At what age would you enroll LO in dance or sports?

PrincessFiona9 · August 2011

There is a local gymnastics studio that starts at 18 mos and a dance studio that starts at 2. They have soccer starting at 2 here as well, but she doesn't turn 2 till about halfway through the season. I will probably enroll her next fall.

I don't want to push DD and I'm not going to make her do/stay in something she doesn't enjoy (like Vivi's mom on Dance Moms if anyone watches lol) but I want to give her all of the opportunities I didn't have as a child. They say if you start early the child gets the chance to really develop the skills that they need to excel, and earn scholarships etc, but how early would that be?

naflmj · August 2011

DS started gymnastics at 18 months and honestly, it is too early. He like going and likes the girls but he doesn't really get some of it (and he is very much into gross motor activities). Half way through the session he can do some of it but in hindsight I would have waited until at least 2 if not 2 and 1/2.

schnappycat · August 2011

My DD starts a really basic tot tumbling class tomorrow through Parks and Rec. DS did the same class at 12 months and continued on until recently. It wasn't very structured, however, especially for the younger ones, and was really just an opportunity for them to run around, jump on a trampoline/walk on a beam, and work on listening/sitting skills for circle time (where they do really basic stretching and songs/music). No serious "gymnastics" per se. But DS loved it and it was a good starter class.

DS is 3.5 and started a kinder soccer class yesterday. It was more structured, I guess (DH took him), but he didn't do so well. He just wasn't ready for that type of structured drills/instruction. He loved the running and streching aspects, but when it came time to kick back and forth, I guess he protested and just wanted to continue "free" kicking and running. It's only 4 weeks, so I'll make him finish it out and see if it grows on him, but I certainly won't enroll him again if it doesn't. He just may not be ready for specific instruction-type sports yet.

I think it really depends on your child and their personality/interests. I'm all about exposing them to various things, but DS has been very slow to form an interest to his classes. Tumbling really grew on him, but it took awhile. I can see that structured "sports" will be a harder sell. I'm a figure skater and tried to take him skating last summer in hopes of signing him up for a learn to skate class, but he was scared and refused to get on the ice. So I haven't tried again. I hope to try again soon, but won't be upset if he isn't in to it. There will be something he likes and it may take some investigating or waiting until he's older. I don't yet know how DD will be. This tumbling class should give me more insight. She seems to be more flexible, but it's hard to tell until you try.

I agree that I don't think enrolling your kid at 2 versus 4 or 5 will likely have any more of an impact on their future as an athlete or scholarships they may earn. IT's more important that they love it and learn something, whatever age they begin.

MNgirl326 · August 2011

AshleyMichelle06:

There is a local gymnastics studio that starts at 18 mos and a dance studio that starts at 2. They have soccer starting at 2 here as well, but she doesn't turn 2 till about halfway through the season. I will probably enroll her next fall.

I don't want to push DD and I'm not going to make her do/stay in something she doesn't enjoy (like Vivi's mom on Dance Moms if anyone watches lol) but I want to give her all of the opportunities I didn't have as a child. They say if you start early the child gets the chance to really develop the skills that they need to excel, and earn scholarships etc, but how early would that be?

whose they?

I started swimming lessons when I was 6 months and took them all through childhood started swimming competiviely by the age if 5, swam on private teams and in highschool. No scholarships.

I was in piano starting at 3 and played competiviely throughout high school. No scholarships.

I plan to put my child in activites around 3-4 years old and see what happens. If he is having fun we will keep him in it and will continue to keep him in an activity until he no longer enjoys it. If he has some natural ability, and somehow, someday gets a scholorship that is great. But I am not banking his whole future on a potential scholorhsip and whether he started soccer at 2 or 4.

dunvilles · August 2011

We enrolled DS in gymnastics at 11 months. It was more for socialization/working on gross motor skills. He did not grasp the concepts (balance beam etc) and wouldn't/couldn't do a lot of what the group was doing but for us it was much more about just getting out and getting involved! We also had him in a kindermusic class and it was the same as gymnastics... socialization.

