choosing a class...if you had to choose between taking dc to swim lessons or to "gym" place play, which would you go to?

unfortunately everything around us seems to cater during the week to SAHM's and caregivers and there isn't really anything for babies during after working hours.

I want to have luce in a swim class and in a gymboree/little gym type class but I can only bring him to one.

I am leaning towards swim, but that would require me to stay in Brooklyn on Saturdays. if I took him to gym, I could do that up at my house. dh will be working Saturdays from Jan thru April so it IS doable...I guess I am just undecided.

would you rather bring him to the swim lesson or the gym play?

Re: choosing a class...if you had to choose between taking dc to swim lessons or to "gym" place play, which would you go to?

I found the swim lessons to be more 'rewarding'

DS did a 6 week class and learned a lot

We will be doing them again in the winter.

JMO

Re: choosing a class...if you had to choose between taking dc to swim lessons or to "gym" place play, which would you go to?

Swim lesson. Just because as he gets older if he ever fell into a pool he would know what to do. Plus my boys love the water.

Re: choosing a class...if you had to choose between taking dc to swim lessons or to "gym" place play, which would you go to?

swimming

Re: choosing a class...if you had to choose between taking dc to swim lessons or to "gym" place play, which would you go to?

We are enrolling DD in a class in the fall too and we chose a gym class. But we are at the pool a lot down here already so it's nothing new to her. We'll start lessons when she gets older.

Re: choosing a class...if you had to choose between taking dc to swim lessons or to "gym" place play, which would you go to?

I plan on doing both classes, but *I* would only be able to be with him for one of them. I don't think I explained it right.

my sister would take him to the other, or maybe my BIL.

Re: choosing a class...if you had to choose between taking dc to swim lessons or to "gym" place play, which would you go to?

Re: choosing a class...if you had to choose between taking dc to swim lessons or to "gym" place play, which would you go to?

I say swimming.

DS is on his second 6 week session and we are continuing for a while. I think it is well worth the money for all that he has learned.

Re: choosing a class...if you had to choose between taking dc to swim lessons or to "gym" place play, which would you go to?

Re: choosing a class...if you had to choose between taking dc to swim lessons or to "gym" place play, which would you go to?

I would pick a gym class if I had to pick just one. With swimming they may enjoy the water and splashing but (and correct me if i'm wrong) I don't think they'd really be learning swimming techniques and things that would increase their safety near water at this age. With a gym class, Luce would be working on lots of motor skills like crawling, crusing, climbing and walking and that seems fun and useful.

ETA: ooh, just saw what you clarified. I personally would go to teh swim class, I wouldn't trust anyone else with my child near or in water.

Message edited 8/25/2010 1:34:21 PM.

Re: choosing a class...if you had to choose between taking dc to swim lessons or to "gym" place play, which would you go to?

I would go with the swim class. To be honest, we did Mommy & Me swim at Safety Swim and I he didn't really learn anything - heck, I didn't learn anything.

But I mostly just wanted him to get used to being in the water and enjoy it. And, for me, I LOVE the water, so it was just a nice, relaxing bonding experience with my boy.

Re: choosing a class...if you had to choose between taking dc to swim lessons or to "gym" place play, which would you go to?

Posted by oneday

I would go with the swim class. To be honest, we did Mommy & Me swim at Safety Swim and I he didn't really learn anything - heck, I didn't learn anything.

But I mostly just wanted him to get used to being in the water and enjoy it. And, for me, I LOVE the water, so it was just a nice, relaxing bonding experience with my boy.

Re: choosing a class...if you had to choose between taking dc to swim lessons or to "gym" place play, which would you go to?

SWIM. Hands down.

Abby has done both swimming and gym classes. The gym classes were more social in nature. Depending on when you begin your lessons and which organization you use, he will either be in a group or have a private lesson. Abby started swimming lessons 3 weeks ago and because she is almost 2, they wanted her to decrease her dependency on her parents so therefore she gets private lessons with an instructor through Saf-T-Swim

Also, swimming is the only exercise in which a person uses ALL of their muscles at one time. It is a valuable skill in terms of safety G-D FORBID, your child should ever need it. I was also told that children are much less apprehensive about swimming if they are in the water before they are 3. Abby will probably start camp as soon as she is able. I want her knowing how to swim BEFORE she starts camp and not AT camp.

As an aside, if schedule and finances permit, I would suggest a music based class at some point. It showed Abby rhythm and tone. In addition, I am able to see how she connects mathematics (to a small extent) to it when she claps/bangs in time and counts simultaneously. She also loves it.

Enjoy.

Re: choosing a class...if you had to choose between taking dc to swim lessons or to "gym" place play, which would you go to?

Will it be a "mommy and me" type swim or gym class or are you watching by the side?

Message edited 8/25/2010 1:49:35 PM.

Re: choosing a class...if you had to choose between taking dc to swim lessons or to "gym" place play, which would you go to?

Re: choosing a class...if you had to choose between taking dc to swim lessons or to "gym" place play, which would you go to?

Re: choosing a class...if you had to choose between taking dc to swim lessons or to "gym" place play, which would you go to?

Swimming! I have been taking DD for the past 3 months now and she loves it!

(The nearest Gymboree/gym is 30-40 mins away from me so that made my decision easier!)

Re: choosing a class...if you had to choose between taking dc to swim lessons or to "gym" place play, which would you go to?

If I had to choose between the two, I'd choose swimming. Do you have a YMCA by you? They usually have Mommy and Me swim classes for little ones like Luce.

Re: choosing a class...if you had to choose between taking dc to swim lessons or to "gym" place play, which would you go to?

Posted by Ophelia

Posted by Goldi0218

As an aside, if schedule and finances permit, I would suggest a music based class at some point. It showed Abby rhythm and tone. In addition, I am able to see how she connects mathematics (to a small extent) to it when she claps/bangs in time and counts simultaneously. She also loves it.

Enjoy.

see, this is another thing I was thinking about. my father is a fairly accomplished jazz musician. all of my siblings learned to read music at a young age and took lessons, music appreciation etc with him.

he would love to teach my son, and it would be FREE for us. but he wouldn't be with other kids. the brooklyn/queens conservatory has nice classes for youngin's too.

bah. decisions decisions.

Re: choosing a class...if you had to choose between taking dc to swim lessons or to "gym" place play, which would you go to?

If you had an older child, I would say swim. But Luce won't really learn to swim at his age, just how to be more comfortable in the water.

Personally I would choose the Little Gym type class now and do swimming when he's older.

Re: choosing a class...if you had to choose between taking dc to swim lessons or to "gym" place play, which would you go to?

I am doing a gym type class this fall/winter and then swimming in the spring.

I figure both of them will remember more when the summer comes if I do swimming in the Spring:)

Re: choosing a class...if you had to choose between taking dc to swim lessons or to "gym" place play, which would you go to?

Def swim!!

Re: choosing a class...if you had to choose between taking dc to swim lessons or to "gym" place play, which would you go to?

Re: choosing a class...if you had to choose between taking dc to swim lessons or to "gym" place play, which would you go to?

If DC is around pools/boats/etc I wouls day swimming. Sydnie is in swimming year round. But they are still so young so I think he would enjoy a Gymboree type class more.

Re: choosing a class...if you had to choose between taking dc to swim lessons or to "gym" place play, which would you go to?

Since he'll be doing both regardless, I'd choose the one that's most convenient for you.