Gymnastics drop off for 3yo

[TheEveningSun]

Just wondered if this is normal for a gymnastic class for 3-4 year olds. I took my DD 3yo to a tester session and was told it was drop off only. I wasn’t allowed to sit and watch as “children act/behave better if parents aren’t there”. I was told I could stand outside (in cold and rain) and watch through the window. So I did, didn’t see them doing much for first 20min just some stretching, then they moved to the other part so I saw nothing. Luckily my DD is a confident 3yo and was happy to be left but iabu to expect to be allowed to watch the class at least for the tester session?
How am I supposed to decide if I’m happy with the classes based on what my 3yo tells me? The club has a great reputation but I’d still like to know what I’m paying for. Not sure what to do now.

It wasn't like that at the one I went to with my 3-4 year olds!
A lot of preschool ones you actually sit in with them...at ours we could sit & watch through a glass viewing area type thing

Well it’s your child’s opinion that counts. If they enjoyed it great. If they were bored then stop. I can see the teachers point - unless there’s one day entry it must be very disruptive to have the odd parent watch at most sessions. At my DDs ballet we were allowed to wait in an anteroom but not be in the room with them (and there was only a very narrow bit of glass in the door).

My now 4 year old moved to pre-school gymnastics from her gym tots class led by the same teacher and in the same room so was quite happy being left at 3. However, the kids and parents who aren't that confident at first were certainly allowed to stay and make sure the kid was settled before leaving the room. It's in a leisure centre so there's a cafe the parents all go and sit in and I always pop down about half way through to have a peep through the window to see what she's up to.

It’s because it won’t consider itself a fun entertainment for a preschooler but a potentially competitive environment for everyone there.

my son did a musical theatre dance class like this at 3, and that was quite short lived because there was really no way to know if he was really participating/enjoying it or not. He was quite happy after the first class but then it seemed to wane and as I couldn’t observe (no window peeping possible!) and you couldn’t catch the teachers to ask (one class after another, kids just filed out while others filed in when it was time for class) I no longer wanted to part with my money.

At 3 I really think they’re mostly too young for the commitment of a class like that anyway. We got a membership to the local trampoline place instead.

My daughters gymn class (she started at 3) is exactly the same, as is swimming (although there is a viewing window).

DD2 started gymnastics at a drop off class this term. They have the same policy, though I did see one parent staying as her child found it hard to settle, so I think they make exceptions for SN etc. It's the same with her music and swimming class and she has been fine with those. I don't think 3 is too young for classes like that, most dcs around here have been used to toddler classes and are able to listen and stay focused.
DD is verbal enough to tell me if she doesn't like anything, and seems to be having a good time.

This is normal for sports and music classes. My kids have done gynmastics and ballet and they are both like this. It's not a 'fun' parent and child class. It's a preschool class for a sport.

Seems to be very normal for gymnastics. At best a small window in the door to check all are present and correct. Parents don't typically wander off though - I wasn't comfortable with someone else escorting her to the loo, or worse, not.

parents in classes are a distraction, but I do think that an area for parents to wait on the premises should be provided as a minimum when teaching children under 6.

Sounds normal…it’s like that at our club…it’s taken seriously from a young gage….no parental distractions wanted

Going against the grain it seems... but I'm surprised at parents not being able the stay for the first session. They don't know the child, the child doesn't know them, so how do they know the child will settle, follow instructions, join in etc? I work with children a lot older than 3, are we are happy for a parent to stay at first if necessary (usually they end up leaving within 15 mins as the child is joining and happy, but occasionally we get one who needs a bit longer.

Thank you for your replies, I’m happy to leave her there, she said she enjoyed the class which is great. I just thought I’d be able to watch the tester session before I can decide whether To commit or not. I’ve never been told no, that’s why I’m unsure what to do.

This is standard (although some will let you watch the first session).

You can make your decision to continue or not based on your child's enjoyment and what the teacher's view on your child's ability to do the class/join in/behave themselves.

I ruled out gymnastics for DD for this reason. It’s got such an abusive reputation anyway that there was no way I was leaving a 3 year old with strangers.

We stuck to activities where parents were present only. DD is older now in Y1 and I am approaching the point where I’m more ok with it, as we will need to use holiday clubs next Summer etc but for preschoolers I feel the potential risk far outweighs the benefits.

They’ve shown you how they work. You choose what you do with that info.

If you can watch through the windows there’s nothing being hidden.

Given the well documented abuse in sports and dance clubs, parents should be able to sit in on a first class, and there should be a way for parents to view sessions for at least primary aged after that.

DD has been in various dance classes, I have always been able to watch the first class to watch the teaching and DD's response, well into her teens.

To add, they have also always asked permission of me and DD to be allowed to make physical contact in making (gentle) corrections so she can understand how to use her muscles correctly.

At ours the 3-4 year old go in on their own but there is an indoor seat area for parents with windows that overlook the gym and TV screens with camera feeds.

In previous gymnastics club we were able to watch but it’s not the case here. I guess I’ll give it a go and take it by my DDs feedback 🤷🏻‍♀️

DD’s ballet class was like this from 3,

Honestly, if possible, it is best.

I taught private classes of 4 year olds for years (not Gymnastics)

And having parents "In" the class environment can very easily ruin any class that involves any seriousness. If it is just a play-class, no problem. Makes no difference, but if it is something that involves anything more, then what happens is you end up with Children running to their parents every 5 seconds, any time they have to wait (if there is waiting for turns) or any time that anything happens that they don't 100% like.

Obviously the best scenario is a "viewing" area, e.g. a seated area slightly away from the learning area, of a window that you can look through etc.

What we used to do was to have a "no parent" policy, but we would film (with permission from all parents) sections of the class, so that the parents could see what their children were doing and the progress they would making. We would also frequently invite the parents in after the class, or at special occasions, so again - they could see.

Now as a parent, I still think this is a good balance. If I am there, I'm a distraction to my son, and a person to run to if the teacher wants them to do anything hard. I like it when there is a window, or videos, but I don't want to be in his class for any of the lessons.

My Dds club was like this. I can remember just assuming it would be ok to stay and then bring concerned when I realised I couldn't and the coach arranged a call with me to provide reassurance. They had the preschoolers going through a smaller, separate door to the gym (that went straight down one end so they didn't have to go through the big kids) which helped the transition. I was allowed to help take her shoes off and stay for about the whole of 3/4 minutes while quietly retreating to the door because she was very clingy but they were clear that the expectation was no parents, they don't have room in the gym, and it's at a private school so there's no viewing area. They also cited a safety issue as if kids are distracted by parents they aren't listening and concentrating on what they're doing. She's now 7 and in their squad development team so it obviously worked out ok. They take it seriously but they absolutely aren't the "typical" pushy gym, it is very welfare orientated with regular holidays to ensure gymnasts rest and I have no doubt she's in good hands!

Mine went to dance classes alone from age 2. We waited in the waiting room and if there were any real issues the dc were brought out to their parents but we never saw the lessons. Same with swimming .