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Parenting

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Original poster

Is this too much for a 3 year old?

13 replies

surreygirl1987 · 23/08/2021 22:54

My son is almost 3. He is doing Rugby Tots on Saturday mornings, which he loves.

When he is 3, there is the opportunity for him to do swimming lessons at the same leisure centre - but it's straight after Rugby Tots (15 mins between swimming ending and rugby starting).

I'd love him to do both, and this is the only day he can do either (he's in childcare during the week as I work full time and they don't do classes at all on Sundays). However, is this too much do you think?

I want to give him opportunities (and I do think it's important for him to learn to swim) but I don't want to be one of those mums who crams their child with classes. They're only 30 mins each, so it's only an hour total on a Saturday morning, but do you think it will be a bit overwhelming for him to go from one class to another? He is full of energy but isn't great with transitions so I'm not sure how it would go. Would love opinions. Thanks!

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Danikm151 · 23/08/2021 23:26

I think it’s a good idea to go with the swimming class. It will be good for a change of pace after rugby and if you do it regularly it will just become part of his routine

Original poster

surreygirl1987 · 23/08/2021 23:29

Thanks. So you think he could be okay doing both? I've just realised my initial message was confusing- I meant to say it's swimming first and then rugby tots (with 15 mins between the two).

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SirenSays · 23/08/2021 23:32

I say go for it, but be prepared to have to stop one or the other if he's not enjoying himself.

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spaceghetto · 23/08/2021 23:34

I take my little boy rugby tots and i'd do swimming afterwards.

lailabasmalti · 23/08/2021 23:55

I think it's fine. DD is 3 and does a 30 min swimming lesson and then we go for an hour's fun swim straight after. Then she has enough energy to go to the playground! You will have to be on the ball to get him changed after swimming in time for the rugby though (it normally takes me 20 mins to get us both changed after swimming - will you have to go into the pool as well?)

Original poster

surreygirl1987 · 23/08/2021 23:57

I've just found a swimming lesson at a different leisure centre first thing on a Sunday morning that he could go to... would that be better do you think or do them both on a Saturday morning (and would 15 mins be enough time for getting out and changing...?)

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54321nought · 23/08/2021 23:58

do them both on the same day, cuts your travel time by half

Stroller15 · 24/08/2021 00:10

I'd do both. Similar aged DS and he would be happy doing both

Original poster

surreygirl1987 · 24/08/2021 00:12

@lailabasmalti sorry - no I won't need to go in the pool as well. Although I've just thought of something- if my husband's not around (likely to be working some Saturdays) I'll have to change my son while looking after my 1 year old baby as well. That could be a recipe for disaster if I need to get my toddler out and ready quickly! Hmmm. Maybe splitting it over two days is best... unsure now.

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Elvisinthechipshop · 24/08/2021 00:23

If there's a baby in the mix I would avoid anything that puts you under time pressure! So split the days. But I don't think that sounds like overscheduling either way.

PennyWus · 24/08/2021 00:31

Yes I agree, split Saturday and Sunday. Check if the swim class is year round - some are only term time. This helps, because then you still get whole Sundays sometimes to visit relatives etc.

Personally though I would leave swimming classes for a year or so, and just take him to the pool when you and DH have time. Less of a commitment. If you work full time it is just hard work being tied to a class on both days of the weekend.

LonelySock · 24/08/2021 00:37

There is very little point in paying for swim "lessons" before the age of five, as long as you occasionally (at least) take him yourself so he's not freaked out by water.

At five ish onwards, he can actually learn to swim. Which is a crucial life lesson.

So I'd do both if you want, but drop the swimming if it gets too much and he likes the toddling round at rugby tots.

lailabasmalti · 24/08/2021 00:46

With the 1 year old I'd probably want a bigger gap between classes to get changed!

I wouldn't want to have both Saturdays and Sundays committed to classes though, that's just me. Weekends for us are the time to do one-off events like day trips to the zoo/seaside or theme parks (plus visits to relatives as mentioned above), so if you have activities on both days you won't be able to do that (if classes are only in term-time that gives you a chance to go during holidays, but then it will be much busier).

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