Baby gym/Baby music classes ...What do YOU think about them?

[Plonker]

Please give me your HONEST opinion on the following ...

1. Structured baby gym/tumble tots type class. Do you think that:

a) They enhance development in babies and children

b) They're fun to do but don't particularly enhance development

c) They're ok, but not for me

d) They're a total waste of money

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1. Structured music class/jo jingles type class.

Do you think that:

a) They enhance development in babies and children

b) They're fun to do but don't particularly enhance development

c) They're ok, but not for me

d) They're a total waste of money

_______________________

1. Do you think that children who don't attend the above are somehow missing out?

________________________

[Portofino]

Haven't read all the thread,but I think classes for babies are a complete waste of money, UNLESS Mum gets something out of going. If the parent enjoys it, can afford it, and gets something from the socialising, hey why not. Just don't kid yourself it's doing great things for the baby.

[trubytrio]

Shame this thread quite old now and all the hullabaloo calmed down because i'd like to add.....
1 a.
2 a.
3 NO of course they're not missing out if they don't do them, kids advance wonderfully with the love, care and attention parent(s) should give them and that's free.
But does that mean you shouldn't do one?... Of course not. We take our 2 pre schoolers to Jo Jingles and Socatots in Bath. We don't care if they're not the next x-craptor winner or ronal-fallover-o. Point is,we all (other parents included) have fun, the kids love it (and the women who run them) too. There is a structure (a message, if you will)but it's not a bad one. Enjoy it, if you want, if not.....no drama!

[mrsbabookaloo]

I do think that any kind of structured class for the under ones is a complete waste of time and money though.

[mrsbabookaloo]

1. a to a certain extent, not massively
   
2. a to a certain extent, not massively
   
3. No, depends what else you are doing with them.
   
   If you do a lot or even a bit of physical activity and singing songs at home and with friends and other kids, then your child is not missing out if you don't go.
   
   I've done a structured music class, with my 2 year old, but it was on the unstructured end of the scale, kids joined in or didn't and it was no big deal, just lots of noise and fun.
   
   I take dd to a tiny gym which she loves and is great exercise, but it's completely unstructured, it's just a room with a load od equipment for them to rampage about on. She has developed some physical confidence from this, I am sure, in climbling, balancing and jumping off things.
   
   The worst thing about structured classes and especially music classes is that you have to commit for a whole term, there are very few drop in ones. In London it' £6-7 for a class which may only be half an hour! Big rip-off.

[TotalChaos]

1 d) and 2 b). Because Ds had language and social skills delays, one of the recommendations was to take him to tumbletots. . can't think of anything worse for a kid with receptive language delay than making them comply with arbitrary instructions they may not understand [hmmm]. By the time I tried TT, DS language had improved, but still found it dire. Too much pointless regimentation, not enough time for physical exercise/exploration.

[Gateau]

Justification tow people I know use for forking out to send their toddlers to classes:
Socatots: "It teaches my son how to kick a ball."

Tumbletots: "It teaches my daughter how to go up and down stairs."

[francagoestohollywood]

too

[francagoestohollywood]

b)
c)
no!

I took dd to some kind of tumble tot thingy when we lived in the UK, mainly because the weather was to shite for me to take her to the park.

[Gateau]

I have not taken DS (23 months) to any structured activities/classes. I think they're all a pile of overhyped, commercialised, contrived nonsense.
DH and I were just remarking on this the other day when DS was struggling up a climbing frame in an adventure playground at the weekend:
Why, oh why, do people pay to take their LOs to the likes of Tumbletots to be restricted and regimented indoors when they can play freely and have far more adventures in the great outdoors?

[EldonAve]

1 d
2 b
3 no

[Sorrento]

Ah not upset but I feel generally that expecting toddlers to sit still and follow instructions at 18 months to 2 years and then being made to feel your child is "wrong" if they don't is too much to inflict on you and the child.
I guess for some children they are great and others not, mine fell into the not catergory which doesn't mean they are destined to fail at music or dance or gym.
I just think going back in time I wish i'd paced myself more and spent more days chillin in the garden than wasting money on structured activities.

[stealthsquiggle]

..oh and both are heavily subsidised by nursery/associated government grants, so they cost me about £1 each - If I were paying 'full' price I would possibly still do tumble tots because she does love it so much, but not the music class.

