to let my daughter 'misbehave' in dance class?

[mrscumberbatch]

My DD is an only child. 2.5 yrs old and is the only grandchild on both sides.

As such, everywhere we go, it's all about her as everyone dotes on her.

She isn't at nursery yet as me and DP managed to split childcare/work between us.

She has not long started dance classes (tap,ballet,disco.) And she is loving it, but is prone to getting distracted and running around the class and trying to chat to the other toddlers. She also gets bored during the quiet ballet part and does her own thing.

On one hand, I don't want to intervene, out of fear that I 'squash' her confidence. My thinking is that once she is at nursery with more structured play with other toddlers that she will come into line.

On the other hand, I hate being the only one in the class with a noticeably willful toddler.

WWYD? Leave her to it and cringe inwardly or become more involved and do some hovering?

by letting her do that and not correcting her you are giving her the message that it is ok, which will not help her when she starts school. Discipline her and if she can't do it remove her and wait until she is ready.

This sort of crap is one of many the reasons why I am glad that my DC have done all dance, gymnastics and the like activities (to date) with nursery/school and not with me watching (side effect of being FT WOHM). Without parents present, it is down to the class leaders to decide what is and isn't OK, and they can also make the decision to discourage/ban seriously disruptive DC. With parents there, there is no single standard for how much you should/shouldn't interfere.

Parents are required invited to watch the last ballet class of each year. I was quite astounded to see how last years rioting skipping in circles being mice (nursery) seems to have resolved itself into some semblance of ballet (YR). I cannot decide how much of that is by design and how much because some of the more PITA lively DC have stopped going (I have no idea whose idea that was, either )

Ahahahahahah whatwouldvegans do. I'm absolutely going to take a picture of DD doing similar and get it put on canvas!

Stealth, I have problems imagining how picking up 'flowers' and smelling them is going to turn into ballet as well but I'm interested to find out!

I don't think it's an only child thing - some dc just don't have much focus or concentration. At our last parents evening the teacher assured me there were at least 5 out of a class of 30 six year olds - still unable to sit still and listen for any length of time. At age two I can't even begin to imagine.

My advice in hindsight would be - go by the teacher. If the teacher thinks it's a problem, maybe think about finding another activity and delaying it for a while - I can recommend wide open spaces and soft play for these traits. But don't leave because you're embarrassed. IME they will embarrass you countless times in the years to come.

Would love to see that photo, mrscb! :)

Oh I'm sure it'd hit the front page of the daily mail WWVD.

Shock Horror! Toddler faffs about at dance class! UPROAR! Lol.

Given that they seem to get at least 50% of their stories from MN it could be likely as well

:) Keep us posted!

mnetters link dm daily, clearly many of you love it
but yet deny it
or came across it in cafe

I think it's a guilty pleasure on here. Although I try not to click through on DM links as I don't want to give their website more hits.

I have once bought the DM because I was in M&S and the lady at the till informed me that there was a £5 off voucher if I bought a DM.

My bargain hunting principles were fighting against my DM dislike principles.

In the end bargains won. The shame.

Good morning, I am new to Mumsnet today and will not be visiting again. I am a former manager to Sir Richard Branson in Oxford UK and have worked with the general public and their children for twenty years. I am STUNNED, having read a third of this thread - to find utterly mean spirited comments throughout. Mrscumberbatch is evidently a highly intelligent, thoughtful lady and way ahead of her time here. The orbito-frontal cortex does not finish it's first stage of development until after 3 - (and again between 12 and 15- hence 'terrible two's' and 'terrible teens)'. To see comments such as 'playing the only child card' - WHAT? How old are you? You sound like a snidy, spite ridden teen? This lady is brave to have put her minor concern to forum - but judging by the mean spirited APPROACH of the majority at the onset of the thread, one would think why did she bother? Is this really how mums discuss concerns? Jesus. This little girl will grow up to be as thoughtful and as balanced as her mum. There are some seriously grandiose types here. I am stunned. This type of thread is appalling and telling. Good luck Mrscumberbatch, she will go far and be just fine, a reflection of you. x

Richard Branson is on mn??? Via proxy???

Oh well, if you WORKED for Richard Branson your opinion must carry more weight THAN anyone else's.

You win.

PS Why did you put "approach" in block capitals? Seems an odd choice OF word to feel THE need to scream at us.

Why does it matter that you worked for Richard Branson?

I have worked with the public and children for many years and am the director of my OWN company. Does that mean my opinion is worth more. I don't think it does.

grin how bizarre is Val's post! and what drew her to this OP in particular seeing as it's late post beforehand was September 3rd?. Well odd!

Should have been and !

oooo, FANTASTIC Zombie-ing.

Richard Branson, eh? Did he buy you the Ladybird Developmental Psychology book? Lucky ol' you.

The cashier in my local mega store effectively works do Branson -will suggest they come on and give some child development advice

Please come back to us, Val, and explain to us why the OPs dd has to develop her orbito-frontal cortex in a dance class. I let mine develop hers in the park and at toddler groups until she had grown old enough to understand what dance classes are about- have I done it all wrong and will Sir Richard have it in for me?

I suspect that mrscumberbatch has been moaning to her friend val for the last few weeks about this and now val has decided to come and tell us all off.

Is val1969's* zombie post like THE weirdest post ever .com.

Presumably, she enjoys the class as a chance to run around and chat to other toddlers, rather than because she enjoys the discipline of ballet and tap. In which case, I would leave the class for a while and take her to an activity where running around and chatting to other toddlers is the focus of the group.

Because working for Richard Branson, who is a world renowned childcare professional of course, makes you so knowledgeable on child development

She worked for him IN OXFORD.
I think you'll find that the genius was in the very air she breathed.

Not just Oxford, oxford UK no less