winter activities review

[brachysira]

In the fall, we talked about all the things one could sign up for to stay busy in the cold--gymnastics classes, storytime, etc.  What did you end up doing and how did it go?

[Deleted]

Mine was more family activities than classes per se. We did the pumpkin patch and fall picking. I learned to knit and almost finished my second scarf. I visited family twice for birthday parties. Christmas was fun, but Christmas Eve sucked (DH was in a cranky project not going well mood. I fell off the exercise wagon in mid December and ajanuary and February mostly due to colds. Our trip to Florida was the best part of winter. Comedy club and sledding was the best part of February. But I was still counting down until March. I am super excited that next week it will be 47 degrees!!!!

So overall, I should have continued to eat well and exercise and the coldest Fenruary in 100 years was a damper, but we powered through and are almost there!!

How was yours?

[brachysira]

We did tennis for 1-2 year olds. She cried and screamed and spent the whole time trying to put away the cones, etc. saying "put way" the whole time. The other kids were a bit younger and mostly just stood around dazed. By the 3rd class, I had her doing the activities to some degree, but by then, the teacher had sort of starting planning less and avoiding M because she was so likely to scream, so we did not sign up for another session. I might do another 4 weeks in April if it is still cold.

We did gymnastics for 2 year-olds in the evenings. My child was less capable, more afraid, and less well-behaved on class 1 and 2. By class 3, she was totally out of control and we left. She was sick for class 4. We skipped classes 5 and 6 because they learned a new trick each week and she didn't even do week 1's trick and so we thought she would be too far behind and just more intimidated. We were going to do a more expensive gymnastics place next (these were city lessons), but I think this class helped us decide to postpone that until next winter.

We tried swimming class in the late fall, but it was 0-3, and it was all little babies. They just stood around and sang, and M turned kind of blue because it was very cold and she did not have all the fat the babies had. Plus she was squirmy and kept grabbing my suit and it was just unpleasant. These were inexpensive city lessons too and we did not go back.

We have done music since October, and that has been best. However, she's been getting worse and worse behaved since January, and last time she just screamed and we had to leave. There are 2 sessions left but she seems to hate class now, so I am thinking of not going. She seems to just hate the class now for some reason.

We go to a playgroup and lots of playdates, and those a usually pretty fun and stress free. So I guess we're just going to put off classes for a while and try to do playdates really often. It should get easier when we can go to the park and splashpad.

[cjsmom]

I guess going to Target on Saturdays doesn't count.

[michieu129]

brachysira, Yikes!! Can't say you didn't try. Jack is the same way though. So I totally understand. He does little gym, but they are pretty cool with letting him do his own thing and thats why we still do it.

We tried story time at the library and it was an utter disaster. He also hated swim class last winter for the most part. We finished it but he was also a lot younger then. Now I am pretty sure it would be a complete waste of money so I did not even bother trying. Some kids just don't like these situations and thats ok. While I hope he grows out of it, I know he is his own person and thats really fine by me. Once they get a bit older and can tell us what they want to do instead I think it will help immensely.

Other than that...we haven't done too much. We try to keep busy on the weekends as a family, trips to museums and stuff. But our weekdays are pretty boring.

[TheEleventhHour]

brachysira I am seriously impressed with all of the activities you tried out! We haven't ventured out much since the first blizzard in January. Mostly because it is brutally cold and my car is out of commission but also because I can't imagine many group activities going over well right now lol. I am definitely going to try more when he's closer to 2.5 and next winter we want to put him in skiing lessons since we will be moving right to a popular ski spot.

[Deleted]

We start swim class in March. I think it will go OK though because when we went to Florida and swim with family here she really likes it. DD is also in DC, so I haven't done a ton. I only did library story time when DH traveled for the adult interaction. Since he has been home for work more, I stopped going. Also it is harder with 2. I really need to go though, so I can keep things even for the 2 kids. Maybe when it is lighter and the weather is warmer.

We plan to do ski lessons with DS but more when he is 5, next winter. He still isn't that coordinated. DS has done soccer and baseball at the DC. I was thinking of signing him up for cooking because he is always complaining about his food, and I thought it might help that. But all of that is at the DC and outside teachers come in, so he behaves well since he is older and he is familiar with the place, I don't have to worry about taking him. So I guess my point is it gets better.