Classes and comparing children-I feel bad!

So I did two trial classes-1 yesterday at The Little Gym and 1 today at Kindermusik. I actually left the one today because the teacher kept making snide comments about my kids not following the program. They were the youngest there but not by much(They just turned 14 mos and the next youngest was 15 mos.)

Anyway-all these other kids are sitting quietly with their Mom's shaking their bells and playing along and my kids are like wild banshees crawling around the room. Declan freaked out both times i had to take items away from him to move on to another activity.

Also at home they walk alot...splitting their time between crawling and walking but both days they would not walk even assisted. I feel like I'm doing something wrong! Or is it just that this is new to them...Really they have only been around each other this is the first time they have been around other babies. They did great with the other kids so thats one good thing. Can anyone share their experiences with me as far as introducing your kids to more planned and organized activity? Is there anything I can do at home to help them?

Re: Classes and comparing children-I feel bad!

I'm right there with you. I had my DS 2nd birthday at Gymboree and while all of the other kids were following directions and waiting their turns my DS was running around everywhere and not doing what everyone else was. If you figure something out please let me know! But at the end of the day, they are just kids.

Re: Classes and comparing children-I feel bad!

I think it depends on the kid and the also the mood they are in that day. I took J&M to a trial class at little gym. Jonah sat nicely and did all the activities while Mady had a fit if I tried to keep her in one spot and proceeded to crawl all around the room while all the other babies were sitting in a circle.

We start the actual session next week, so we'll see how it goes.

ETA: I would not join the class with the teacher making the comments. When Mady was all over the place at Little Gym and I kept trying to get her back in place, the teacher said "No, its fine! Let her explore!" THAT is the attitude these teachers should have, not that they should get annoyed if A BABY doesnt "follow the program."

Message edited 1/29/2010 12:16:16 PM.

Re: Classes and comparing children-I feel bad!

aww, they will warm up to the idea, just keep taking them

you are not doing anything wrong, you are a great mommy

Re: Classes and comparing children-I feel bad!

You are not doing anything wrong! At 14 months it is perfectly normal for them to want to explore. I feel like that s very young to expect them to sit still for an organized activity.

Re: Classes and comparing children-I feel bad!

This is 100% because it's new to them, they'll get the hang of it!!! And GOOD FOR YOU for leaving the snide teacher today. No WAY would I pay good $$ to have someone be sarcastic to my baby. NO WAY.

Re: Classes and comparing children-I feel bad!

I could not imagine Liam sitting still. OMG, that kid wants to walk, explore, etc.

Now I'm nervous about taking him to a class.

Re: Classes and comparing children-I feel bad!

You are doing NOTHING wrong. DS is 13 months and he is all over the place at gymboree these days. They are exploring and you have to allow them to.

Re: Classes and comparing children-I feel bad!

Just to clarify at TLG the teacher was GREAT. She was the same way as others have said-just let them explore....I will definitely not be joining Kindermusik. Maybe when they are oldewr. I am still going to check out My Gym and Gymboree since TLG wants almost $600 for a 20 weeks session 1X a week. I'll see how the others are. Another Mom recommended My Gym to me so I will see. I am also joining a play group and we'll see how they do with that.

Re: Classes and comparing children-I feel bad!

Liam was home with my Mom and I didn't start any classes/outside activities until he was about 15 months old.

He would NOT sit still or follow the directions. He was fairly new to walking/climbing so he was always falling. The other kids (especially the girls) were following the teacher, etc.

But he got used to it after a while, just had to keep at it.

Re: Classes and comparing children-I feel bad!

I did trials at My Gym (one in W. Babylon and one in Huntington) and decided to sign up at Gymboree. The reason? The instructor at Gymboree was EXCELLENT. He engaged all the kids and my DS responded to him so well.The My Gym staff were really lacking in their interaction with the kids. They just didn't seem to care at all if the kids were engaged in the activity or not. They were boring, unanimated and uninteresting to most of the kids there as they were off doing their own thing and not participting in the prepared activity.

You can have awesome facility but if you do not have a great staff to run it, the programs are lousy.

Where do you live I can highly recommend my Gymboree and instructor for your little ones if you are nearby E. Northort or Sayville. He teaches at both locations.

Message edited 1/29/2010 12:37:28 PM.

Re: Classes and comparing children-I feel bad!

Posted by Michmouse

I did trials at My Gym (one in W. Babylon and one in Huntington) and decided to sign up at Gymboree. The reason? The instructor at Gymboree was EXCELLENT. He engaged all the kids and my DS responded to him so well.The My Gym staff was really lacking in their interaction with the kids.

You can have awesome facility but if you do not have a great staff to run it, the programs are lousy.

