Ballet or keyboard?

[earpods]

Hi All,

I have a dilemma for my 4 year old.

She starts reception in September and she currently goes swimming and drama.

Do you think she should start ballet or keyboard classes from September?

She hasn't tried any of them and I just have one evening free in the week to take her to an activity.

I know I can ask her what she prefers but how much value would that have? I mean she changes her mind every day about everything! Today she may X tomorrow she will say Y. And just one week's free trial may not be enough for her to choose.

I just don't know if ballet is somehow already covered in her drama class as they do singing/dancing/acting?

On the other hand although keyboard classes start at 4 years old where we live, will she be too young for it?

Any advice/experience is welcome.

AIBU - Ballet
AINBU - Keyboard

I think just spending time with your tiny 4 year old, an evening with mummy, her favourite person in the world, to read, eat, play or chill will be a lot more beneficial than twatting about on a keyboard or twirling round in a tutu. She's 4 OP.

My youngest is nearly 13, but yes, Reception is much more tiring than nursery, even full time nursery.New people, new places, new rules,,new routines, more noise, more people, more routines, much more concentrating ... it's overwhelming and exhausting.

I would leave it a term at least. Maybe until spring.

4 is too young for piano anyway. Her hands won't stretch very far! Piano and ballet also involve more concentration than a Reception age child will have left after school. Music and Movement, some kind of "Rhythm Time", baby ballet type stuff maybe. Or on a weekend ??

DD had been doing baby "ballet" (skipping around with ribbons in a tutu) for a couple of years when she started school and she still found it exhausting after school. She was 5 in the first half term of school, so old in her cohort. She gave up most extra curriculars at this point actually, except for swimming (on Saturdays). By the end of Y2, she was playing football, cricket and piano, still going strong 5 years later.

Absolutely school is more exhausting. Remember in a nursery it's one room and a bit of outside free place - school is bigger, lots of outside time bla bla bla. Best piece of advice I got was limit weekend activities to allow for a lot of downtime (the weeks before Christmas are particularly brutal first term) and limit after school activities.

I disagree about learning piano. Mine started in reception and is Grade 3 by the time most kids do their first pre Grade 1 exam. If you think she might be too young try the app Simply Piano to see whether she gets into it and practices every day.

2 activities is plenty, school is a big transition so I’d leave it for now. She has plenty of time to chose for herself what she’d like to do. She’s 4! Enjoy time together after school.

Why on earth the need to over schedule children this way. She's only 4!!
You only have one free afternoon with her and instead of some quality time, she needs to go to another activity after a full day of school?
What's wrong with baking , having some down time at home with you, going to the park, watching a movie at home?
She's 4 and you are rushing ahead worrying about university?

She's very young at 4 for keyboard...the hands aren't big or strong enough....it usually started year 2 or 3 for that reason. Tbh I'd wait and see... she will be very tried and just want time at home.

Eh? The child is FOUR.

Either would be a fun hobby for a little kid, the OP isn't having to decide on their future career.