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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Does your toddler enjoy classes?

29 replies

Purplelemon7 · 03/09/2021 12:59

Hi
I’ve taken my toddler to a few classes since lockdown ended and he seems pretty bored and becomes quite serious when attending which is quite unlike him. He goes to nursery part time
so is used to being around other children. The classes involve a mixture of music, bubbles, parachutes, puppets, maracas etc. Don’t know if they are too baby-ish now and maybe should stick to playgroups once they open up instead. The classes are for babies- 5 years so they are apparently suitable for a 2 year old. There aren’t many others attending at the moment so hard to know if other kids his age enjoy these sorts of things or not.

OP posts:
DownWhichOfLate · 03/09/2021 13:06

Sounds quite full on! Maybe he’s a bit overstimulated.

SpikeDearheart · 03/09/2021 13:06

My 18 month old is similar. I wouldn't say he seems bored as such, but he does go very quiet and watches rather than attempting to participate. On the other hand, when we're at home he asks me to sing the songs from the class and joins in with the actions, so he's obviously taking it in and I assume enjoying it on some level! Maybe the lack of wider interaction over the last 18 months has meant that many toddlers currently are a bit fazed by big group activities?

Original poster
Purplelemon7 · 03/09/2021 13:13

Yes my son won’t participate in songs even though he knows all the actions at home and loves doing them.

OP posts:
TheWayTheLightFalls · 03/09/2021 13:18

Pre-covid DD (then 2) went to a dance type class once a week purely because I wanted to get out the door on long winter afternoons and it included some soft play provision. She never seemed to like it. Shut during covid obvs. Still shut. Every time we drive past she enthusiastically points out the church for dancing and wants to go back Confused. It’s been about 18 months!

idontlikealdi · 03/09/2021 13:21

No, there's nothing fun about making a toddler do things to a timetable. They're for the parents not the kids.

Holskey · 03/09/2021 13:26

My 14-month-old loves classes and loves approaching other adults and, most of all, children. Perhaps your toddler has introverted tendencies which he may or may not grow out of. Nothing wrong with that. As long as he doesn't dislike them, you could keep trying and see if he warms to them.

mynameiscalypso · 03/09/2021 13:28

My DS is the same age and is far too independently-minded to do classes like that. He wants to poke the ground with a stick or kick a ball around or watch CoCoMelon on my phone... Given that I also hate those kind of classes too, I've given up. I didn't mind them when he was a baby as it was something to do and gave a bit of routine to the week but now I feel like it would just be a waste of the time we get to spend together. It's a tough age though as they're not really old enough to be interested in 'proper' things like a trip to the zoo or whatever so I do get a bit bored at times but that's my problem, not his!

Powerof4 · 03/09/2021 13:32

My dd loved one that had bouncy castles, climbing equipment and about 10 mins of parachute games. We went from when she was one and she’d still go now, if she wasn’t at school! We also did completely unstructured sessions at a local gym which we both loved as we just got to play together in a fun environment. Other stuff she didn’t want to go to. For her, it was unstructured physical play with me she wanted. Maybe try a few different things and see what your toddler gravitates towards?

shouldistop · 03/09/2021 13:33

Sounds a bit like Gymboree? My son loved it at 2. Is your wee one maybe a bit shy? Which would be normal given the pandemic and his age.

makinganavalon · 03/09/2021 13:35

My dd (2 in July) has always been withdrawn and observant in classes, not very often coming out of her shell or doing anything the others are. took her to one the other day expecting the same but she was away, really getting involved and interacting! Some kids just need time to observe (in dds case a few classes) before they want to take part, maybe it's all too much before they get used to it. I think it was still worth taking dd to the classes she didn't join in on, she could learn and watch how others behave and also it got us out and about xx

SleepingStandingUp · 03/09/2021 13:37

My twins are 20 months and love them.

But.

