Activities - w/ or w/o parent?

[microworm]

Figured I would just start a thread. I'm looking at the youth activity catalog for this summer and I want DS1 to do gymnastics and/or soccer. There are several options:

Gymnastics:

Parent & tot gymnastics for ages 2-3 (45 min)

Tiny tumble for ages 3-4 (no parent) (45 min)

Soccer:

Parent & tot soccer for ages 2-3 (45 min)

Little kickers for ages 3-6 (no parent) (1 hr)

My question is, are our kids ready for these types of activities without a parent directly involved? Last year, soccer was a disaster and he didn't listen or follow any instruction. Also he wasn't speaking well. Now he is a year older, is speaking a lot better but is still difficult to understand. I'm not sure if he is ready to do a class by himself. But then part of me thinks that he would behave a lot better for the coaches if we (his parents) aren't directly involved. I'm just nervous because he will be freshly 3 years old when these activities start, as opposed to 3.5 or older.

[activebaby]

My kid does soccer class through his daycare- so no parent. I don't actually know the age ranges in his class which I should probably figure out. I think 3-6 years is too much of a stretch for safety in one class - maybe I'm being over protective.
For gymnastics I'd say with no parent. I used to teach dance to kids starting at 3 y/o. They are better behaved and more focused without their parents around.

[lrmrtn]

For the "no parent" classes, will you still be present? When DS did soccer, we still had to be there but not actively involved. Of course, that was a major fail for us - DS didn't listen, kept running towards us and wanting us to do everything with him. I actually think he would've done better if he hadn't seen us there, since he does so well at DC.

[emmygirl]

I would say so no parent. DD just started swim lessons without me and I was shocked by how much better she actually did without me there. I think they listen better. I'm still there watching and waving when she looks over but helps that that's all.
Also I taught gymnastics and I'd say no parent there either, it's usually very one on one when working on skills and form.
DD also does soccer at school so no parents there either but I haven't been able to creep on a practice to see how she's doing listening and stuff with that. Tomorrow I'm planning on going for my run at that time so I can sneak a peek at practice.

[microworm]

Apr 12, 2017 14:05:03 GMT -5 lrmrtn said:

For the "no parent" classes, will you still be present? When DS did soccer, we still had to be there but not actively involved. Of course, that was a major fail for us - DS didn't listen, kept running towards us and wanting us to do everything with him. I actually think he would've done better if he hadn't seen us there, since he does so well at DC.

Yes we would still be there, we wouldn't just drop him off. Last year we were actively involved and it was challenging. I think part was age but also he just acts a fool with us.

ETA I'm not sure of the facility set up and where the parents would be. The soccer is outside but the gymnastics is inside. Not sure if there is a viewing room that is separated or what.

[emmagk]

i would do no parent older class. I know my kid is much better behaved for other people when i'm not there. And there is a huge difference in the ability range of a 2yo vs a 3yo so I think a 3+yo would be bored in a littler kid class

[microworm]

Apr 12, 2017 14:03:45 GMT -5 activebaby said:

My kid does soccer class through his daycare- so no parent. I don't actually know the age ranges in his class which I should probably figure out. I think 3-6 years is too much of a stretch for safety in one class - maybe I'm being over protective.
For gymnastics I'd say with no parent. I used to teach dance to kids starting at 3 y/o. They are better behaved and more focused without their parents around.

I bet they break up into smaller groups based on age, because yea a 3 yo is much different than a 6 yo. Guess I could check on that.

[sstwinklinglites]

I try to stick my kid in anything that doesn't involve me. He listens better and behaves better. If he can see me, he wants to be with me or have me involved.

[Doll15]

I like no parent, it's promoting some independence for them. DD strives when we left her do thing "all by myself"

[lrmrtn]

Apr 12, 2017 14:25:09 GMT -5 microworm said:

Apr 12, 2017 14:05:03 GMT -5 lrmrtn said:

For the "no parent" classes, will you still be present? When DS did soccer, we still had to be there but not actively involved. Of course, that was a major fail for us - DS didn't listen, kept running towards us and wanting us to do everything with him. I actually think he would've done better if he hadn't seen us there, since he does so well at DC.

Yes we would still be there, we wouldn't just drop him off. Last year we were actively involved and it was challenging. I think part was age but also he just acts a fool with us.

ETA I'm not sure of the facility set up and where the parents would be. The soccer is outside but the gymnastics is inside. Not sure if there is a viewing room that is separated or what.

For us, because DS was in the 2 yo class, parents just sat on a bench inside the "classroom." Very few parents just sat there and watched though since their kids would drag them around. For the 3yo+ classes, parents watched outside through the glass.

[emmagk]

Apr 12, 2017 14:28:31 GMT -5 microworm said:

Apr 12, 2017 14:03:45 GMT -5 activebaby said:

My kid does soccer class through his daycare- so no parent. I don't actually know the age ranges in his class which I should probably figure out. I think 3-6 years is too much of a stretch for safety in one class - maybe I'm being over protective.
For gymnastics I'd say with no parent. I used to teach dance to kids starting at 3 y/o. They are better behaved and more focused without their parents around.

I bet they break up into smaller groups based on age, because yea a 3 yo is much different than a 6 yo. Guess I could check on that.

this made me go sign DS up for little kickers this summer (well wait list apparently) but it's weird that the age range for us is age 2-3.5yo then 3.5-5. Odd that the same company has different age ranges at different locations 

[britab]

Without! DD is used to daycare and Sunday school without us.

[becole]

Most things around here they have to be 3 as of a certain date so we will be signing up for fall or winter activities but he's not old enough. I also am in no rush because I like to do whatever I want on the weekends in the summer and I know my little athlete will cause me to spend every waking moment of his youth/ teen years on the side of some field. I'll put it off as long as I can.

[bliz1712]

Most of the activities I'm looking at for Eliza she won't be ready for until she is 4. Soccer in our area doesn't start until 5. We did let her start going to the Church choir that DD1 goes to and honestly she's not ready and it's only for 1/2 hour. She doesn't sing, doesn't sit and runs around and is more of a distraction for the other kids.  And we talk extensively beforehand about how she needs to listen, etc.

The only activities I'm doing for Eliza are swim lessons, which is a Mom/Tot class, and Gymnastics in Sept/Oct. I figure by Sep/Oct she might listen a little more and their requirement is 3 by 9/1

TL/DL: I don't think Eliza is ready for activities without me yet. And she's one of the older ones on the board with a 3/26 birthday.

[microworm]

Thanks for the other perspective bliz1712. Sometimes I feel like the other kids on this board are more "mature" for their age than DS1, based on what moms have said about them. Maybe that's why I'm hesitating.

[athn64]

I'm pretty sure it's kid dependent. DD1 is pretty independent so I'd probably try the no parent class. She also tends to behave better when she has older kids to imitate. So that's another reason I'd do that one.

[kittyriot]

As a former gymnastics coach. Definitely no parent! So much easier of a class to control from the coaches perspective. When there's parents on the floor they block views making it challenging to keep an eye on the kids and what they're doing. Right now I'm debating whether O is ready for the next gymnastics session or whether to wait till fall.

We're potty training right now so that's playing into my decisions as well.

[emmagk]

Apr 12, 2017 15:45:04 GMT -5 microworm said:

Thanks for the other perspective bliz1712. Sometimes I feel like the other kids on this board are more "mature" for their age than DS1, based on what moms have said about them. Maybe that's why I'm hesitating.

My kid is definitely not one of the mature ones here. I just don't want to play soccer with him and need someone else to chase him around for 30 minutes. I've mentioned before there's no way he's ready for the 3yo swim class because it's a no parents class