teacher his dad answered the question - what does she like to do at home? - She pole dances with her mom :-D... Teacher response amazed me even more. She said to my daughter, wow, you must be real strong then.
jsheridan · 5/25/2015
We have a 12 y/o that comes every day to our studio (except Sunday, we are closed), sometimes one class sometimes 2 or 3. She has been doing it less than 4 months, and can already do insane stuff like aerial handsprings, cocoon, jade, etc.
poleisnewtome · 5/25/2015
That little girl is amazing....but unfortunately, I made the mistake of reading the comments on the video and got angry immediately.
PenelopeAnn · 5/26/2015
I teach a kid's class in my studio (5 x 8/9 yr olds, 1 x 6 yr old, 1 x 4 yr old & sometimes my 3 yr old). They absolutely love it! I'm sure they see classes as fabulous playtime.We started with the kids of adult students and slowly expanded from there. We do still get people making snide remarks about how they'll always have a way to make money, etc, but the change I see in my students makes it all worthwhile. The non-dancer parents of one of my 8 year olds told me after our last studio show that they're amazed I got their daughter performing because she's so shy with everybody else, but she just loves her pole classes. The picture is of my 9 year old son & his new trick from last week's class - he calls it the starfish.
kittyface · 5/26/2015
@Andrea Pole - WOW... New favorite pole dancer! She's amazing! I think it's wonderful when kids pole! I wish I had been able to pole as a kid. I never really felt like I found my place or my passion until I found pole, and I could have had that a lot sooner had I been able to pole as a little girl. My studio had a mother/daughter pole class at one point, and I thought that was the sweetest thing. I wish more studios would let children take classes, there really isn't a reason they shouldn't be able to if the classes aren't sexual in nature.
Andrea Pole · 5/26/2015
I totally agree with you BabyDragon! Kids should be able to take classes where no sexual movements are learnt. It is a great sport and dance, and I totally love it! I know what you mean about wishing to have learned pole dancing sooner but then I think that if I'm enjoying it right know that's totally fine. Think if you where 10 years older from now...You'd wish you started at the age you're right know! ;)
Tigerschic041721 · 5/26/2015
On this note, does anyone have tips on instructing kids? I've been asked to do private lessons but am not sure where to start...obviously leave out the sexy stuff and focus on more ballet/acro type of material but I'm def no gymnast! I wish I had taken gymnastics as a kid for personal pole goals but now especially for teaching kids. My 2 y/o niece loooveees coming over for "ring around the rosie" on the pole, bouncing and somersaults on the crash mat - of course she has no idea what it's all about but she can't stop talking about it when she's away and already I see that crazy kid stength they all have when she lifts herself up.
PenelopeAnn · 5/26/2015
Hey Tigerschic! For me, getting the kids to do boot camp before they're allowed on the poles helps. A great warm up for them and the poles is getting them to race up the poles to the ceiling. Because I have poles in different finishes and thicknesses, I make them rotate through all the poles. By the time they're done, both they and the poles are really warm and they love the competition. I always give them 5 minutes of playtime at the end of class which is usually their favourite bit. When you start teaching them anything where they go upside-down, watch them like mad! Kids are fearless, and have little regard for possible consequences. I always insist that they do the more dangerous moves with me or my assistant teacher spotting. And keep a candy jar in the studio for the end of class!
zoilife6233 · 5/26/2015
We have to agree that due to the popularity of pole and pole movement, there is new pole generation gymnasts across the world especially in Eastern and Western Europe are coming to a pole scene who are amazingly flexible and can do so much more then traditional pole practice offers. Also they probably will become future developers of styles and movement. Concluding this, pole was already accepted as a variety of gymnastics sport in those countries, keeps growing and developing. Children of different ages demonstrate amazing ability to contort their bodies and balance their weight on a level of professional circus performers. There is already a strict code of ethics re: sexual aspect in place and it always observed at all pole gymnasts competitions. (For example a competitor looses points for a bra strap falling of the shoulder or any other inappropriate mishaps of a sexual character in their clothing or behaviour). Pole fitness as a sport is already departing from pole dance. There are thee categories of pole sport: areal, semi-arial, and floor or strip-plastica. The way the European Pole Federation sees it, it has to be able to depart from clubs to became an Olympic sport. Also there will be age division due to a new children's involvement in this sport. And also,there are a lot of amazingly fit women of a mature age. Having said that, I think we are yet to see how Pole evolves and changes the sport world
Yayo · 5/26/2015
I am also interested in what to teach kids. I had a friend who wanted her daughter to learn but I just don't know where to start. Any tips?
Carrington · 5/26/2015
My 6 year old daughter poles with me all the time. She is a great climber and has a few spins down. One issue I have with her is that she is stubborn as all get out and doesn't want to listen to me when Im correcting her, or she gets dry hands in places I don't think dry hands should be. But overall we have a blast together and its great mommy daughter time.
babygems · 5/26/2015
@Carrington my little girl is a good climber too she shoots up the pole like a little monkey lol. Her favourite thing though is to have the pole on spinney and spends ages doin all different spins. It really is great bonding time.
Might Grip · 5/26/2015
I love the responses. Gives me much hope for the future. Great stuff. Thank you, Joel B.
PolarGirl · 5/26/2015
My understanding is that the insurance cost to teach minors pole dance is prohibitively expensive (which is interesting because children's gymnastics insurance is far cheaper than adult's).
Yayo · 5/26/2015
Thanks for the tip on the insurance!! Didn't know that :/