children's classes/activities

[naturallymommy]

Do you have your child in anything such as tumbling, art classes, etc? If so which do you think are best? Any of you use places such as gymboree or little gym? I was thinking of putting mine in the 3 year old soccer ones at the YMCA just so he can get out and about and running around with kids his age. What are your thoughts?

[jillmamma]

Both the 7 and 4 year olds are doing gymnastics right now once a week. For us, that has worked out great as our gym has a low teacher/student ratio and has been very patient with my kids even when they are not the best at paying attention. Both of mine are not the most athletic and have low groos motor muscle tone, and this has been fantastic towards helping their developemnt. We also did soccer at the Y with DS when he was about 4 as well and I think it is a great program, but DS just happens not to be too into soccer. For us, the key

[velochic]

For physical activities, dd participated in gymnastics from 3 until 7. At 7 she was finally old enough for horseback riding lessons. That has been her passion and goal for years and she's in heaven now. There is a lot of discipline with horseback riding that she just did not have in gymnastics. It has really been a wonderful activity for her and I can imagine that this might be and interest that lasts a lifetime.

Other things she has participated in are violin lessons, math club, and science club, and Brownies. The is 8 now. We are very careful that she has only one activity one night a week outside the home. We're adamant that evenings are for family.

[lonegirl]

I have been taking Tyr to Gymboree once a week for about a year now. He is in ArtIII now. He loves it and looks forward to it each week. We go about 15-20m early so he can do some free play in the gym area (they change it up every other week). We also do swimming lessons once a week (since about 18m)

[naturallymommy]

Originally Posted by lonegirl

I have been taking Tyr to Gymboree once a week for about a year now. He is in ArtIII now. He loves it and looks forward to it each week. We go about 15-20m early so he can do some free play in the gym area (they change it up every other week). We also do swimming lessons once a week (since about 18m)

Thanks everyone for your replies, what are the pricings like at gymboree website doesn't say?

[Peony]

DD1 does a lot of activities for several different reasons. She has SPD and some activities function like OT for her, gymnastics and swimming are especially excellent for her. I can tell as HUGE difference in her when she does get those things in at least twice a week. She is also dyslexic and suffers from anxiety issues, she struggles so much in other areas of her life but sports she excels in so it is important to me that we keep her self esteem up. Ok, after that full disclaimer, here is the list.

DD1 is 7 and currently takes tap/ballet, gymnastics, and she snowboards at least twice a week, this week it was 4, but that is rare. Gymnastics and dance are year school programs. In the summer we do swimming and this summer will add in theraputic horseback riding. She ice skates in the "off season" from snowboarding but not in the summer because the rink here is only open 6 months of the year. In the past we have tried baseball, soccer, art, piano, but have settled on our current list of activities as ones that she really loves.

DD2 is 3 and desperately want to be like big sister so she gets a creative dance class and then a little gymnastics class at the local gym. Next year she will start skiing and this summer I will start her in swim lessons.

[lonegirl]

Originally Posted by naturallymommy

Thanks everyone for your replies, what are the pricings like at gymboree website doesn't say?

If you pull up the schedule in your area and click on the class you are interested in it shows the price in the description box

[pigpokey]

Does he swim? That will have a huge payoff in summer fun this summer or next if you go ahead and start him. Look for lessons in a warm pool, not a lap pool, for greatest progress. Our pool has a 90 degree lesson pool. I wouldn't say you need lessons if you're willing to go frequently.

My kids do gymnastics too. We have not used Gymboree or anything, just regular gymnastics facilities. If you are interested in him doing gymnastics, see if you can find a facility with a boys' team and pre-team program. You may have to ask. The reason for this is that they are more likely to invest in quality programming for preschool boys if they are scanning them for future placement in a developmental track IMO. It's not always true but it's just one factor to look at for boys' gym.

[bnhmama]

Here are some of the things we've done with B.

*Kindermusik from about 18 months until he turned 6. LOVED it. It's spendy but SO worth it!

*Gymnastics- About 18 months to 4 years old. Again, LOVED it. It was very affordable althought it's a local program so I don't know if it would be comparable to gymboree, tumblebees, etc.

*Tball-For about a year when he was 4 and 5. He loved it. Price was okay. But sooooo many practices and games made it impossible to do anything else he wanted to do.

*Taekwondo-He's been doing this for the last year and LOVES it. It's very spendy for us but this is absolutely his thing. This is all we do right now because he goes to class three nights a week.

[LynnS6]

Ds wasn't ready for organized activities at age 3. He was in part time daycare, and that was plenty.

Dd would have done 3 classes a day at age 3 if we'd let her. At 3, we did gymnastics and music. At 5 (and 3/4 as she's quick to tell you), we're doing piano and one sport. She wants to do t-ball this spring because her brother is doing baseball. I think she's going to hate it, but who knows? (It's not nearly active enough, I think.)

I think a 3 year old soccer class is a good place to start, especially if you've got an active kid. If it goes well, you can try another.

[sweetcheeks]

Like the PP, my DS wasn't ready for organized activities at 3. We held off until 4 with him and he started soccer, which ran 2x/week for an hour each time. Now at 7, he's doing Beavers and swimming currently. He also did an art class in the fall at the local art gallery and will be doing soccer again this spring.

DD, OTOH, was ready for an organized activity at 3. She started gymnastics at 3 which she absolutely loves! It's good physical activity that helps her burn off a lot of energy. She's also doing swimming once/week and in the spring, she'll do soccer along with her older brother. She was in t-ball last year but she didn't like it. Too much standing around and she became bored... she's very active and needs to be on the move at all times.

[naturallymommy]

Thanks so much! I've set up for a free class at little gym to get more info, and a free class at our local gymnastic training facility (they have just a boys class). I'm still gonna do the soccer at the ymca too.