Advice on shy DD and going to classes

[Fandango]

My DD (3.5) is very shy and still struggles not to cry when I drop her off at nursery 3 days a week. She's fine soon after I've gone. All her other friends seem to go to classes of some sort e.g. ballet, swimming. Every time I try to bring up the subject of her going too she refuses because all of these classes ask for the parents to leave the children alone for the duration of the class. I have thought about just biting the bullet and making her go but I know she'll just cling on to me and cry hysterically for me not to leave her.

Any advice of experience of this? Perhaps once she goes to school she will get more confident and want to go to classes but for the moment is it OK for this or am I preventing her developing to the same extent as her friends. I take her loads of places myself e.g. nice walks, swimming, park, music classes etc

v. confused about the right thing to do.

classes should be fun, if it would upset her then whats the point?
my dd is 3.3, just started nursery and imo classes would be too much for her at the moment as she is so tired so we do quiet play at home and then park/swimming at the weekend. theres no rush

Who needs classes? Sounds to me as though your DD has a perfectly talented mummy who can teach far better than anyone else - and who is happy so to do. Enjoy your DDs childhood, do things together and think about classes when she wants to do something that you cannot teach her. She's little, she's got loads to learn, and the more fun it is the better.

Do you remember anyone who made you cry because you really didn't want to do something? How do you view them now?

Please don't take her if she's not willing, she's still very little.

DD was similar -- no, dd was probably worse. For instance, at age 5.5yo, she clung to the wall for her first 8 swim lessons, hysterically crying some of the time.

Now she's 9yo and I can't keep her out of clubs and activities, she's turned into my most confident and busy child (7+ activities a week, including swim lessons with children mostly 1-2 years her senior). I did nothing to achieve this except let her mature at her own pace.

She is still tiny. Leave it for a while. I know loads of kids who gave up ballet at six havind started at three. I know one who started at six and went to ballet school. Give it time.

Thanks so much everyone. I find it so hard knowing what's the right thing to do sometimes. She's is still very little and she's so lovely I just want her to be happy and have fun like you have all said.

Feeling very reassured now.

I must add that my DD was the same...she is 6 now and totally fine about it all...also Diddi Dance allows parents to stay and it's up to 4 years old...might suit?