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.

is this inverted snobbery?oh laugh at the poncy mums they paid for that.oh how we laughed

well i am so earthy and resourceful (and stingy) we played with gravel and sticks. nowt wrong wi us.blah blah

these classes arew straightforward capitalist exchange

Money for services

no one ripped off

Here here theislandofsodor!

SO Gateau - let me get this straight - you're getting PAID to chat on MN and that is less of a rip off than being paid to put on a baby class that people WANT to go to?

It's not inverted snobbery. God, only on Mumsnet could I be accused of both snobbery and inverted snobbery in one week.

I don't give a rats ass how much or how little money someone has, or how posh or common they are, it doesn't make Gymboree good value for money if you can get the same service cheaper or free! Why would you pay more unless you have no option?

It's like that survey they did with the bottles of wine, proving people really do enjoy something more if they know it cost a bomb.

Ignore, thatboggermanprison.
The talons are coing out because they're realising how much money they're pissing down the drain on a load of contrived shite.

and your point is what exactly?consumer decides classes run because mums want them.supply and demand

ThatBigGermanPrison well clearly if you could get the SAME service for cheaper then most people would probably choose that. But (not having gone) there are other costs / benefits to factor in to Gymboree - cost of travel there / to soft play, benefit of only having a small number of similar aged children rather than 11 year olds rampaging through the baby and toddler area at soft play and even the fact that you might like the mums there better - not because they have money but they might be nice people! Plus it is easier to get to meet people in a structured environment like this than in a free for all at soft play.

So the benefits might not be so tangible but I can think of lots of reasons why I might choose this over something else! And can equally understand why others would not. But why does it matter that there are lots and lots of options, some structured somenot, some expensive some free, for people to do?

LOL why are you so perturbed about other's disposable income.jealous?you protest too much

if you are not bothered why are you compelled to stamp your feet and post

YANBU

What a detective you are, SM.Your talent is wasted on MN, it really is.

Um, I can only see one person foot stamping here.....

For these classes to be a scam surely there has to be an element of promising something on which they don't deliver. If they just say come along, pay this amount and possibly have some fun, it's not deceptive or scam-like. It seems many people have positive things to say about a range of classes.

With regard to the comment about middle-class parents wanting to protect PFBs from nits and fags.Well... what to say - are there people who seek out 'nits and fags'?

oh gateau getting snippy did i touch a raw nerve. i want to be your friend at over priced poncy classes

with your tact and introspection - everyone would love ya

ScottishMummy, you aren't showing yourself in a very good light, love

what light would that be?

Watch out; the detective's on the scent again.
Maybe you'd be better off spending your money on English grammar classes for yourself- so you know how to use punctuation.

Case in point:
"oh gateau getting snippy did i touch a raw nerve"

You know what I've thought about it and I do think that having a class to get to at a specific time could be good for .new mums with first borns who are still finding it hard to get motivated and get out of the house.

I think we'd all agree that it's good to get out of the house with our babies, change of scene, other adults to talk to etc.

I'm a SALT and run my own courses in baby signing for 4 month plus babies. We have half an hour of signing etc then half an hour of time for mums to have coffee and cake and chat..I do 5 week courses so that mums don't have to committ to a whole term...I'm not really making any money at all, but it's a hugely enjoyable way to spend a morning for the mums, the babies (and for me too!)..plus signing is a skill which is far easier to learn from this type of situation, rather than from a book, in my experience. It's an incredibly worthwhile thign to do with your baby, and mums get to make new friends too. I really cannot see the down side, because there isn't one.

(I'm in Knutsford by the way, if anyone's interested )

clearly you understood enough to be responding,criticising syntax is trite and shallow

and indivcative of poor arguement so you resort to digressing about grammar and syntax to try hide weak points in your narrative

yes i shall continue to spend my money on what ever scarf waving and bellowing class comes along

Oh for fuck's sake, why does everything have to turn into a sniping match?

I can disagree with something being good value without being jealous. Why would I be jealous of the lack of resources leading people to meet their social needs in a hugely expensive way?

And grammar sniping is a bit passe too.

ScottishMummy, what I mean by my last post is this. You are normally a rational and mature poster, but for some reason your maturity and rationality isn't coming across very well in your posts.

jammydodger - i went to baby signing and loved it, found it really helpful and useful. highly recommned it

Stop wasting time here and go and learn something useful. A command of the English language is fundamental.

i am immature because i attended a lot of baby classes?it was desire to get out, combat being lonely and scared with a new baby kept me sane.out the house

no ulterior motives
no baby olympics
no my baby plays cello at 6wks

i wanted to
i needed to
it kept me sane

i am immature because i attended a lot of baby classes?it was desire to get out, combat being lonely and scared with a new baby kept me sane.out the house

no ulterior motives
no baby olympics
no my baby plays cello at 6wks

i wanted to
i needed to
it kept me sane

I did a baby massage class when Lo was tiny and found it incredibly useful as I had no idea which bits I should massage and how. The teacher also did a class for Dads which my DP was very wary of going to, but he found it really built his confidence with the baby too. I would really recommend baby massage to anyone who is thinking of it.