to think that "She'll just have to do it backwards" isn't a good solution?

[pastaplease]

It's not a big problem, but I wondered if I'm being unreasonable...

DD (2.5) is doing well at Tumble Tots. In fact she finds it too easy and starts to run around the room with boredom. The next class up is for 3 years+.

Today, the teacher said that DD is capable of doing the next class but she's too young, so from January, she has to walk along all of the equipment backwards, to keep her stimulated and engaged with it.

This seems weird to me. Every other child will be walking forwards, but DD is expected to do it backwards. Will it do her head in?? Should I ask if she can go up into the next class, or do you think I'd look like a pushy parent (which I'm really not, by the way!)

In her swimming classes she's been put 'up' a class and, although the other children are 3 and older, nobody seems to mind or even notice.

Hmmmmm. Am I being unreasonable to think backwards walking is not a good solution and that I should ask to go to the next class up?

Thank you! :)

I would ask again re moving up to next group. I had the same with DD swimming lessons. She was given a certificate to move up to next group by her teacher but swimming manager then said she couldn't until she was 4 (which was another 5 months).

I then said I would take her out of the lessons as i wasn't prepared to keep paying when she had already 'completed' that level.

They agreed to move her up as a trial and 2 months later she is going great in the next group up even though they are mainly 5/6

She also does gymnastics with British gymnastics society at leisure centre - they are ability led not age led which I think is better. Tumble tots may restrict for insurance purposes I guess but I would push it if you think she is ready/able to cope with next session

I had an identical conversation with TT 21 years ago. Their solution at the time was for DD to balance a bean bag on her head while going round the equipment

We didn't go back.(She went to ballet instead)

Create is right. You will laugh. It's hard to explain, but things that seem important when you have only one toddler aged child look very different when you look back on them in a few years. She's not being unkind, just truthful.

I might have thought something similar perhaps with my first child, although I wouldn't have asked for him to go up a class. 2nd child did gymbabes only, and then I twigged what a complete waste of money the whole show is when all the things they do can be done at home or a playground for free without the twinkly music. 1st time round it was as much to keep me entertained and enthused and that's fine. It isn't about children being advanced though, it's about having classes grouped by age doing approximately approriate developmental activities. My 3rd child seems just fine without any kind of baby exercise class, as she has a busy and full life running round after her siblings. That said, I know other families with 3 or 4 children where each child gets religiously put through the whole programme at vast expense, and the others get to traipse round and watch their siblings in these classes. Each to their own.

Could you try a ballet class instead? It's still quite physical but more imaginitive/expressive as well (afair - only managed a term with DD as it was a pain dragging DS2 along as a newborn).

Probably cheaper than Tumbletots as well.

Sorry pasta, I wasn't being unkind, but you will laugh about what seems important and the things you worry about now.

My DS did gymnastics at this age and it really mattered to me that he struggled to do a forward roll! TBH, in hindsight, almost every organised activity for toddlers (and a lot for older children) is a complete waste of money. It's great for mum, because it gives you a reason to get out of the house and see other mums, but no DC has ever learned anything at Tumble Tots they wouldn't have learned in the park IMO.

It probably is an insurance thing. I think going backwards or balancing a bean bag on her head are quite good ideas actually! It will help her physical development.

What makes you feel she won't like doing something different? Can't you and the TT people just big it up to her and tell her how stong and clever she is to encourage her to do something differently? It's good to be different, and if the positives of that are pointed out to her enough that she understands it, wheres's the problem. There's no harm in trying it.