Opinions-Class for Fall?

I am a working Mom, so the only days we can do classes with DS are Saturday and Sunday. I'd like to leave one day free for family get-togethers, visits to museums and such, etc.

So I can sign DS up for one class this Fall. He has PDD-NOS and will be 4 in December. There is a social skills class in our area that I am considering, and there is a also a gymnastics class. He needs to work on socialization, but he also needs to work on developing his core, shoulders, arms, there is weakness there. We have been going to playgrounds and the pool all summer, but with cooler weather on the way, I want something he can do indoors. I should also say DS attends an integrated PreK full-time, five days a week. Following that, he goes to a daycare for two more hours until I pick him up.

I'm leaning towards gymnastics or if that fills up swimming, so he has something different, but I keep flip-flopping.

I know, he's my child and I know what he needs, but in this case he needs both activities equally, so I am seeking opinions. TIA!

Re: Opinions-Class for Fall?

Gymnastics, or swimming has my vote !

These kids need movement , all kids do !! I think invigorating them, and exposing them to areas they may become passionate about is so important.

Plus in the end it grounds them so they can "socialize" when not in the class.

Re: Opinions-Class for Fall?

I also say put him in gymnastics or swimming....he is getting lots of socialization during the week in prek and daycare.

Re: Opinions-Class for Fall?

We did both last year. We are only continuing with swimming.

In gymnastics, he would not stay with the group and was constantly running off, so either DH or I had to stay with him for the whole class. He liked it, but didn't seem to be getting much out of it for socialization, and we were exhausted so we decided to stop and maybe try again when he is a bit older.

He LOVES swimming, even asks to go during the week. There is something about the water with kids who have sensory integration issues - everyone I know who has a child with these issues says their kid loves to swim. And to be totally honest, I love that I can just sit and watch.

Re: Opinions-Class for Fall?

Thanks ladies! The swimming class we were interested in is full, but there is a spot in gymnastics, so we'll give that a try. We can try one class and if it just doesn't work, we don't have to continue so that's good.

I know this is not a make or break decision, but both possibilities kept running through my mind. But I think you are all correct--he is doing a lot of socialization during the week, and he'll have some in the class.

DPLI--I had the same issues with him in a gymnastics class over a year ago. So we'll see if it's any better now. He's been in school settings for awhile, and is knows what is expected in a circle time so we'll see. Or he may just run around the room (with us after him)!

Re: Opinions-Class for Fall?

Thank you all for your feedback. DS took the gymnastics class with Dad on Saturday and LOVED it! So we're definitely keeping him in the class--that evening, he kept showing me the moves he learned. Another bonus--he actually took a short nap that afternoon!

Sometimes I feel like I make so many decisions, it's hard to choose something relatively simple for my son, and since we can really only do one thing, I wanted to choose something good. Thanks again!