Where do you live I can highly recommend my Gymboree and instructor for your little ones if you are nearby E. Northort or Sayville. He teaches at both locations.

Re: Classes and comparing children-I feel bad!

Keep looking for a good instructor, it makes all the difference

Re: Classes and comparing children-I feel bad!

Honestly as a former gymnastics teacher to little ones... it is so wrong for a teacher to compare. Every child is different. Although it is nice to introduce little one's to more structured activities... it generally takes a few classes for most to learn to sit still and that is with the HELP of the teacher. Some never really do at such a young age and the teacher should either step in to help the child or allow the kids to explore. I recently attended a program at our public library and was disappointed. The age range for the program was 18m to 5 years! The teacher wanted a very structured focus, which is fine for 3-5 y.o.'s. The 2 and under's were running around more and you could tell the teacher was frustrated. Let's just say I won't attend any more programs with that teacher. If they can't handle little one's curiosity, then they should stick to teaching pre-schooler's. Little one's should be allowed to explore within limits at least.

They are not miniature pre-schoolers. I'd say either give it a few more classes to see if the kids settle down or find something a little less structured.

Re: Classes and comparing children-I feel bad!

When DS was 2 - 3 he was enrolled in My Gym classes. He loved them but he was always the the kid that was doing his own thing. He couldnt wait to get to the ball pit and the trampoline etc. I stressed about it at first then I realized he was not the only one doing this, he was having fun and the instructors didnt mind. Bring them - let them enjoy - time is so short before they "have to" follow the rules in a class.

Re: Classes and comparing children-I feel bad!

First of all the instructor is an idiot, secondly Chels does not sit still for a second at her classes...I see all the other babies sitting quietly with their mom's and Chels is across the room trying to stand on her head The instructor at most classes tell me to leave her and that she's exploring and that is what she's supposed to be doing!!!!

Re: Classes and comparing children-I feel bad!

Abby takes classes at The Little Gym near us. the instructor always presents the skill. but he also says "If your child wants to explore, thats perfectly fine." Sometimes she does, sometimes she doesn't. Anyone who expects a child that age to follow directions would leave me

Message edited 1/29/2010 1:25:59 PM.

Re: Classes and comparing children-I feel bad!

First of all, NEVER, EVER return to the class where the teacher made comments...totally unnapropriate. They are babies... they don't sit still. Neither of mine have ever!!

I took Ava and Brody to My Gym in West Babylon and really like it. Sometimes they sit and participate, sometimes they don't.

Find a place where you feel comfortable, they seem to have fun and where you enjoy the company of the other parents. That's all that counts. They will have plenty of years of school ahead of them when they will have to sit still and be quiet.

Re: Classes and comparing children-I feel bad!

For years at Gymboree, DS never did what the rest of the class did.

I took it as he's not a follower. He's a leader, and inventive and imaginative on his own....

Re: Classes and comparing children-I feel bad!

Kids can be very fickle at that age....And that instructor was out of line IMO ( and to me it showed that she was inexperienced )

Just keep introducing them to different things, maybe even just free classes at your local library ( more so just to get them accustomed to different faces and places)..My DS is in his 2nd year of pre-k and sometimes still has problems with "planned activities"

Re: Classes and comparing children-I feel bad!

Please my DD is the friendliest happiest little girl so I thought when we started her music class she would love it. Well we started this music class in September when she was 11 months old. The first day of class she would not smile at anyone and she refused to move from my side. She went hysterical every time we had to change instruments. She did not want to give anything up. It takes time for them to get used to these classes. Now she is 15 months and loves her music class. She even stopped crying when we have to give the instruments back and switch activities. I can't even believe a teacher was making snide comments. Give me a break.

Re: Classes and comparing children-I feel bad!

Re: Classes and comparing children-I feel bad!

Part of the reason I am such a fan of Music Together is because they encourage the children to walk/roam around and explore their environment. Their philosophy is as long as they are in the same area they are still absorbing all the music, movements, etc.

I would not be "embarrassed" if your LOs are exploring. When they are comfy they will come sit down and enjoy it. Or they may enjoy it from their own little spot in the room.

I never really thought Ryan was absorbing the classes since he is a wanderer. But then we were playing the CD in the house one day and he started doing ALL the movements!!

These kids are so amazing.

Re: Classes and comparing children-I feel bad!

Re: Classes and comparing children-I feel bad!

Don't feel bad! Little toddlers have a short attention span! I have 14 three year olds that can carely make it through a 15 minute circle time! (and thats with movement included)
I would definetly wait until they were at least 2 to join a class like that. I feel that structured classes for such a young toddlers aren't the most beneficial. (I am sure others will have a different opinion) They are going to have plenty of structured activities in their lifetime why do it so soon?