When did you start 'activities' for your kids?

My boys started playing soccer at 4. They were high energy and it was perfect for them.

My oldest started a dance class at age 4. At that time I remember thinking "why on earth would anybody start their kids at a younger age".

Then I had younger DD. She begged to do dance from the time she could talk. She started dance just before her 3rd birthday.

I think it depends on personality. Some kids are just ready before others.

Before DD came to live with us she had been in a foster home where both parents worked. She was used to getting up every morning to go to daycare which was also a developmental program. When she came to us, she was not used to just staying home. She got bored. She went from living in a home that had seven kids to being an only child. It was a huge change. It took me all of two months to realize neither of us were doing well being alone together 24/7 (remember, at this time hubby travelled for work, too - so we really were alone). That's when she started in Gymboree, Kindermusik, a Catholic co-operative preschool (every other Friday) and we joined MOPS and MOMs Club. We'd go to free library activities and arranged play-dates. The local coffee shop had a dedicated play space for little ones. I truly think it is easier when the kids are small because so many moms are stay-at-home with their little ones and there are so many activities available.

Dd is 2.5 and is signed up to take a pre-preschool class with Park and Rec on Tuesdays from 9-10:30.  They have free play, then circle time, a craft and snack with a story. We did the same type of class for younger toddlers last year, but in this class I can leave her once she is potty learned and ready for me to go. For the second half of the school year, I think I will have her go T and Th. 

 

We also go to Kindergym on Friday mornings, it's drop in open play, so not an official class but there's always lots of other kids there. I think she's ready to start library storytime again and there's a toddler one offered on Wednesday mornings. 

 

Next year, when she is 3.5, she will go to preschool on MWF mornings, hopefully again through the affordable Park and Rec program. I also plan on starting her in a dance class once a week by then, we have a great little studio nearby.

 

I take both her and ds to open swim on Thursdays after school. We have an inside warm pool nearby that we can sign up for open swim sessions year round.

Edited by liamsmom - 8/5/12 at 1:28pm