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.

Ah so people are only allowed to meet other mothers (or not meet other mothers as in my case with ds3) in ways that you approve of? I see. It's the 'if-you-don't-live-your-life-exactly-the-same-way-as-me-then-I-will-scorn' type of post.

And all classes are a scam and too expensive because some swimming classes cost £10. If there are ones which cost £10 ( I didn't pay that much although it was quite a while ago) it may well be because they're held in a hydro pool which will be more expensive to hire (and lovely for babies).

You presumably have met enough friends with young children, your children socialise enough and you have access to all these free classes (I have only ever been offered one free class in 9 years as a mother- it was a HV meet and talk group - I went). Others don't have everything quite so in place so choose to do a class or 2. Which doesn't affect you.

Make all the presumptions you want about me; I neither have the time or inclination to argue any further with you. I have a right to my own opinion, as do you. No need to get so defensive.

I wasn't defensive. 3 children and over the past 9 years I've been to 3 classes (2 with ds1, 1 with ds3)- don't really think I have much to get defensive about.

Just pointing out that your opinion seems to assume that everyone has exactly the same life as you. If you still can't see the point of the classes after numerous people have told you they go there to socialise, to meet people, or in my case to avoid having to meet people. Plenty of reasons for existence there.

If I wanted to scam people I would imagine that selling something like this on ebay would be a lot less hassle than putting up with screaming toddlers and their parents all day.

On the contrary, hearing about what happens in the classes has only strenghened my argument!
Let's leave it there, eh? This is now very boring.

you said it Gateau ... perhaps next time don't bother to post eh? your attitude sucks.

Mainly I'm with you gateau, the classes are a rip off and selling them as being essential to a toddler's or baby's development is a total scam. But as many have pointed out this is a free society. I took dd1 to gymboree and though it was expensive she really loved it, so worthwhile imo, when we moved I took her to tumbletots and it was the biggest rip off ever imo, drab, dreary and run by an android, so after the free session we never returned. But I'm not a sahm, I only have one day off a week and I can see if you did it full time you'd need stuff like that to keep your sanity intact and that's priceless.

I took my DS to loads of classes.

Some of them were free like the baby massage classes and post natal mothers class, some of which I paid for like sign and sing and water babies. I also took him to toddler group and met up with friends who were off work.

I did these classes more for me rather than DS. I didn't particularly enjoy being on maternity leave, I hated being in the house on my own and for me it was a way to have some structure to my week and get out and meet other people while my friends were at work. To me that was worth every penny and if I could afford it then that's up to me.

The swimming classes i see as an important life skill and I have no regrets about paying a lot for them. DS loves being in the pool and being underwater and I will take any future babies I have. I have taken DS swimming plenty of times on my own and would never have had the guts to put him under the water if it wasn't with proper instruction.

The baby signing has been great as well and I will definitely do that with future children.

Other classes we tried for a bit and they weren't for us.

But most of all my DS loves the classes and gets to mix with children more than he would do if I was just arranging playdates and so on.

So YABU. Each to their own.

I?m nodding in agreement at a lot of what Stripeymama is saying.

It IS rather sad that we need organised groups to have the courage to speak to one another. Partly this must be a cultural, British thing: ?I won?t smile at another mum in a cafe because we haven?t been formally introduced. But I will if I meet her elsewhere and I can see her name on the sticky badge?.

I took DS to hugely expensive swimming classes and felt guilty for ages (he hated them). I?m taking DD1 and DD2 now to Sing & Sign. I love the songs (which I wouldn?t otherwise know) & the signing. The teacher is great too. But I?ve never made any friends from such classes. In fact I sometimes feel so chirpy I?m out of place. If other mums go for the company, it doesn?t always show. I'll make even more of an effort when they start again.

Oh and another reason I don't feel guilty about paying for classes is that the people running them are usually Mums themselves looking for work that they can fit around their children and childcare needs.

Hardly fat cats making ridiculous profits.

