Gym or dance for 3 year old?

[Allegrogirl]

My very energetic 3.4 year old is doing swimming lessons and loving it. I think she would benefit from another activity. I can't decide whether to take her to gym or dance. It can't be both at the moment as I don't want to over load her or myself and it needs to fit in with my working hours.

She'd love both but I'm leaning towards gym at the moment. She doesn't really have the build or grace for ballet but it too young to worry about that?

I didn't get to do any activities except brownies as a child and feel I missed out so I want to do what's best.

What did your pre-schoolers enjoy most?

My just turned 4 year old has been doing both hobbies since 2, and she loves both. I know children who have dipped in and out of both and have various reasons for liking one or the other.

Perhaps give both a try and see which one she prefers? or ask her?

Or, if you want to make the decision first, then I'd say gymnastics as you say your DD is very energetic and my DD does seem to do a lot of charging at gymnastics. Her ballet is far more structured and in lines (but she has gone up to pre primary now)

My 4 year old ds does ballet, and I've just registered him for gymnastics (waiting list). He would rather do gym but having watched a gym warm up now understands that ballet is good training for gym.

So at this age, I would think it doesn't really matter as they will be learning transferable skills anyway, so if you select the 'wrong one' they are still getting something out of it.

Oh, and he's definately not graceful! But with ballet there are less distractions so he is learning to follow a teacher whereas with gym they have 5 different groups going round the equipment.....I'm sure 6 months ago he'd have kept looking at the other groups and thinking 'the grass is greener over there...'. Also for gym there seems to be more queueing - that'll be why the session is twice as long then!

My dd does gymnastics, 3 x 3 hour sessions per week, she has been doing it for 8 years and loves it.

My ds does dancing (which consists of, dance gymnastics, tap, street dance and musical theatre) and gymnastics. He does 2.5 hours of dancing and 2 x 3 hour sessions of gymnastics each week. He loves both.

They both compete regularly and the medals are stacking up.

Thanks for your replies. I think I may do gym for now as the day and time are convenient. Maybe dance in a year or two if DD wants to. I'm remembering Jo Jingles when she ran amok persuading the other children to do the same. We lasted 4 weeks then I gave up.

Uggmum that sound like hard work for you. How do you fit it all in?