So I put dd who is 2 in a 6 week baby movement class. She loves to dance at home, knows the dances from.the wiggles, follows all my directions, so I figured she would like it. Well, we got there and it was packed. As soon as dd saw the place, she wanted to be picked up and then clung onto me until we entered the classroom. There were around 10 to 12 girls besides lo, a teacher and 2 helpers, so a lot of people. The teacher is really nice and said she let's parents in the room in the beginning, with the expectation that if their child seems fine, you go into the waiting room and look from there. Anyone's child who seems upset, their parent can stay. Me and 3 other moms had to stay. She told us to stay actually. Lo kept wanting to be picked up or hold my hand and just stood there frozen. She got very afraid if the helpers or teacher tried to talk to her. She wouldn't do any of the moves either, but after about 30 minutes or so ran up by herself to crawl through a tunnel and by the end of the class she would stand away from me. Many of the other girls were just standing there and one was running around going crazy lol. She is very social at the park but recently she started acting this way at one story time we go to, so I've stopped brining her. I'm thinking she needs to get used to this.
So, would you give it 1 more or 2 more classes, and if she still needs me to be there with her and won't participate take her out? Keep her in it since its only 6 weeks and hopefully she'll get used to it? Should I talk to the teacher about it first? If we did take her out, I would expect to get most of our money back, right?
I would keep trying. Lots of kids are shy about activities at first. Clinging IMO is no big deal. Kicking screaming and freaking out would be a deal breaker and I would pull them and try again next year or in 6 mo.
Oh the op cut the ending off. I would also start going back to story time. Why would you just jump to quitting after a bad week or even a month? Kids are funny. They may even say they hate something but have a blast when they go.
Yeah you are right. I'm brining her to another story time today actually. I told Dh what happened and he dramatized the whole thing saying oh she probably hates it and that the mothers are pushing their kids lol. I mean like you said, if she was having a meltdown, we would have left, but I'm thinking she was just overwhelmed and scared a little about being in a new environment.
2 years old is extreme early for dance class. It's very common for kids that age to act like your daughter did. I would give it another couple lessons and since its only 6 weeks, I'd hang in there.
Adrian 7.6.07 - ADHD, Disruptive Behavior Disorder, Learning Disability-NOS Cam 6.6.10 - Autism, Global Developmental Delay, Mixed Receptive/Expressive Communication Disorder
2 years old is extreme early for dance class. It's very common for kids that age to act like your daughter did. I would give it another couple lessons and since its only 6 weeks, I'd hang in there.
Yeah, it is young, but its a movement class not a tap/ballet class where they are expected to learn routines. I'll just see how it goes next class.
Keep going. I took my DS to swim classes when he was 2.5 years old. There was no opportunity to stay, all parents had to go to the viewing area. He cried the entire first class, less the second class, and only for a few minutes by the third class. We then spent 6 months happily in the swim school. Even moving between classes didn't phase him after those first initial weeks. Every parent there had a similar story. Other parents told me their children cried anywhere from 2 weeks up to 6 weeks. It takes a couple of weeks to get used to the routine. It also helped if I dropped him off with a quick "have fun" and then stayed out of his view. I am not sure if I would do that at 2 years old, but something to think about later.
I doubt you will get your money back if you pull your daughter. They don't really have the opportunity to replace her mid-program.
I agree with CJ - keep going. There's no meltdowns or extreme fear, just a toddler who is getting used to new surroundings, a bit shy. NBD. Same for library. We just kept going.
This.
And really, 10-12 toddlers, a teacher and two helpers sounds like a great environment. A preschool will have more kids than that most likely and maybe only one helper. Unless the room is tiny, it sounds like a good set up, especially because they encouraged you to stay when she was scared. Keeping going, I bet she will warm up!
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Keep trying. My girls do the tap/ballet/gymnastics/etc thing (they're 3 and 4) but the little girls' class (18 month to 3) always has parents in there. Even after being in there all year, sometimes they just need mom or dad in there.
At my studio, you wouldn't get your money back though.. at least, not all of it. We pay by the month though.
Re: DD's dance class didn't go well..wwyd?
Yeah you are right. I'm brining her to another story time today actually. I told Dh what happened and he dramatized the whole thing saying oh she probably hates it and that the mothers are pushing their kids lol. I mean like you said, if she was having a meltdown, we would have left, but I'm thinking she was just overwhelmed and scared a little about being in a new environment.
Cam 6.6.10 - Autism, Global Developmental Delay, Mixed Receptive/Expressive Communication Disorder
Yeah, it is young, but its a movement class not a tap/ballet class where they are expected to learn routines. I'll just see how it goes next class.
Keep going. I took my DS to swim classes when he was 2.5 years old. There was no opportunity to stay, all parents had to go to the viewing area. He cried the entire first class, less the second class, and only for a few minutes by the third class. We then spent 6 months happily in the swim school. Even moving between classes didn't phase him after those first initial weeks. Every parent there had a similar story. Other parents told me their children cried anywhere from 2 weeks up to 6 weeks. It takes a couple of weeks to get used to the routine. It also helped if I dropped him off with a quick "have fun" and then stayed out of his view. I am not sure if I would do that at 2 years old, but something to think about later.
I doubt you will get your money back if you pull your daughter. They don't really have the opportunity to replace her mid-program.
This.
And really, 10-12 toddlers, a teacher and two helpers sounds like a great environment. A preschool will have more kids than that most likely and maybe only one helper. Unless the room is tiny, it sounds like a good set up, especially because they encouraged you to stay when she was scared. Keeping going, I bet she will warm up!
Keep trying. My girls do the tap/ballet/gymnastics/etc thing (they're 3 and 4) but the little girls' class (18 month to 3) always has parents in there. Even after being in there all year, sometimes they just need mom or dad in there.
At my studio, you wouldn't get your money back though.. at least, not all of it. We pay by the month though.