3 yr old and dance classes

angelakh

So DD has been begging to take ballet - BEGGING!  We signed her up for a short summer session for June, and can do another short session for August before committing to a semester in September.  The class is a creative movement class, they pretend to be trees and jump and gallop and all sorts of movement, so it's not a strict ballet class.  The school has a dress code and they wear plain pink leotards, pink tights, and their hair is in a classical bun - so it's not fun tutu's and costumes she is attracted to.

My dilemma is that all week long she wants to go to ballet class.  She asks at least once every day if today is ballet.  She is excited to get in the car and go, but once we get there she doesn't want to do the actual class.  After 10 minutes or so she wants me and becomes disruptive so I have to wait in the hall with her until she calms down and can rejoin the class.  Tonight we stayed in the hall longer than she was in class - it's 30 minutes long.

I am wondering if it is normal 3 year old behavior, she only wants to do the parts of class she wants to do or what is going on.  I am not sure about signing her up for August. 

howleyshell

I would ask her directly what is IS about ballet that she likes.

For us?  Dylan begged me to play soccer again after a season where he literally didn't even attempt to kick the ball on the field.

When asked directly WHAT he liked about playing soccer he said "the snack"

Easy.  Save myself a truck load of $$ and all of us freezing our buts off outside in Colorado in the spring - just give the kid a cool snack from time to time for fun.

We'll revisit soccer again once he actually starts wanting to kick the ball in the back yard, KWIM? 

It could be that what she really wants is to dress up and dance to music but doesn't like the studio environment or dancing in front of others.  If you can find out what she does like about it you may find that you can fill that need at home for her and then revisit the actual classes again next year. 

McKee3

Has she ever done organized group activities like this? Maybe it's the group structure she isn't used to? My DD did that off and on in her MyGym classes (like Gymboree). She wouldn't always stay put and would run over to the areas that weren't part of the activities they were doing in the class. Our teacher helped redirect her and said it just takes time for some kids to get used to it. Overall, she loved it now she's in a new dance class that she loves.

I would ask the teacher what she thinks since she's definitely seen lots of LO's go through it and maybe try to give her a little more time to adjust before you drop it. Good luck!

 

 

franciscaz

My thinking is it could be a few things and like HowleyShelly said you need to sit and talk with her.  You might not know really what is w/o asking and it could be something you would never think.

Does the class feel and look like ballet (is everyone wearing leotards and ballet shoes)?  She might feel like this isn't really ballet (my niece would definitely not settle for imitation anything).

Like another post said my other thinking is that she might be intimidated if group activities are new to her.  All 3 of my kids were really nervous when they started new things.  Poor Callum cried the first 4 wks when he started gymnastics and Harmon wouldn't let go of me in the pool for his first few lessons.  Right now Rachel is going ape crap in her music class. 

With a little patience they have gotten used to it and really really flourished.  I've noticed with Harmon now he really doesn't get too scared in new situations anymore and I think it is b/c he is learning to trust me in new situations (like he started a new speech therapy and a new summer camp this month) and just go with things.

angelakh

Thanks for the insight ladies.

I asked her what she likes about it and she told me dancing, touching her toes, etc.  all things they do in class.  I really think it has more to her wanting to do what she wants to do when she wants to do it.  So, I think we are going to stick it out for a little while longer.  She has done soccer and gymnastics in the past with a reasonable amount of success, so hopefully it's just a phase.

jiffy-pop

I don't have kids yet but I'm expecting a girl in Oct. My mom put me in ballet class when I was three. I think what helped me is that my mom (nor any other moms that I remember) wasn't there during the class. Maybe with you being in the room, it is sort of a distraction. If you are not there perhaps she might keep her focus on the teacher. It wouldn't hurt to try staying in the hallway during one class just to see how she acts. Good luck!

jlw2505

I would try a different type of class.  It might just be that she doesn't like the teacher or what they are doing.  My 3 year old (turned 3 in March) loved gymnastics when we did it at Little Gym in the fall (when she was 2 1/2).  Both she and her older sister took a class - hers was with me and hers sisters was on her own (21 months older).  We moved from Little Gym to an actual gymnastics school where they do classes from toddler to the competition at the HS level stuff.  The 1st 6 week session, I was with her but then she turned 3 and the classes were no longer with the parent and she didn't love it.  She cried going in but 2 seconds into class, forgot all about it and loved it but doesn't want to take the class again.  She is the same way with swim lessons, doesn't want to get in the water but once she is in there, she loves it and doesn't want to get out at the end.  She is like that with daycare - loves preschool and her teachers but has a hard time everyday when I leave.  It is called separation aniexty.  To me, what you are talking about sounds more like not liking the class.  My 3 year old has been asking to take dance classes and I am thinking about signing her up at Little Gym where they work with kids all the time - it is not focused on the recital at the end of the year but on teaching the kids and having fun.  They spent time in the gymnastics part plus with the dance part.  If she still loves it and wants to keep it up, I would consider doing a real dance studio with her when she is 4 or 5 but 3 just seems to young to me although a friends DD whose turns 3 in AUgust takes a class and just loves it and she does great.  Again though, I think the teacher and just feel of the class has a ton to do with it at this age.

kellenickle

jiffy-pop:

I don't have kids yet but I'm expecting a girl in Oct. My mom put me in ballet class when I was three. I think what helped me is that my mom (nor any other moms that I remember) wasn't there during the class. Maybe with you being in the room, it is sort of a distraction. If you are not there perhaps she might keep her focus on the teacher. It wouldn't hurt to try staying in the hallway during one class just to see how she acts. Good luck!

This is what I was going to say. My DD is 3 and has been taking dance for almost a year. She does so much better when I'm not in the room (as do most of the other kids). Our studio doesn't actually allow parents in the room after the first class.

angelakh

Oh, we wait in the lobby they actually come down the hall and get me to stay with her to refocus her.  In the past she has done much better when I am not involved at all