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Not engaging in Gymboree

7 replies

PatrickMJ · 22/10/2021 16:41

Hi Folks,

We have a toddler who is 2yrs and 4 months old. He's been attending Gymboree for 5 months or so once per week, but whilst there he runs about, is climbing all over on the obstacles and doesn't engage in any of the play. The leaders will do their sing-songs and pretend play, but he's not into any of that. He just runs about! He doens't seem to not enjoy it, but just doesn't participate in it.

At home he's very active and is very tall for his age. He can easily walk for an hour, or more!

We had questioned autism, however sleep is good, he doesn't line up toys, eating is fine, will do some pretend play with toy cars, lots of facial expressions, good eye contact, although there is a speech delay. The speech delay may be due to living in a two language household. I'm told though he's emotionally and socially delayed in terms of his development. Worth to note that he's a happy baby and there's no evbidence of distress/upset. No major tantrums or anything like that.

I should note that he's not at nursery/childminder, although he'll be starting soon. I'm told big changes happen when children start nursery.

Just wondering if at that age he should be at least joining in with the activities at Gymboree or these types of groups? I know children grow at their own pace, but you just wonder when you see other kinds joinging in, some of whom are younger, and yours is just doing his own thing.

Any thoughts folks?

OP posts:
PanicBuyingSprouts · 22/10/2021 18:39

My DS was the same and he's being assessed for inattentive ADHD. Might be worth reading up on that?

CP2701 · 22/10/2021 22:45

Some toddlers will manage these type of activities and some will not. Some need to go back when they are ready, usually when a little older. My daughter is 2 years and 9 months and we have had to give up on the structured classes for now as she also just wants to run about, and she's not the only one!

Jimmyshoes · 22/10/2021 22:46

My 2.5 year old is exactly the same and again being brought up in a two language household. He has been scoring 0 on MChat since about 20 months and he communicates his needs and what he wants fine with correct words and has over 200 words and starting to string sentences. He has always been alert since being born and has excellent eye contact and pointed at 18 months. His social and communication has always been on the later side. I took him to a toddler gym class last month and he was just like a dog on loose running up to every equipment, climbing, jumping on it on to the next one. He didn't engage with any of the games and wanted to do his own thing. He acknowledges kids (loves kids) his age but there's no play. I'm sorry I didn't mean to hijack your thread but I'm hoping it will bump it and people with similar experiences will come along and say it's part of his personality or something.

Jannt86 · 23/10/2021 12:22

My 3YO does gymnastics and dancing and initially refused to engage with either. However she'd always enjoy it and get upset if I even suggested we stop going. I think a lot of it was being painfully
shy and struggling with the joint attention aspect. However she's gradually become MUCH better at joining in. She still messes about or sulks a bit for the first 5 minutes but then is really trying her best. My advice would be not to pander too much and just leave her to it in the lesson. If she's decided to do the lesson then she's doing the lesson and not running to climb all over me etc. Be firm and leave with her if you have to. I'd also say thohgh to stick at it if it isn't distressing your child. Kids who are a bit more 'free-spirited' are exactly the kind of kids who will benefit from these lessons as it'll teach discipline and joint attention which will be great for school. Just relax and they'll probably improve x

Jannt86 · 23/10/2021 12:27

PS ITO concerns about autism it's really unclear based on what you're saying whether that's a potential but if there are concerns then getting him into a nursery would be great as you will have trained professionals who see tonnes of kids his age and are knowledgeable about bow his social skills should be etc and can observe him with other kids his age. If you let them know your concerns and keep an active dialogue with them they'll be a great source of observation if you ever do want to go down the road of having him assessed. I wouldn't panic that he is just because he's like this in structured lessons though. Lots of kids are the same and there's nothing wrong with them. I'm not really worried about my own dd for example x

HeyDuggeesFavouriteSquirrel · 25/10/2021 13:48

I take my little boy to Gymoboree. When we started he was like your DS, he enjoyed being there but didn't engage in the activities. Over the duration of about a year he became the most attentive to the activities and copied leader very well. He's now 2 years 3 months.

However there's a real mixture in the class. Some get involved, some do their own thing.

Opalfeet · 03/11/2021 18:59

If he's not enjoying it, don't take him there? Sounds normal two year old behaviour to me.

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