2yo doesn't like to participate in classes

[WorriedMum13]

I take my 2yo to a toddler class once per week. The class is 1 hour and broken up into 30mins free play followed by 30mins of singing, dancing and different types of activities. The theme of the class changes each week.

We recently moved into the 2+ class and ever since my DS doesn't want to participate. He will happily enjoy the free play but when it comes to sitting in the circle for the second half he refuses and tries to go back to the free play area.

He is the only child who doesn't want to join in, all of the other toddlers will sit with their parents in the circle.

I don't know if it's a waste of time and money bringing him to these classes. We've been going for almost a year (though only moved into the 2+ class in March).

Should I persevere or look into a new activity for him? Does anyone have any advice?

Sack if off. Waste of time, money and stress. Lots of 2 year olds wouldn't engage in this kind of structured activity. My eldest is nearly 4 and still struggled with a recent trial of ballet classes. We tried ballet at 2 as well and she wouldn't join in at ALL then. Do something else with him that you'll both enjoy together.

At the moment he enjoys free play so take him to a group that just does that.

My daughter is 21 months and I took her to a group yesterday. Loved the free play element but wouldn't sit to join in with the guided activity. Bin it off!!

Yep I would sack it off.
My son prefer free play too.
We ended up finding a couple of play groups in local churches/community centres and he enjoys them much better.
Pay £1 and you get tea/coffee, drink and snack for the LOs.

Bin it, he’s 2

My twins were like this. Just take him to things he enjoys. Otherwise it's a waste of time and money.

My twins tried ballet at 3 and were not into it at all, and just disrupted every class. Covid forced a year off ( thank god) but when I tried them at 4.5 they were more receptive, now they are 5.5 and LOVE it, and behave reasonably appropriately too.

My daughter was like this at 2. I remember being so stressed, all the other kids were copying dance moves etc and she was just running amok! The leader of the class made several comments about getting her 'assessed' which was even more worrying for a first time mum. Makes me cross to think of it now. Many 2 year Olds would not be ready for structured activities. They all develop at vastly different rates and, like adults, will all have vastly different interests.
DD is 6 now and has always been extremely compliant at school, loves gymnastics and dance classes and is basically a typical 6yo

Long story short, bin it off. Find something that suits him. And don't worry about it!

A major reason why people attend these sort of classes is because the mums are looking for other mums and kids to be friends with.

These sort of classes are fine if your child wants to do them but if you child isn't keen then it's a good sate of time and you should find a free play activity instead

He’s 2? At that age they generally just like to do their own thing and are easily bored/distracted.

Where I work there is a nursery from 2 years and usually when I go past they are not interacting as a group (unless it’s snack time) and the staff are in groups getting them to engage. Music circle time or toddler ballet is a hoot - one or two may be engaged but the rest are not remotely interested.

DD hated circle time. I didn't make her.

Thank you all for your responses. It's nice to hear other 2yo couldn't be bothered with these type of activities either.

We have 1 more class in our block (paid upfront), but after that we won't be going back and I'll hopefully find a better activity for us both to enjoy.

I took ds to a toddler yoga when he was 2. They asked me not to bring him back - he couldn’t sit still for a minute and was dancing around as the other children laid flat on their backs being ‘grass’.

My DS was the same until he was about... erm, 12.

At 3 he wouldn't come downstairs to his own birthday party - he's always hated organised activities!

I think you’ve either got a toddler who is happy to sit through group activities or you haven’t, although I’m pretty certain at 2 most prefer not too. Neither is wrong. My 2 yo DS likes a bit of circle time if it involves songs (but he wouldn’t sit for more than say 10-15 minutes, 30 minutes seems really long for a 2 year old). A lot of the others don’t though and just want to carry on playing. The 2 Mums I’m closest too never join in that part as they are always off with their own DC. If it’s causing you anxiety ditch it for a more free play group would be my recommendation. Agree with a PP - church based toddler groups are fab and generally anything goes.

Oh God this just brought back hideous memories when we did a group that involved 30 mins of sitting and singing and 30 mins of playing. I had 2 under 2 and my eldest used to just want to dance and run about, the leader had a bag and they were supposed to take turns to pick something then we sing the related song. She used to cry when it wasn't her turn or take the prop off another child to look at causing them to cry. I kept going then my younger one learnt to crawl and they just caused chaos, it was so embarrassing.

I was walking home one day from this group feeling generally crap about their behaviour and we saw some kids playing outside at a free play 0-5 group and it was amazing. They could just be themselves and play and I could relax, they did 5/10 minutes of singing at the end but there was no pressure for them to join in if they wanted to carry on playing it was fine. I've now got another toddler and we still go to the same group it's wonderful.

Agree with the others, sack it off.

I have two DC, 7 and 3. My 7 year old was the same, still is to be honest. He’s good in activities he loves like swimming but otherwise is still on the outside of the circle. At a recent birthday party with a magician, he and one friend were kicking balloons around while the others sat nicely in a group watching the magician. It’s hard as it feels like it’s only your child.

On the flip side DC2 is the child at the front of the class, watching the teacher intently, copying all of the moves - but it now feels like he’s in the minority while the others all run around doing free play! The irony.

Hi have things improved for you ? ☺️

@Firstimemum24 This is an old post, he is now 4.5 and will participate in group activities but still much prefers free play.

I now have another 2yo and she loves this type of sit down in a circle with a group activity.

I was so worried I was doing something wrong first time around, but they are just different people and like what they like :)

Glad to hear he's doing well. I'm much older than him and prefer free play