Should I quit 4 year old gym class

[Readysetcake]

DD (4 next week) has been going to a gymnastics class since she was a toddler. She now goes in by herself and I wait in the lounge area outside the gym. Some weeks she’s enthusiastic but others like today she kicks up a fuss and doesn’t want to go.

Should I just stop the hobby or is she just being defiant because I’ve asked if she wants to do something. She’s very much in a, if it’s mummy's idea it must be rubbish phase.

I don’t want to force her and I don’t want the stress of do you don’t you each week and cajoling to get ready. She’s so stubborn we all end up grumpy and stressed. Would it be ok to stop? Once we’re out it would take months to get back in due to long waiting lists.

I’d love to know peoples thoughts?

Anyone... not the most exciting topic but would love some input. I’m
Clueless.

If she enjoys it when she’s actually there I would persist for now. My mum was always in the ‘try it and if she cries don’t bother again’ camp and it meant that I ended up doing not very much at all - would have massively benefited from being encouraged more to do a sport or dance from an early age - as it was it turned out that I was actually a pretty good athlete but didn’t really discover this until much later on - always think of the time I wasted. It would also have boosted my confidence.

Slightly different, but DD3yrs has just started at a new nursery - cries on going in every day but comes out absolutely high on life and full of stories, loves it. If I were to pull her out as she doesn’t like going in she would be the one to suffer.

Let her try another activity if she’s bored with gymnastics. They don’t have to stick to anything when they’re little.

Thanks for your reply. This was my school of thought as I wasn’t pushed to do hobbies when I was young and it makes me a bit sad to look back at my childhood as I did nothing and probably reinforced my low self esteem into adulthood.

But on the other hand she keeps complaining and I’m finding it very draining to get her to go on the many occasions she doesn’t want to. Maybe it’s just the hobby and she needs to try a different one? she loves her swimming class and never complains or drags her heels about going to that.

Maybe in a calm moment - a completely different time/day to when you go to gymnastics - ask her if she enjoys it and wants to keep going and, if not, ask if there is something else she’d like to have a go at instead.