Like when O was 18 months old, I was in a conversation with two women where one was lamenting the fact that she couldn't find a dance class that accepted children under a year and a half. The other women readily agreed and replied "I know! Because by the time they're 18 months old, they're already involved in so many other activities!" At this point I nearly spit my coffee out - mostly because their child's life and my child's life could not have been more different.
Up until this point, we've done one session of swim classes with O (in which I complained about how cold the water was) but other than that we've been "super-lazy parents". And while we fully embrace that moniker we did recently sign O up for her second ever activity - a little gymnastics class which pretty much consists of her running around, jumping on a trampoline and throwing herself into a foam pit. And I have to say, it's adorable and highly entertaining to watch. I can almost guarantee that we'll never be the parents of a toddler with a jam-packed social calendar, but an activity like this every once in a while sure is fun.
AGREE. Em is in ballet class and that's been it (at 3.5). She totally loves it. It looks like O is loving her tumbling class too! I think that's all that matters at this point (though swimming is important and I feel like I *need* to get that one going). Otherwise, yeah, too early for a jam packed calendar fo sho.
ReplyDeletewow, we must be super lazy parents because our 2 1/2 year old hasn't taken one damn class. Here I thought they were just supposed to have fun playing outside and occasionally going to the park or zoo. His life must suck. Seriously though, he would LOVE a little tumbling class like that. If only he got to wear a little skirt that cute.
ReplyDeleteOh she looks like she is having so much fun! Right there with you on the lack of activities. Mine is 4 and just started tennis a few months ago...that's enough for now.
ReplyDeleteYeah, Joe's never even taken swimming, and he's two and a half (I know, I know, gotta do that one of these days)! I was too lazy to even label my parenting style, apparently. :-)
ReplyDeleteThose shots of your daughter with feet in the air and a giant grin on her face are awesome!
Tadaa! (with her arms up) :-)
ReplyDeleteHa, I love it! I put off our first swimming lesson for 2.5 years because it seemed like waaaaay too much work to get both of us into our swim suits at the same time. I also remember taking her to some classes when she was younger just hoping that some other parent might provide me with some adult conversation during the day! Such cute photos, she's obviously a tumbling natural :)
ReplyDeleteSo very with you on the under-scheduled kids thing! Taekwondo once a week for the big boys is all I can manage. Reading, DVDs, arguing and jumping on each other are pretty good activities around our place. But that running and bouncing class O is doing sure looks like fun!
ReplyDeleteI'm totally a "lazy parent" too, Sadie has just now started her first organized activity, a music class 2x a month. I agree with the Jessica who commented previously...aren't kids supposed to just play and have fun?
ReplyDeleteMan, I must phone my mum later on and tell her yet another way she screwed me up - I'm quite sure I only got to do one dance class when I was about 3 - 4, and that was it for my activities... (my mum, incidentally, loves reading the latest 'things you must do to bring your children up perfectly' and then phoning me up to tell me where she screwed up, tongue firmly planted in cheek ;o) )
ReplyDeleteCutie Pops! Freakin' cuteness. She looks thrilled out of her mind. Personally I don't think you're being lazy in the slightest bit, quite the contrary really. I'm of the mindset that kids need time to rest and relax their active minds and bodies and many opportunities to participate in life's everyday activities.
ReplyDeletecount me in the lazy category too then, lol. we have had no classes and we are 16 months old. However right now she is more than happy playing in the washing basket??. And i am fine with that.
ReplyDeleteoh BTW, she is adorbs!, all that jumping is making me want to nap! lol.
ReplyDeleteI'm with you on the activities. Kids need to have time to play and imagine and even *gasp* do nothing!
ReplyDeleteWe've done swim and tball and ballet but I won't let them do more than 1 per season. Otherwise you are paying someone to make your kids overtired and grouchy!
My philosophy is that as long as your child is happy and healthy and you are happy and your husband/partner is happy all is good.
ReplyDeleteI would put my son into more classes but money is financially tight and everythign is so expensive.. he is currently happy goign to pre school twice a week. I have in the past taken him to drop in centres etc.. but nothing scheduled.
ReplyDeleteSome weeks I am a very energic and go to parks etc ... but sometimes don't have the enegery to do much . I burn myself out, so imagine if your kid was doing clases after classes? I think they would burn out too.