M is for Making Friends

Movement isn’t just about building strong bodies — it’s also about building connections.

Making friends is about developing social skills and forming friendships through shared movement experiences. In a Junior Gym environment, children learn how to interact, communicate and connect with others while participating in fun and engaging activities.

For many young children, group programs like Junior Gym and preschool gymnastics are one of their first opportunities to socialise in a structured setting. Through movement, children naturally begin to engage with others, build relationships and feel part of a group.

Why Making Friends Matters

Developing social skills through movement supports children in many important ways.

Social confidence

Participating in group activities helps children feel comfortable interacting with others and builds confidence in social situations.

Communication skills

Children practise listening, responding and expressing themselves while engaging in games and shared activities.

Teamwork and cooperation

Learning to take turns, share space and work alongside others helps children develop important teamwork skills.

Emotional wellbeing

Building friendships helps children feel included, supported and connected, which is essential for overall wellbeing.

How We Build Social Skills in Junior Gym

In Junior Gym, we create opportunities for children to connect with others in a fun, safe and supportive environment.

Partner activities
Children work in pairs to complete simple movement tasks, encouraging interaction and cooperation.

Group games
Fun games help children engage with others while learning to follow rules and participate as part of a group.

Turn-taking
Structured activities help children practise waiting, sharing and respecting others.

Cooperative challenges
Children work together to complete movement tasks, building teamwork and connection.

Through these experiences, children learn how to interact, communicate and build friendships, supporting their confidence both in and out of the gym.

The ABC’s of Junior Gym

This article is part of our ABC’s of Junior Gym series, where we explore the many ways movement supports your child’s development.

Each post focuses on a different skill or concept that children develop through Junior Gym and preschool gymnastics, helping to build:

• strong bodies
• confident movers
• active minds
• positive social skills

From Awareness and Balance to Confidence, Coordination and more, every letter highlights how movement supports whole-child development and school readiness.

Explore the other articles in the series:

• A is for Awareness
• B is for Balance
• C is for Coordination
• D is for Direction
• E is for Exploration & Effort
• F is for Focus
• G is for Growth Mindset
• H is for Hanging
• I if for Independence
• J is for Jumping
• K is for Kinesthetic Sense
• L is for Landing

Because when children learn to move well, they gain the confidence to explore, learn and grow.