To think "classes" for babies and very young children a re a money-making scam?

[Gateau]

I've never heard anything so ludicrous in all my life - "classes" for babies and very young children. I'm talking about the likes of music and singing classes, 'gym' classes, overpriced swimming classes etc etc.. The list is endless.
Recently someone told me their baby learnt to "wave" at a music class and another told me their little one learnt to climb stairs at gymn classes. Ummm, can we not teach them these ourselves??! I did.
I just find them so patronising and more than that, I don't think it's fair to put them in classes at such a young age. There's enough time for classes when school comes round.
I know some Mums, partic SAHMs want their LOs to socialise with other LOs and classes are a social outlet for them, but what's wrong with natural growth - ie nursery,a playgroup or mother and toddler group, soft play, the park, the garden, playing inside with them yourself, inviting other LOs round to play......??
IMO these classes are nothing but a money-making scam; I can't believe so many parents have fallen for it.

I took Tom to Jolly Babies and we both loved it. I was new to the area and wanted to meet other mums. The lady who did it is starting new classes, called 'Sing a Rainbow', which we will be doing. We goto 2 toddler groups as well, have friends round, goto soft play, play outside etc...

I know they were supposed to be doing gym classes here, don't think i'll bother though. I also did baby massage, which was free.

Well, they might enjoy them and not care if the child is being taught or not. A parent gets to chat, the child is (presumably) doing something they enjoy, whether running under a silk sheet and shaking shakers or splashing in a pool and then you might all have a cup of tea afterwards or go to the park.

It's a structure to the day for some people the same as going to toddlers on Thursday or playgroup on Tuesday. So what if they've chosen
to pay a few more pounds for something they prefer.

Stripeymama - I do see what you saying and yes, it is sad if someone only has the option of meeting people at a paid for class but I am sure, and this is the case for anyone that I can think of, that people do a class because they enjoy going. They do plenty of other things but they happen to do this as well.

Gosh, you are very over-defensive about these classes, Guadalupe. Why the need to be so defensive about something you so strongly believe is the right choice for you and your LO(s)??
Or are you just peeved at all the money you might as well pour down the drain?

No, Gateau, I am not peeved about money down the drain. Ds1 didn't do any classes, dd went to a music group for a few months, which we enjoyed, and ds2 (19 months) has never done any classes either.

I simply find your scathing attitude towards anyone who chooses to do one rather unpleasant.

Hee hee - you're very easy to rile and so defensive,Guadalupe. The exact response I predicted.
Calm down; go wave some scarves or something.

I am not riled or defensive. Where exactly did you predict this?

Like I said, you have been very scathing about people choosing to do something differently to you. The post about your friend's baby not being as confident as yours even after a scam class was particularly smug.

But 'hee hee' away, you are quite certain you are in the know and other parents are mugs. I am sure we can live with it.

Have always fancied setting up a "Baby Meditation" class or possibly Skytots (parachuting for the under 2s)...

Quod erat demonstrandum

My last post was to Guadalupe, BTW.

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For something so dull it's got a fair few people interested!!
If people are insulted that's their problem. Pathetic, really.

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Ooooh, you've cut me to the bone, pruners.
Don't come on to any of my threads in that case. You always critcise me, yet you're always there, moaning about something which is not about the subject in question.
Go on, take yourself off.

my ds goes to a music class and it helps with his social interaction he has ASD but still some children can struggle who do not have it and it is great for them to build confidance and social skills

yes am sure loads of them are crap (although of course attendance at them is not compulsory) but music (and I do accept there are plenty of less effective music classes) has plenty of proven benefits to children. Not to do with making them extra bright or hot housing them or anything, just to do with coordination, creativity, stimulating the brain etc. All stuff you could easily do at home of course (and via free play), particularly if you do musicy stuff with them, but plenty of people simply don't have the confidence to do music related things with their children and a good class will facilitate the inclusion of music at home which is never a bad thing IMO.

and anyway, I can't see anything wrong with going to see other people. DS goes to an extra music class when DD is at preschool, he has a lovely time, gets to run around with other children, listen to music (which he LOVES) and then we all go to the cafe with friends. Costs the princely sum of $3. What's not to like?

believe me, most people I know running music classes are NOT raking in the cash

oh god it's all gone wierd now

yes, and music is excellent for working with children/adults with special needs.

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It always goes weird when pruners comes on board, MrsJohn. She just makes bitchy, inane comments which have nothing to do with our discussion. Very boring.

hmmmmm
you sound like a bit of twat TBH
pruners is nice. so there

gateau what an unpleasant poster you are
why all the nasty comments about what other mums choose to do with their time and money
people may have lots of varied reasons for going to groups whether they pay for them or not
not sure what business it is of yours if you are not being 'ripped' off

I'm a twat and proud of it

Clearly.

I may be a twat, but I'm proud to say I don't follow the herd.

I think it's true that taking baby to activities at a young age can be as much for you as them. But I'm glad I did the things that I did while I was on maternity leave, and will try and do stuff again with ds2.

Some classes are more overpriced than others. I couldn't find out how to register for swimming classes at the local council pool and ended up taking ds a long way to classes in another borough for a few weeks, then we found some closer to home though still not our own borough for the last 2 months at home. We also finally found the local free session in the pool funded by Surestart - I heard about it in October but then couldn't get information from the pool. But the paid for classes cost a similar amount to taking ds swimming, and signing up for a course gave me a push to get there each week which I probably wouldn't have done so well on my own, given the effort of packing all our stuff, getting him there, changed etc.

We also found free local music groups, and most of the mum and baby groups were a reasonable size.