to think this is too expensive for a child's dance class

[bionicmummy]

DD has just started school. One of the other mums seems really keen for our DDs to be friends and kept badgering us to take DD to this class on a saturday morning.

DD already does swimming, cheerleading, streetdance and gymnastics during the week - not cheap! but she enjoys it all.

This class on Saturday is 2 hours long, which I knew, and is a mix of all the above.

But is £12 a week.

AIBU to think that's way too much (the other classes are £3 or £4 for one hour, or we pay in blocks).

DH thinks its fine if DD enjoys it and it gives us some peace to mumsnet go grocery shopping, do housework, him to do some work (he works from home)

She's the biggest girl there (not fat, just her build), all the other kids are dainty and small.

So what do you all think? AIBU or is DH?

sounds to me like she already does plenty of stuff .. maybe tell her she has to give one up (the streetdance perhaps) if she wants to do the other dance

She must be shattered! Give up a couple of the other activities if she wants to do the Saturday class.

£12! Omg that is a rip off

How much???????

Hell, no! Not even if I could afford it!

2 hours at £12, I'm fence sitting on that. But if she is already doing all the things that are included in that class, then don't be pressured by another parent.

£12 for 2 hours does not sound that excessive to me especially on a weekend . I hope that those of you who think its too much don't end up with children who want to do horse riding or ice skating !

Ridiculous amount. The one dd used to go to was £3 a week. Don't forget they usually need an outfit to wear too.

Our 2 hr gym class is £7-7.50 I forget exactly, but it's half price for the second hour.

Proper equipment and several trained couches so to cheep to run.

So not cheap

Oops I've messed up coaches as well

2 of mine do stagecaoch - very expensive really BUT 3 hours for 2 of them in one journey is actually more eccenomic than 6 after school clubs even if they are only £2. Also its long enough to shop and relax where as a hour is not

So maybe ask her to stop 1 or 2 of the eve activities

Does your dd want to do it?

If so, stop some of the other classes and let her do it.

If it's all about what this other mother wants, then just nod & smile and do nothing. Or say no.

Whether it's "too expensive" is irrelevant; it costs what it costs. Does she want to do it? Can you afford it? Bear in mind that classes at the weekend can be a real PITA because they restrict your ability to go away/do all day trips.

The class is a mixture of swimming, gymnastics and dance?
Sounds unusual.

Weekend activities are a pain in the backside.

She's young and does a lot already. The other girl might 'need' a friend to go otherwise she won't stick at it. Ignore.

If you can afford it and she enjoys it then it's beneficial for her, why not? As for some people saying she's doing too much already, it's natural for children to have high energy, they're supposed to spend hours every day being physically active, it's often not possible for parents nowadays to let them out all day to run around as much as they need to so physical activities are very important.

She's staying fit, learning new skills, making friends, no harm at all if she want's it.

It sounds a bit too expensive I think, especially as she takes part in other things. I don't like to be tied at the weekend anyway, we've always kept weekends free in case we want a day out.

I don't think £6 an hour is expensive really, but I would wonder whether it is a bit of a jack-of-all-trades-master-of-none type thing. i mean gymnastics for example requires the leadership of a good level 3(at least) head coach. It needs crash mats and apparatus.Does a dance school have that?

sorry it doesn't have swimming lol, its gymnastics, dancing etc.

I didn't know it was £12 until I dropped her off today.

I wanted her to have something to do at weekends as soft play/park can get repetitive and boring.

Anyway, she came out of it in a foul mood saying she hated it and never wants to go back. So that's that sorted

Glad I'm not forking out £12 a week on one class though. Definitely rip off.

Ours is £3 per session. £12 is madness!

Sounds expensive to me too.
I wonder what went on for her to come out in a bad mood, did she say bionicmummy?

I got a leaflet for a street dance club today, £7.00 an hour so yours is not so expensive.

We restrict our kids to 2 activities a week. they are at senior school and with all the homework etc this is about as much as they can take. assume that your dc is younger than this otherwise how does she fit 4 other things in plus school work.Always worry a bit about kids being too organised - constantly ferried off to "do" something so the cost isnt the issue more the time aspect. we do cheap things like monday night is cooking night where the kids choose and cook the meal (improving as they get older fortunately!!) and try to do more playdates/friends over rather than clubs. always worried when they were younger that they might end up doing something because they do rather than they like it.

12 for 120 mins ...
a 30 min dance class will cost 4.
a 30 min swim class will cost 5 .

sounds reasonable value.

Does DD want to try it? Can you afford it?