Dance classes for kids specifically for exercise?

[CPT Tripss]

Talk to me again in 7 years about whether all those hours of activities are such a great idea. And then report back to me again in 7 more years.

OK - try this.
DD was a swimmer and soccer player, basically from age 8 on. In HS she averaged more than 4 hours a day of practice and travel time- plus meets and games. She regularly got 8 hours sleep. And kept up with her school work. National Honor Society in HS, now a PharmD and doing well in her job, graduated with honors and awards.
Her comment - if I had time to kill who knows what trouble I would have gotten into. Kids learn to manage their lives and time when they have a busy schedule, if parents don't freak out about the occassional B or C in school.

 

[DisneyAddict_M]

My daughter (7) takes ballet and jazz. She LOVES both and practices at home every chance she gets. I consider both to be a very good workout. I wanted her to take Irish Step, but she insisted on ballet and since I'm not the one taking the lessons, I let her choose.

She's also in Chess Club at school to exercise her brain (also her choice), but that's only 2 months out of the year. I don't want her in too many activities at such a young age, but dance is only on Saturday mornings (ballet first, then jazz right after), so I figure the 3 activities will work just fine.

 

[marlynnp]

OK - try this.
DD was a swimmer and soccer player, basically from age 8 on. In HS she averaged more than 4 hours a day of practice and travel time- plus meets and games. She regularly got 8 hours sleep. And kept up with her school work. National Honor Society in HS, now a PharmD and doing well in her job, graduated with honors and awards.
Her comment - if I had time to kill who knows what trouble I would have gotten into. Kids learn to manage their lives and time when they have a busy schedule, if parents don't freak out about the occassional B or C in school.

omg!!! I bet she didn't watch TV, how tragic! lol
Good for her!

I am always busy ~ work full time, various volunteer commitments on a weekly basis, taking my daughter to activities, etc.. It drives me nuts to hear people complain that they "don't have time for ..." and yet you'll hear them talk about the 3 hours of shows they watch every night. Get off your fat duff and do something.

Back to the topic......

***wonders which dance class papaD plans on taking***

 

[CPT Tripss]

omg!!! I bet she didn't watch TV, how tragic! lol

snip

***wonders which dance class papaD plans on taking***

Only Gilmore Girls - for some reason, she likes Connecticut.

You think PapaD will exercise too?

 

[Mouse House Mama]

I guess the choices we see are Hip Hop, Tap, and Ballet.... which one gives you the best aerobic exercise? My kids don't seem to care which one they go to, so I want to pick the one that burns the most calories.

I wouldn't worry about the calories. Let them pick something fun that they will enjoy. If they don't care which one they go to then perhaps they don't really want to go to dance. Maybe they would like a different activity.

 

[Mouse House Mama]

It might not be good for your child. To mine Dance is play. She loves it. My DD is very bright so homework never takes anywhere close to an hour. She has friends in the neighborhood that she runs out to play with every weekend. She also spends tons of time with me and my DH. We read together every night before she goes to bed. Sunday is family day.

If she were struggling then maybe I could see your point but she is thriving. She has amazing drive and work ethic (about everything- school, dance, housework). Honestly can't people understand what is good for one child might not be good for another. Personally I think more than 3 hours of TV (not counting the news or an occasional movie night) is more than enough, some people disagree. Parent and let parent.

-Becca-

Not for nothing but the reason people here give you grief is because your child is 6 and dancing 20 hours a week. Sorry but that is a part time job. That isn't good for any child. You yourself recently posted about how you were concerned about her schooling and the dance stuff. So while I do agree that not everything is good for every child I do tend to agree that 20 hours of any activity is too much for a 6 year old. JMHO.

 

[jrmasm]

OK - try this.
DD was a swimmer and soccer player, basically from age 8 on. In HS she averaged more than 4 hours a day of practice and travel time- plus meets and games. She regularly got 8 hours sleep. And kept up with her school work. National Honor Society in HS, now a PharmD and doing well in her job, graduated with honors and awards.
Her comment - if I had time to kill who knows what trouble I would have gotten into. Kids learn to manage their lives and time when they have a busy schedule, if parents don't freak out about the occassional B or C in school.

You missed my point, sorry I wasn't clear.

I was commenting on it's no big deal attitude. I have seen more than one family destroyed by exactly these type schedules. Not all mind you. Running 5 days a week with a 6 year and a baby is very different than a 6 and a 12 year etc. Marriages suffer as well as finances. Again, not everyone runs into trouble but the smug attitude when you haven't been there and done that is a little tiresome.