We try to go to the park, bike ride, hike, swim, swing etc as a family to make sure we are all active/get exercise and have fun together.

addison_clark · August 2011

I started my DS in a "gymnastics" class at 18mos. It was basically an open gym where they could run, jump on trampolines and swing on the bars. I liked that it got him exercise in the winter months.

But as far as enrolling him in actual sports teams, we tried soccer at 2yrs and it was a huge failure. He was just too young and loved it for the first 15 minutes but the rest of the time he was rolling around in the net at the wrong end of the field. I plan to try again this winter when he is 4.

I am not enrolling him in sports to give him a chance to develop early skills and win a college scholarship someday but more to be active, learn to follow instructions, play nicely in a team atmosphere and of course to have fun!

12bailey18 · August 2011

I'm addicted to Dance Moms...LOL. Guess it's the dance teacher in me. I plan on waiting until age 3 to enroll DD in dance and probably 3 or 4 for DS in sports. The dance studio I used to work at had a Mommy and Me dance class for 2 year olds and I thought that was a good idea. If I can find something like that I will probably do that at 2 but "real" classes not until age 3.

shopgirl78 · August 2011

DD started dance @ age 2 and swimming at 1 year. She just finished her third year of dance and hasn't decided if she wants to return.

DS1 started tumbling at age 2 and swimming at almost 2 years.

Soccer and t ball don't start her until age 4 as well as karate. DS1 will start soccer in the spring.

Sassystace · August 2011

My older daughter just turned 4 and I don't think she's ready yet. Maybe next summer when she is 5. Soccer at 2 sounds just plain ridiculous.

tusshie2004 · August 2011

We are planning to put DS in swimming lessons this fall. I work for the YMCA part time and they have youth sports that starts ages 3 and up. We call it Itty Bitty Soccer and Basketball here.

HuneyofJeremy · August 2011

DD1 started gymnastics at around 2 years. I am debating to put her in dance in the fall this year at 2 1/2 or wait until next year at 3 1/2. A lot of it depends on your child too.

MrsSR · August 2011

DD will be taking gym classes this September. She'll be 12 months. The age limit is at least 18 months, but since she is walking and climbing already, the teacher said it would be fine.

MrsBalletStar05 · August 2011

Soccer at age TWO? Really? LOL That must be funny to watch.

My older DS started dance class at 2. It was a mommy and me type deal, music, clapping, movement games, stories, ect. Nothing formal at all. He just turned 4 and will start a *real* class this year (tomorrow actually). Since I'm an instructor and he gets classes for free, this is the activity we're doing for now. He likes it a lot. I'm planning on putting him in school sports, whatever age they start offering that. He has so much energy!!

DS#2 is just 14 months. He has a different personality, and is slow on his motor skills. If he wants to dance, I probably won't start him until age 3 - otherwise we will wait until there are school activities.

Kingston54 · August 2011

Those ages sound good - I just wouldn't expect it to be anything more than fun for a few years.

bergs720 · August 2011

Honestly, I just assume wait until they are 8-10 years old (unless THEY are really, really interested in something). They are much better off if you just take them outside and play with them, exercise and teach them how to kick a ball and whatnot.

I've taught kindergarten for the last 10 years and (in my experience) if you start your kid in things when they are two, it typically just turns into more sports, more activities and more often. These kids end up in spring soccer, winter soccer, tball, dance, piano and on and on. They end up so overscheduled and burnt out, they are sick of soccer by the time they are six. Not to mention the fact that they hardly have any time for themselves or to relax. They are always rushing from school, to practice, to recitals, to games. There is always some where to go.

And what do they even get out of it at two years old. Tumbling, maybe. but soccer? really, have you watched two year olds play soccer?

I'm all for the once in awhile experience. Swim lessons to learn the skills, tumbling for socialization and fun. I would wait on team sports for quite a few years.

FWIW I didn't start playing softball until I was 12 and got a scholarship.

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