Do I spend too much on toddler hobbies?

[Gailplatt95]

DD is 2, she has horse riding lessons, gymnastics and dance class. This comes to around £130 a month, then any clothes or equipment she needs on top. DP thinks this is too much as when her sister gets older we’ll have to do the same fir her too. I’m unsure, I never had hobbies as a child and I want my girls to have them. I think as she gets older she’ll probably pick just 1 or 2 that she wants to do, then it will become cheaper but at the moment she enjoys all her classes.
What do you spend on toddler hobbies? Is this excessive?

Whether the financial amount is reasonable depends on your personal circumstances and disposable income. But I agree with pp that it does seem a lot of very structured time for a 2 year old.

At 2 DS did swimming and a toddler play group. I’m still friends with mums from both of these. It’s up to you and your DP whether it is too much to spend each month, but yes- you will need to offer the same (or equivalent) to a younger child. Can you afford that? If not, cut back now before your elder DD expects these clubs to happen forever.

It sounds over the top for a 2 year old.

We spend less than that a month total on a 9yo and 7yos hobbies.

If you think she's benefitting from it and you can afford it, you're not necessarily being unreasonable. But you need to decide whether it's for her or you.

I echo PP who thinks that this is over the top for a two year old.
Did your two year old actively choose these activities?
If so then it's your money, your choice.

If you can afford it and she enjoys it, then why not. It doesn't matter what other people do or don't spend or whether people think you spend too much/say a 2 year old doesn't need activities. Your child, your money. Pre lock down we spent circa £40 a month on dance/swimming - but we have spent a lot more on DD in the past when she's tried drama/Tai kwando/done art club.

At 2 I personally believe that you get more from those activities rather than her. However, if you can afford it AND she enjoys it, then crack on.

At the age of 2, I'm dubious about how much of the actual activity is being absorbed as such, but if you can afford it, I don't see the issue. We were spending £100 a month (3 lessons a week) on swimming lessons for ds when he was 3 (but I think swimming is essential, rather than just a nice hobby). Its just one lesson a week now, £20 a lesson, a martial arts class once a week (£7), and as soon as he's old enough, hopefully he might want to join a local rowing club. No idea how much that will be, but we're sure the cost won't be prohibitive. Basically, if you're not skint and the child is enjoying it, carry on.

My dc had several hobbies at that age. Flushing things down the toilet, drawing on walls, giving everything a thick coating of vaseline and many other delightful toddler things that amused them. None of their hobbies ever cost anywhere near £130pm

Its all relative - can you afford it currently and the increases when your younger one starts etc? If yes then carry on.
At that age DD - did Gymnastics, swimming lessons and a language school. So 3 activities a week as that seems about right in terms of volume for us as a family in terms of cost and time commitments. Now she is 4 and has just started reception we have been the process of revisiting it. Keeping up with Swimming and Language School as she loves swimming is very good at it and the language school supports us as a bilingual family. We are stepping away from Gymnastics as she simply doesn't enjoy it that much anymore and is not exactly destined to end up in the Olympics team or anything! Looking at what other activities are local to us - probably another 'sporty' one - i have a feeling she will like something like judo/karate. Or we could go for something more 'social' like guides.

She enjoys all of the activities she does, she doesn’t go to nursery so this is time she gets to spend socialising too. If she didn’t enjoy her activities she definitely wouldn’t be made to do them.
@MaskingForIt no not at all I’m just genuinely curious, I’m not wealthy by any means.

@BestZebbie I like your point about peaking too soon I never thought of it like that!

Seems like the majority do think it’s too much, I’ll have a chat with DP and maybe drop one or even 2. Her classes have only just started up again anyway, so she hasn’t been to gymnastics since before lockdown.

Thank you for honesty!

They aren’t really “hobbies” for DD though are they? Hobbies to me are things you choose to do because you yourself are interested in them. I doubt your 2 year old requested all of those activities. That for me makes it too much.

I spent a childhood doing lots of expensive activities that my mother had chosen. As a natural introvert, I don’t remember any of them fondly TBH.

DD did go to a toddler group at that age, but nothing more structured until she was at school.

That figure is the norm for me and my friends from around age 3 I'd say, usually 4 activities that are approx £30-£35p/m. At 2 we were doing quite cheap playgroups etc but if your DD is happy and you've no money issues it doesn't really matter what others are doing.

She is 2 and you have already stereotyped her into the 'girls' hobbies.

For that alone YABU

I'm not sure about horse riding at 2? Dance and/or gym is great for coordination, balance, exercise and also getting used to listening to a teacher and following instructions which is a good skill to develop. I always went with trying a variety of activities to give them a taste of different sports, music groups and hobbies. My DD has stuck with ballet for years now, both have done swimming and my DS is still enjoying trying new clubs and activities and hasn't settled for anything particular yet. But he's only 5 so I'm cool with that.

I was coming on to say it was really expensive but tbh baby swimming is pretty expensive and lots of people take their DC to that. (I did too, would highly recommend!)

2 seems really tiny for horse riding - do they not wobble off the side? Maybe my DS was more fidgety than most though. He fell sideways off a toddler chair plenty of times!

If you have the money and time to take her then it’s fine .,however , with the hindsight of having grown up children , don’t knock yourself out taking them to classes they may not pursue , as they get older more time is required at dancing and gymnastics and I suspect horse riding too , so more cost and time , and you have your other child to consider too

Your DD doesn't have hobbies - she's 2 ffs! Is this a keeping up with the "Jones" post?

Riding for a 2 year old is pointless as they don't have the core to benefit from it. Pony patting fine but riding no. Gymnastics for a 2 year old? Toddler gym maybe. Dance - well they can jig about a bit.

I'm with your DP.

I started riding at the same age, it was great and I did it to a much older age. I'd drop some of the other stuff at 2

I think it's fine. She'll be able to decide which ones she wants to pursue when she's a bit older. At that age you need to try a few things and see what she enjoys. Given she doesn't go to nursery, I think it's reasonable you're trying to find things to keep her entertained and the social aspect is important too.

I used to spend about £1.50 per week on toddler groups when mine were that age.

They did dance which was about £5 per week each for a couple of years when they were pre/early teens.
They don't do any paid hobbies anymore.

Isn’t dance and gymnastics at that age just a whole lot of them throwing themselves about?

errr in non covid times, about £4 a week in combined toddler group subs

Are you ‘horsey’, OP? I’m very surprised that a riding school would take a child that young for a riding lesson. Maybe a walk up and down on a pony once a fortnight to get used to the sensation and get comfortable around horses, but not an actual lesson. My boyfriend’s youngest daughter had just turned 3 when we got together (so obviously a little bit older than your daughter) and I would have still thought she was a little bit young for riding lessons.

Horse riding at two? Surely no reputable riding stables will start them before 4?