Trixy ? I disagree about the importance of swimming lessons for a baby. You would never put your baby in a situation where they?d go under the water. I think it?s a false reassurance to think that because they went under for a few seconds during a class this is some life-saving skill they?ve aquired. (I have taken my DS to udnerwater swimming from an early age and I still regret doing it. I was a mug.)

I completely disagree with you cthea.

My Ds is really confident in the water and in putting his face under the water.

I know that friends of mine have terrible trouble getting their kids to put their face in the water and consequently are not very confident swimmers.

I feel that getting him used to the water at an early age is an important life skill.

We both enjoy doing the classes. It would be a different story if DS absolutely hated it, I would have stopped going.

If people are happy to pay and the parents, kids enjoy them then they have the choice. As long as the parents realise that they are probably not going to be at any advantage as another child who doesn't attend such a class, then fine.

It goes on all the way through childhood. Swimming, gymnastics, all sports, dance modern and ballet, stagecoach, singing, piano, this list is endless and these are off the top of my head for girls.

Not many of the girls that did say the ballet classes are still doing it in there teens (despite it costing a fortune) and certainly are not at any advantage when they hit the dance floor. .

However, its nice to be able to afford to give a child a chance rather than have them looking back and thinking the were never encouraged. Also one girl had been dancing from 5 and wants to make a career of it, its cost her parents a fortune, but she may make it.

IMO there is no need for classes before the age of 4 but if it gets parents out, making friends, having fun with the babies then there is nothing wrong with it at all.

You don't sound too peachy yourself greenandpleasant. Will post what and when I like.

OK Trixy - I won't get into an argument with you about this. You have no way of knowing how your DS would have liked swimming w/o the classes. You could have done the face splashing yourself - it's not hugely technical or scary. What they learn at this age is very soon totally forgotten. As a life skill - which is how you put it.

I agree with you cthea.
I put my DS under the water myself when he was about 4 months old. He was fine - not a problem.
Why anyone needs to go to a class to learn this is beyond me.

not everyone has your confidence , gateau, and would like some professional input.

You need professional input to duck your child under the water?
Mmmmmm....

Just get a nanny when they are born.

Swimming lessons arn't neccessary for learning to swim until a child gets to around 4. Then out of most classes on offer I think they are worth it.

abouteve, that's exactly what the lady at our local swimming pool said.

some parents might, some might not understand that babies won;t breathe in the water, and would like some additional direction. not everyone is a super confident parent, so really, it is horses for courses.

i didn;t do any classes with eitehr of mine until they were of an age they would get somethng out of it, but i can understand why parents would use them

can;t get cross/frustrated/angry about it at all!

Seems a lot of things are beyond you Gateau.

Some people may need to go to a class for the water splashing because they are cautious of water around their babies or they may fear water themselves. They would prefer that their child learns to swim in an organised and safe environment.

The majority of people probably do not need a class for this but still prefer to attend the classes because of the social aspect. Life would be very boring indeed if we did everything on our own (or just with our mums).

I wouldn't say such classes are essential but they can be a lot of fun and can offer more than the free playgroups.

Yeah, you're right. A lot of things ARE beyond me. So what?

These classes were just time fillers for me. Nothing more, nothing less. If I liked them I went back, if I didn't then I didn't go.

A lot of the suggestions made in the first paragraph I either did as well (with ds1) or couldn't do or absolutely did not want to do with ds2 and ds3.

There's such a thing as people having different lives and making different choices that fit in with where they live, their family and what's available locally.

Doesn't mean they've fallen for anything.

Oh I'm fine and peachy thanks Gateau. I'm perfectly happy to spend my money on going to lovely groups with my ds, meeting new people and doing different things. I don't for a minute think he's learning new skills but we are both having a good time, which is the point.

You are of course entitled to your opinion but then you're "bored" with people who disagree with you. You've been condescending and mean-spirited to anyone who has contributed by putting an alternative view, and you're accusing individuals who run these groups of running scams.

Trollery by any standards, and unpleasant to read.