Moms of 3-4 yr olds, do you like this idea?

[Ann-Marita]

If you have a child that is around 4 yrs old, would you like a one hour, once a week dance class (ballet, tap, gym) that starts about 15 minutes before your local kinder-elementary school lets out?

I'm thinking that it would be convenient to drop the preschooler off at dance and go pick up the older one(s), run them to their after-school activities if needed, and then come pick up the preschooler.

Would a half an hour before school is out be better?

Would a two-hour program that includes ballet, tap, gym, theater, a snack and read-aloud book work well at this time of day (it does very well in the mornings 10-12)? That would really be enough time to run the other kids where they need to go, or if you don't need that, it's enough time to get the grocery shopping done.

Or is that time of day (around 2:30-3:30) just a bad time for your preschooler to have an activity?

I'm working on a potential schedule for a dance studio that I may be taking over, and I just need input from moms.

Thank you very much!

[PatchChild]

For my preschooler, I'm still the type who hangs around rather than dropping off and heading out.

Were I that type though, I love the idea of before kindergarten let's out, doing pick up solo would be a nice luxury.

[Ruthla]

I also liked hanging out with my preschooler, and that time would have been impossible if I had to then run out in the middle of the class to get another child. Even if the child was comfortable with me leaving her, I wanted to be home when the school bus arrived, so having to run out the door to pick up the preschooler just when the big one(s) came home from school would have been stressful for everybody.

I would either do a preschool activity while the big ones were in school, or go after school for something they could both do together (possible because my girls are only one grade level apart.)

[mommajb]

I think it would work great for children whao are ready to be left but for anypne that took any amount of coaxing a the beginning of class it could be a nightmare. Plus for me it would add a pickup to the process. All that the child I have that would fit this category is 4th out of 5 children so obviously we are not the 2 child family you are thinking of.

[ThisCat]

All that running around would stress me out. I'd just assume sign up for a class where I could just hang out and wait. I'm lazy though. I love morning classes.

The dance studio that I'm thinking about signing my daughter up at this fall has many of their preschool classes starting about half an hour after the grade schools gets out. They also sometimes have Saturday morning classes to avoid the whole school/work conflict.

[mumkimum]

I kinda agree - I'd be daunted at having to do extra running around, I kinda like being able to chill out during a class myself (though having the freedom to, say, run out and get coffee would be nice - the classes we've done so far do require a parent to be around for the most part at those ages).

We did take a 215 dance class which was fine for my 3 y/o. It was only half an hour, but I would have definitely done something longer were it available. We do morning preschool, and had conflicts with stuff that started too close to when preschool got out that we never would've been able to get to in time. And I don't always like having to do a rushed lunch. Shortening it by half an hour might be a good move for later in the day, or even an evening program like that (since people often do have to juggle more stuff in the afternoon/evenings).

[columbusmomma]

Personally I think the idea sounds great!

[mom2happy]

I wouldnt sign up for it, because I'd have 3 and it would be way to inconvenient.
We have always done the 4 or 5pm class and just hang around or walk somewhere.


It would also be added stress to a kid that just wants to be home from a long day of school and really needs a snack.

[Peony]

Nope, won't do the afternoon class for a 3-4 year old because of the whole have the pick up other child and dash to her activity thing. There is a studio that I won't use in town because that is all the classes they offer for that age group. I LOVE 9 or 10am classes and go to a dance studio that does that instead. And if my dance studio offer a 2 hour class from 10-12pm, I think I'd be the first in line.

[Ornery]

I too would avoid a class at that time. For one thing I wouldn't be comfortable just dropping him off. He would be fine with it but not me. Also, running around right after school is not fun for me. We avoid it like the flu. I like to get home, have a snack, and have some quiet down time in preparation for dinner and evening activities. We plan the majority of our scheduled activities for the morning or 6:30ish if we want DH to come too.

[Ann-Marita]

Thanks, ladies!

I'm planning on morning classes and after-school classes (like, starting 45 minutes after the local elemetaries let out).

I'm not going to offer the "during school pick-up" class that I proposed above. It doesn't sound like it would work for most.

Would afternoon (between noon and when you would have to leave to pick others up at school) work for the 3 to "not quite in school" age group? I've got the two hour program offered in the morning, and I'm thinking of offering it some afternoon, too, like 12:30 to 2:30. What do you think of that?

(The two hour program has dance/movement, gym, theater, music, snacktime and a read-aloud book. Maybe art, depending on whether we can use another room, since I wouldn't want art spills on the dance floor. Moms are always welcome to stay, but if they want they can leave, go grocery shopping, get their hair done, etc.)

Thanks again. I really appreciate the input!

[cedoreilly]

As someone who had a non-napper and was doing morning pre-school 5 mornings a week, I was always looking for a afternoon class. My DS2 actually took swimming in the afternoon at the Y and the class was always full. I don't know if after a full morning of pre-school I would want a 2 hour class, though. One hour class, I would consider, though.

[ecoteat]

My preschooler couldn't possibly do any kind of class around that time--she still takes a 2-3 hour nap every day starting around 2 or 3. If I wanted her to do a 2-hour thing like that, ideally it would be before lunch or right after it (12:30?). But I am not factoring in having to pick up another kid from school.

[leighi123]

I've only got one kiddo, but I wish they had more afternoon classes, ds and I are not morning people.

[Punchy Kaby]

I like to stick around during classes for my 4 yo, even if I have the baby with me. 45 minutes would be the longest I would have class for 3-4 yrs. DS took a dance class last summr when he was 3.5 on Saturday mornings and a lot of dads took the kids and hung out. I like the idea of a morning class that starts after kindergarden drop off.

[mkksmom]

I can tell you that when my dd was 3 and 4, the library story time class was full in the morning with about 20 kids and there were only 4 kids in the afternoon. Now, I'm not a morning person, and I loved the small class, but it definitely was not as popular.

[One_Girl]

My dd isn't this age anymore, but a dance center next to my dd's school tried this out and included drop off but I am not sure how it worked for them. They charged a lot of money and have gone out of business. We went a few times for their open play time and there were only two other kids there. In my area a lot of parents either stay home or have to work. Stay at home moms tend to not put their kids in classes and moms who work need care that will cover all of their hours. Many gyms that do dance, gymnastics, and swimming also have full day preschool, before and after school care, and weekly summer camps and they do very well. They tend to charge a lot but they also pay their staff well and have less turn over. If that is something you will have space for then I suggest looking into that and giving a discount for classes that take place while kids are in childcare. I have also noticed that not a lot of places offer classes at times when working parents can bring them in. Depending on your area that might be a market you want to tap into. Night and weekend classes may pull more people in.

[Tjej]

That time of day sounds nice to me, but I wouldn't do that long of a class/a drop off with my 4yo. She wouldn't want it and it wouldn't be that useful for me (I have a 2yo too). We've really enjoyed the 30-45 minute class DD is in (but I don't know how much the studio enjoys it because it hasn't been very full the couple of times we've done it).


Tjej

[EdnaMarie]

I didn't really read the post well enough.

The time is bad, yes. Because we are napping at that time.

However, I don't know what I will do when I have to get a kindergartener then! Maybe she can take the bus.

[Grace and Granola]

I think the afternoon would be good if you only had that preschooler and your older kids were in school. But it would not work if you also had younger kids. 12-3 is prime napping time either for the 3yos you are targeting or for their younger siblings. My kids are 3 and 4 now and there has not been a time in their lives that I could take either to a class at that time.