Would you miss toddler swimming or ballet to attend another child's birthday ?

[helpmehelpmetoday]

Just wondering about this. If you take your child to ballet or swimming weekly on Saturdays or Sunday's or whatever and were invited to another child's birthday - would you miss it to attend the birthday party ?

One of DS’s friends? Definitely go. There haven’t been many parties this year and he is sad about it.

One of my friends’ kids who DS is vaguely acquainted with but not really friends with? Nope, go to swimming.

For a good friend, yes. Not for just a random nursery friend, as classes are expensive and I wouldn't want to be paying for something I was regularly missing.

We'd go to the party.

If parties are not regular I'd prioritise the party. If they are regular then I would be more selective which parties to go to.

I guess at toddler age swimming/ballet is just for fun anyway and not aiming for badges/levels yet, so they won't miss much etc.

Yes, that's why we try and keep clubs to after school.

Hmm I'm not sure. My dd has even swimming since 4 (she's 6) and wouldn't want to miss it for a party other than for one or two close friends, it's the high point of her week. I'd give her the choice though.

Younger dd is 3 and I'd give her the choice to, more so because I'd try and sway her to chose not to go. Toddler parties are such a bore and a waste of weekend time IMO. (And no we don't do big parties for our kids, we have a small midweek family tea party and dds can also chose a day out, with a friend or just us)

Yes. I did the recently, missed DS swimming class as it was his friends party.

No because our swimming class is prepayed blocks and costs an eye watering amount!

Oh 100%. They’re toddlers fgs. You prioritise what they’ll find most fun. Definitely a party at that age.

Not every week. Not even every other week. I doubt even once every month.

For family party with strict time limits yes.

Very close friend yes.

But if I'm honest most of the people I'm close with I met through things like ds swimming etc. so they'd most likely be running a party outside of these times!

Everyone is different though. A friend of mine would allow her kids to miss swimming lessons because they were watching a film that hadn't finished or were happy at the park and didn't want to leave.

I would leave to take ds swimming (her eldest and mine were in same class). She thought I was strict. I felt I was teaching ds if you pay for something you commit. (Unless it's your money you're wasting ).
Now my ds is a national swimmer.

He'd still prioritise swimming over a party!

Toddler age is slightly different but I don't think there needs to be a point kids learn about priorities.

It's the same with after school clubs and play dates.

Yea although this was the reason I've always done anything you have to pay in blocks on week days not weekends

I’d let my child decided which they wanted to do. Party or swimming and ballet.

Yes.

Toddler age - yes, unless it was a whole nursery group invite and DD wouldn't be able to tell me a lot about the child.

Later it really depended on the birthday child. A good friend, yes, otherwise it may depend on the timing. DD had badge days at swimming where missing would be difficult. In the last weeks before a dance show - once ok, every other week no.

Yes. Unless it was a class party and they weren’t that bothered.

Mine have missed various swimming lessons because of their friend’s parties over the years. They aren’t planning on being Olympic swimmers.

I'm not bringing up the next Adam Peaty or Misty Copeland so yeah I'd go the party. The odd week off doesn't hurt.

Yes, unless my child really loves the activity and isn’t a huge fan of parties .

Which is unusual!

Yes.

Of course! I never even thought of doing anything else.

Yes especially as toddler invitations tend to be less frequent. I find it harder at reception/year 1 as so many parties. We’ve never yet had a party invitation for a Saturday morning though which is when most of our activities are.