If your LO is taking ballet

lilles

Are the parents allowed to stay in the classroom. My LO started ballet today and the instructor informed us today that parents would only  be allowed today during the first class and during the last day. Is this common? We were not told about this during registration and my LO is super shy and it takes her a while to get used to new settings. Today in class she cried most of the time and did not want to leave my side. I do not want her to be screaming for the whole class if I am waiting outside. I want this to be a positive experience for her. Every other class she has been in the parents have been allowed to be in the room and/or participate. She has not started preschool yet. She will in the fall so she is not used to being left alone. Any advice?

mavs_girl07

Parents aren't allowed in DD's class either.  They have flat screens in the waiting room, so we all sit there and watch them.  Have you asked if you can sit in and watch if she gets really upset?  When we first started, there was a little girl in DD's class who flipped out when her mom couldn't go in there with her.  They allowed the mom to sit in the class and watch from the corner (way out of the way, but still in the room) and her daughter did fine.  After doing that for a few classes, the little girl felt more comfortable and let her mom leave the room.

CTJune06

DD is in a 2-3 year old class and parents are not allowed in the classroom. There is a window where we are able to observe. I think it's best that way- having parents in the classroom (I think) would be really distracting to the kids. That said DD cried during one of the first classes and wouldn't calm down, I ended up taking her from the room and we went home. Since then she's done really great though. Something just clicked.

ebb7

Nope - not allowed in the classroom.

kada626

Our main dance studio has tvs setup that we can watch the kids from outside the room. Two other studios we were at for summer classes just had windows to watch. I found that more distracting for the kids. I know another dance place in town is set up just like yours, only allowing parents to come in on the first day and the end. I didn't go with them for that reason. I'm paying for the class, I like to watch!

I would go a couple more times & see if she adjusts if you like the place. Or you could wait until she is a little older.

DeputiesWife

Parents arent allowed in DD's class either.

Occasionally we are allowed to watch -- that is new this year because she is older, the class has been together for a year. But the teachers have more 'control' over the kids if the parents arent there -- my DD would run and stand by me if I went in there and she isnt that shy. 

cecee36

My daughter is in her 2nd year of ballet and her 2nd dance academy and neither place she took lessons at allowed the parents in the room.  From past experience when I danced, having the parent in the room doesn't benefit.  The children become more introverted and less likely to dance.  My daughter's dentist implements the same policy but we can watch the exam through glass windows.  (The first dance academy had an observation window where parents could watch the class.)  I think it's a good thing for your daughter to have an opportunity to do something fun and safe with a different adult she can learn to trust and develop new friendships with other children who share an interest in dance.  I know it's probably unnerving for both of you but I think if you stick with it and make it positive for her, she'll come around in no time.  Trust that the teachers there have seen children of all types and backgrounds, including those who've never been to school and know that they'll take good care of her.  Ask for a few minutes before class to explain your concern and if it's a good dance academy, they will address your issues and make you comfortable.  GL!

NoobMommy

Most dance schools have a viewing window for parents. Ours is a large sliding door and there is a TV monitor. However, depending on the teacher, I think if you explain that your LO may need a little extra support the first couple times...they should understand. 

If you really want a hands-on experience with your little one, many studios offer a Mommy & Me Ballet class where you can be there with her. Hope this helps! 

soveryexcited

In our town, the parks and rec department offers mommy and me ballet classes where you can be with your child. DD did that when she was two. She is now four and started ''real'' ballet classes and no parents are allowed in the room. There is a one way viewing window though that the parents can watch from. I definitely notice that the kids pay better attention when they can't see their parents though so its fine with me.

jerol

Same here....parents are not allowed in class.

ougrad1

Nope.  We aren't allowed in even the first class.   I say take her and you'll have an easier time next year when you have to leave her for preschool.   

anna7602

DD has been to 3 ballet schools so far (only 1 took 2.5 year olds, then we switched to a closer one in our neighborhood at age 3, then we moved this month to a different city and she just started a new ballet class this week) and all three have had a strict no parents in the classroom policy. In fact, at the second school, DD had to be interviewed by the teacher to assess her readiness to take a class alone. I think I posted about the process here back in the fall. I felt bad about the kids who cried for their mothers and were not allowed to enroll in the class, but in retrospect, it seems to make sense that they should wait until they're ready for a solo class experience.