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?

At 2 both of mine only did swimming

3 activities if she’s not at nursery isn’t excessive so I wouldn’t worry about that

Can you afford to do the same for both?

I don't know any horse riding or gymnastics that take children that young they are all minimum age of 4........

Yes it's outrageous money at that age - you are feeding your own wants/desires from when you were a child. At 2 she can hardly express an opinion whether she actually wants/enjoys going

I'm a horse owner and nowhere around here would take a 2 year old. What are you actually getting for your money there op? I'd be a bit careful you aren't getting ripped off. There's not much a two year old can get out of a riding lesson.

Before mine was at nursery we were doing three groups / classes a week, probably costing about £70 a month, I think it's fine & I'm sure a relief to have a routine and not to have to think of things to do with her for 1 1\2 days out of 7! If you were fitting it around full time nursery then yes, that would be too much, but I feel this is instead of, so why not? If you are struggling financially i guess it could go, but if you are doing all the childcare i don't think your DH gets to say how you manage the routine?

I was never allowed to do anything when I was growing up. It was just go to school and come home. I'd have loved that or the girl guides or anything. If you can afford it why not.

ivfbeenbusy I agree horse riding is unsuitable at that age but toddler classes at gymnastics clubs are really nothing unusual. At that age, mine did a 45 minute session with songs; parachute games and free play with equipment. It’s basically like a more structured and challenging softplay.

I probably spent about £60-£70 a month on different classes and playgroups in pre-covid times as well as going to free activities. Similarly my DD isn't at nursery so I look for stuff to help with socialisation and wearing her out! We can afford it, and will be able to afford it for DC2 so that's fine for us. I wouldn't refer to anything DD does as a hobby though!

I don't know any horse riding or gymnastics that take children that young they are all minimum age of 4........

There are definitely gymnastic style toddler classes like tumble tots, gym toys etc. Our local stables offers tiny tot rides which is a 15 minute lead out that costs around £6 but no one would claim it was a lesson, and does not require any additional equipment like the op suggested. Wellies and leggings are all that's needed which every toddler has anyway and the school provides the hat - would be pointless to buy one for this experience and age range.

Things like Baby Ballet and Tumble Tots are quite common for toddlers. They’re just not called ballet and gymnastics, but they’ll be the same thing.

YANBU to take your DC to activities. Whether the cost is reasonable depends entirely on how much disposable income you have so that all your bills and savings are covered and everyone in the family gets the opportunity to do their hobbies at a similar cost.

But those things don’t sound age appropriate for a 2 YO, 4 or 5 for horse riding and formal gym and dancing, but obviously tumble tots type activities would be great.

Do you have any friends / parents you know with children of a similar age to socialise with? I think your dd would get just as much out of regularly going round eachother’s houses, meeting at the park, going to soft play sometimes etc.

I agree with many others. A two year doesn't need hobbies. They'll grow up never be able to entertain themselves or relax because they've always been doing "hobbies" I think swimming is the exception though.

Was this pre cv19?

It's not too much money if you can afford it, but I would wonder if it's a bit much to take a 2 year old to horse riding lessons. Seems a bit young to actually be learning anything from it.

In comparison, our 2 year old does moo music and tumble tots. It's learning through play, I don't think structured lessons would work for him at this age.

DD is 2, she has horse riding lessons, gymnastics and dance class.
Did your 2 year old ask if she could do these things? I'd be very surprised if she did.

I’m unsure, I never had hobbies as a child and I want my girls to have them.
This is all about you. Do you wish you'd done those hobbies as a child? If you start someone doing a hobby they haven't asked to do, they will probably get to a stage where they tell you they don't want to do it anymore. You cannot live your life vicariously through your DC.

At 2, I would be more interested in children being able to swim (not as a hobby but just as something they could pick up more easily when young and fearless that could be life-saving at some point).

The money is less relevant than you forcing your choices on your DC. It probably depends on whether you can afford it but, even so, I wouldn't want to just let my DC do every hobby they want to because I would want to teach them the value of money. I wouldn't want them to be handed everything on a plate.

Swimming was the only activity done at that age although maybe Tumble Tots started then too, can't remember its starting age. No other paid for stuff until at school

I think if she doesn't go to nursery and you look after her full time, pick the things you like. She's young for riding, but if you love horses it's a nice thing to do together. You need to enjoy it too. My kids did a bit less, as I worked part time and preferred to do classes that were pay as you go / drop in type. That meant they could try a range of things.

Was this pre cv19?

Riding stables have been back open a while now, DD's best friend has been back at dance class for a couple of weeks ;and we're Scotland so everything has happened a bit later) and many clubs have been moved outside so all this could well be happening currently.

At 2 mine just did swimming. At 5 and a half he still does swimming and he now does martial arts on a Saturday morning. About 80 per month plus extra if he is grading for martial arts. We did tumbletots for a bit when he was 3. Once they start school they are much more tired so I like to keep activities for just a couple of times a week.

I find that level of structure really sad for a toddler.
She's 2! Walk in the woods, dig in the mud, play in the sand pit etc 2yr olds should be out exploring and learning about the world.

At two mine did a music group and swimming regularly but went to ad hoc gymnastics and toddler groups so I don't think the quantity is too much of you both enjoy it. It is expensive but that's all relative.

My eldest is 6 now and likes everything so she has four paid for activities - including piano and swimming which are pricier - and we spend around £120 a month on her now.

Not too much unless you can’t afford it. I think it’s fine

Strange ‘hobbies’ for a 2 year old, sounds more appropriate for school age children

@MaryShelley1818

I find that level of structure really sad for a toddler. She's 2! Walk in the woods, dig in the mud, play in the sand pit etc 2yr olds should be out exploring and learning about the world.

The child will no doubt be doing that as well. This is a child who doesn’t go to nursery. Three sets of short guided activity aren’t much at all in a week.