1 is very chilled. They do the activities at the front and mine spend more time wandering around doing their own thing. I might pick them up to do a dance etc but they're put back on down

1 is outside and freeform

Original poster
Purplelemon7 · 03/09/2021 13:38

Yeah I’m wondering if it’s shyness but it’s quite surprising as he’s not like this around us and people that we socialise with. It might be the loud, stimulating environment or other children. Not really sure!

OP posts:
makinganavalon · 03/09/2021 13:41

Just seen your new comment and just wanted to say our DD too is really loud with us, but always shy around others until about two weeks ago. Almost changed overnight, maybe it's a developmental thing and she's clicked how to socialise and join in a bit more, or maybe her personality is to observe until comfortable and not dive right in. Could be the same for your little one?

THNG5 · 03/09/2021 13:44

Think it might depend on the child's personality as well. My dd is 2 and absolutely loves these type of classes. She is so much more active and involved than my boys were at the same age.

Recessed · 03/09/2021 13:46

Under age 4 classes are mostly pointless and of limited benefit to children. I did some with mine but it was mostly just to have a reason to get out of the house as I was going doolally with two DC very close in age. If they seem to be enjoying it it's a useful way to waste a tedious toddler hour but if he's not arsed don't waste your money. From a developmental perspective it's much more beneficial for him to freeplay/be outside in nature pottering at his own pace.

Recessed · 03/09/2021 13:48

I used to see so many parents forcing their tiny children to participate in a class that was too loud too overstimulating while the poor child clung to their parent and bawled. I never got it. Just take them bloody home! Seemed cruel and unnecessary.

Original poster
Purplelemon7 · 03/09/2021 13:49

@makinganavalon That’s interesting. My little one is very energetic and quite talkative, can be a little wary of new people but warms up pretty quickly. It’s only in the class environment that I’ve seen him like this. Could be developmental or could be his personality.

OP posts:
Flev · 03/09/2021 13:50

My nearly 3yr old frequently just stands and stares when we go to a music and movement class. We didn't think she enjoyed it for a while, but she sings the songs and does the actions at home - and gets excited about going.

She asked to come home once when it was too noisy for her but did much better the next week despite it still being very busy. I think it's massively the impact of the last 18 months on these little ones, they are just not used to the number of people, the noise levels and the range of activities.

NoIDontWatchLoveIsland · 03/09/2021 13:57

No, I always assumed these things were predominantly for the parents social benefit and to convince parents of PFB that it's an "educational" activity that will magically enable/accelerate development that would happen anyway.

Most toddlers like

  • adult one on one attention.
  • older children playing with them who will lead the play
  • to potter about and move rapidly between activities
  • to spend a lot of time outdoors
  • to spend a lot of time moving physically
NoIDontWatchLoveIsland · 03/09/2021 13:58

I have found with both DS and DD that unstructured cheap church hall type playgroups are what they like best.

zingally · 03/09/2021 14:04

Of my two, one LOVED clubs like that. The other one wasn't interested in the slightest. They're not for everyone.

BEE08 · 03/09/2021 14:09

My DS is 2 years, 3 months - we go to a free play toddler and parent gymnastics class which he loves. It is unstructured, so he can go around and climb, balance and push around on all the equipment.
We did do a sensory class which was in a small group, lots of sensory, fidget, light up toys, this seem to introduce him back into groups again and get used to being around other children, but he is getting too old for this now.

SpikeDearheart · 03/09/2021 14:11

@NoIDontWatchLoveIsland I think my toddler might prefer unstructured church hall type playgroups as well. Unfortunately, covid had obliterated them all around my way, so it's private, structured classes or nothing Sad

Original poster
Purplelemon7 · 03/09/2021 14:13

@NoIDontWatchLoveIsland Yes to all of those! However it seems like there are a few toddlers here who enjoy these classes. Fingers crossed our local church group decides to re open soon.

OP posts:
OverTheWater · 03/09/2021 14:13

Ds is 2.10, hates music and dance classes despite loving singing and dancing at home!

We have much more success with sport type classes and at the opposite extreme unstructured playgroups / forest school.