Cartwheel Practice Step by Step
Learn to do a cartwheel with progressive steps — from side stretches to hand placement to the full rotation — building confidence and coordination.
What You'll Need
- 1Soft surface (grass, gym mat, or thick carpet)
What You'll Need
A soft surface — grass, gym mat, or thick carpet
How to Play
Find a soft, flat surface. Grass is ideal outdoors. Indoors, use a gym mat or thick carpet. You need about 8 feet of clear space.
Start with body awareness. Stand in a wide stance, arms overhead. Bend sideways left, then right. Get comfortable with the lateral motion.
"T" position: stand with arms and legs spread wide like a starfish. This is the body shape you'll pass through during the cartwheel.
Practice the hand placement. Stand with your dominant side toward the direction you'll cartwheel. Reach your lead hand down to the ground beside your lead foot. Keep your other hand overhead.
Now add the kick. Place your lead hand on the ground and kick your back leg up. It doesn't need to go all the way over yet — just get comfortable kicking while inverted.
Place the second hand on the ground and kick both legs over. Hands should land in a line with your feet. Think: hand, hand, foot, foot, all in a straight line.
Work on getting legs straight and together at the top. Even a moment of straight legs overhead means the cartwheel is clicking.
For a wall assist: stand facing a wall, place hands on the ground, and kick legs up against the wall. Hold the handstand against the wall. This builds the arm strength and inverted comfort the cartwheel requires.
Tips
Cartwheels are the gateway to gymnastics. Mastering this one skill opens the door to roundoffs, aerials, and all kinds of tumbling.
The most common mistake is putting hands too close together. Hands should be shoulder-width apart, placed one at a time in a line.
Fear of being upside down is normal. The wall handstand practice helps build inverted comfort before attempting the full cartwheel.
Arms must be locked straight during the cartwheel. Bent elbows collapse, and that's how kids face-plant. Coach them: "Keep arms straight like sticks."
It typically takes 20-30 practice attempts before a cartwheel looks remotely cartwheel-shaped. That's normal. Progress happens in small increments.
Age Adaptation Tips
School-age kids can take more ownership. Let them lead the activity, experiment with variations, and explain what they learned.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does this activity take?
This activity takes about 20 min, with 2 min of preparation time beforehand.
What materials do I need?
You'll need: soft surface (grass, gym mat, or thick carpet).
What age is this activity for?
This activity is designed for 5-8 years. You can adapt it for younger or older children by adjusting the complexity.
Can this be done indoors or outdoors?
This activity works great both indoors and outdoors, giving you flexibility based on the weather or your space.
How difficult is this activity?
This is a more challenging activity that may require advance preparation, special materials, or closer supervision. The extra effort is worth it for the learning experience!
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