[Horton]

I think classes like this are pretty pointless for children under about two, tbh. At that point they get a lot more sociable and it's good to go somewhere where they can see and talk to other children but personally I'd rather take my daughter to something like a playgroup so she can play with sand and water and different toys and then maybe do a tiny bit of singing at the end. Also, all these classes seem so expensive!

If DD wants to do some kind of dancing or sport or music in the future when a structured activity is a bit easier for her, I'd love her to do anything she likes the idea of. For now we're quite happy with playgroup once a week.

[stealthsquiggle]

1. (b)
2. (b)
3. No, not really, as long as they have other chances to see/play with other children. DD (2.5) does both with nursery (so I don't have to do them ). She loves them and clearly learns "stuff" (her forward rolls are fantastic!) but if I were a SAHM I am not convinced I would take her.

[Gateau]

You seem quite upset by the whole thing, Sorrento?
What happened, if you don't mind elaborating??!

[Sorrento]

Complete waste of money, never again would i put me or my child thorough the "experience"

[Gateau]

1 (d)
2 (d)
3 Not in any way. On the contrary, I think that, particularly in good weather, children miss out by being in these classes and not outside enjoying the fresh air in a non-structured environment.

[FeelingLucky]

DD (22months) doesn't go to baby gym or anything like that, so can't answer Q1
Though I did notice at the age of 11 months, on the odd occasion we went to soft play, it was the only place where she would stand unaided for ages, so maybe it did help her development?

RE: Structured music class. Depends on how structured. DD and I enjoy the ones where there is a structure, but if DD wants to opt out of that structure and run around in such a way that is not too disruptive, that;s fine. (If too disruptive, I tend to ask DD if she wants to leave and she generally calms down after that).
In general , I'm a fan of music classes as I think it;s important to learn the value of doing something communally, be that sitting in a circle and singing together, or sitting around a table and eating together. It's a real bonus when DD experiences live music as I don;t play a musical instrument myself. What I dislike is the way these classes are promoted - telling us parents that coming to the class enhances development, how classical music, esp. Mozart makes them more intelligent, etc. The implication being that if you can't afford to pay £6 for each class, your child will miss out and be thick

I suppose, yes I do think that a child would miss out if not taken to any music classes, but in the same way that I feel a child would miss out by not being taken to the park, or taken to the library to read a book (which is free!)

[BlueberryPancake]

Tumbletot type : I don't like them because too structured. We go for some soft play areas, there's one at local gym, they just climb/slide/jump as they please, without someone telling them what to do. I really don't like Tumbletots promo stating that it is a "springboard to developing children skills" that is a very big promise which is not possible to prove and is rubbish, I think.

With DS1, who was a very shy little toddler, we went to a music/signing/dancing group from 1 yo to 2.5 and I am convinced that it helped him with coming out of his shell. He loved it. But that was free, and with an excellent teacher, and a very friendly group. if you find one of these I think it's great. He has really benefited from it.

Last question: no, but for some children, ikn some families, I think it's a good way fo socialising, meeting friends (for mum and child).

[dinkystinky]

When they're little, B B and probably on the whole no (though that said my DS1 has been doing very unstructured type music classes - think kiddie chaos with intruments for the kids while a guy plays songs the parents and kids sing to - for the past 2 years and loves it and as a result of it has a massive sense of confidence as a result I think in new situations with new kids around). When they're older, I think kids do much more out of structured gym type classes.

[Portofino]

My dd (just 5) has been doing Little Gym for the last 6 months or so. She loves it and does get a real sense of achievement out learning new things. I can imagine that aged 3 + they get something from this. Younger than that though....? Probably not much. It's great for you though if it's achance to mix with other mums and the kids enjoy it.

[frazzledgirl]

DS is 19 months and we do a semi-structured class - start off with a couple of songs and a ball game or something (which he mostly ignores in favour of running round and round and ROUND), then they get out loads of soft play equipment and let the kids riot for half an hour.

He absolutely loves it - we don't have room for big toys like that at home - and I do think it's teaching him something about climbing, jumping, etc. Not to mention sharing...

Mind you, we mostly do it because it's fun.

[thirdname]

I think it also depends on what age you maaen, 1 month or 3 years...(ok, not really classified as baby I suppose)

[SueW]

They are fun to do but IMO/E better if there is free time to allow the mums/dads to chat to each other. I did Gymboree with DD when we were in the US when she was 9mo and it was a fantastic way to meet other families. Mostly because it started with a facilitated chat session then free play where you could continue chat, then a parachute session and song.