 

[dreamer17555]

Not for nothing but the reason people here give you grief is because your child is 6 and dancing 20 hours a week. Sorry but that is a part time job. That isn't good for any child. You yourself recently posted about how you were concerned about her schooling and the dance stuff. So while I do agree that not everything is good for every child I do tend to agree that 20 hours of any activity is too much for a 6 year old. JMHO.

20 hours a week? When have I ever said 20 hours a week?? You need to go back and reread some posts. I think someone needs to stop stretching the truth.

I was worried about her in school when they wanted to skip her ahead a grade- not because of right now but because of the social stuff later. My DD is a very bright child and very talented. Right now she goes in for testing on Tuesday (IQ) but unless those numbers are way high we are fine with the program she is in right now.

Of course I worry about burn out. Anyone who parents a type A child will be worried from time to time and as a young mom I think I worry more than most. My DH has to pull me aside and remind me that we have a happy, healthy, bright, and hard working child and that I should just shut my mouth and be happy.

-Becca<---------Shutting her mouth

 

[dreamer17555]

You missed my point, sorry I wasn't clear.

I was commenting on it's no big deal attitude. I have seen more than one family destroyed by exactly these type schedules. Not all mind you. Running 5 days a week with a 6 year and a baby is very different than a 6 and a 12 year etc. Marriages suffer as well as finances. Again, not everyone runs into trouble but the smug attitude when you haven't been there and done that is a little tiresome.

Should I assume that means me? Our Finances are fine, our marriage we are working on- my DH is being treated for depression and has been so much happier and better. Personally I think telling an older child they can't do anything until their sibiling is older is not really fair.

My Son is great. He also does an activity (GASP!) Little Gym with DH while I do Girl Scouts with Cat. He's happy. And right now he loves dance, when I don't take him with us (leaving him at home with DH) he knows (I think its the dance bag by the door missing) and get upset. There are tons of lil boys his age that run around and play together, when the weather is nice two different moms and myself will all head to the park until class is over.

I was telling the OP that all children are different. My son is very different from my daughter. He is a people person and a total ham. He loves to cuddle and just be close. If he finds something he loves, or even a few things that he likes to dabble in, we will make sure he gets to enjoy them. If he wants to hang out at home and ride bikes with his friends we will make that work too. Each child and each family is different.

-Becca-

 

[jrmasm]

Should I assume that means me? Our Finances are fine, our marriage we are working on- my DH is being treated for depression and has been so much happier and better. Personally I think telling an older child they can't do anything until their sibiling is older is not really fair.

My Son is great. He also does an activity (GASP!) Little Gym with DH while I do Girl Scouts with Cat. He's happy. And right now he loves dance, when I don't take him with us (leaving him at home with DH) he knows (I think its the dance bag by the door missing) and get upset. There are tons of lil boys his age that run around and play together, when the weather is nice two different moms and myself will all head to the park until class is over.

I was telling the OP that all children are different. My son is very different from my daughter. He is a people person and a total ham. He loves to cuddle and just be close. If he finds something he loves, or even a few things that he likes to dabble in, we will make sure he gets to enjoy them. If he wants to hang out at home and ride bikes with his friends we will make that work too. Each child and each family is different.

-Becca-

To the bolded above, I never said anything even close to that.

You missed my point as well. Come back in 7 years and tell us all how easy it is to support your child's 'passion'. What's easy when they're six is not as easy when they get older. Time commitments INCREASE, expenses INCREASE, travel INCREASE that's what I'm talking about. And try being as supportive with time and money for 2 or 3 or 4 kids at the same time. Think that's easy? Only time will tell.

 

[DebD4T]

To the bolded above, I never said anything even close to that.

You missed my point as well. Come back in 7 years and tell us all how easy it is to support your child's 'passion'. What's easy when they're six is not as easy when they get older. Time commitments INCREASE, expenses INCREASE, travel INCREASE that's what I'm talking about. And try being as supportive with time and money for 2 or 3 or 4 kids at the same time. Think that's easy? Only time will tell.

I get what you mean. I have 3 children. They are all involved in afterschool activities. Let's just say that they each do 2 things...

3 children - 2 activites a piece = 6 separate activites. That could very well mean that we are running around 6 days a week. More often than not, there will be activities that will be on the same day...possibly at the same time. For me, there are days that each child has a committment. There is a lot of running around involved. I will be honest and say that sometimes I don't know whether I am coming or going. It tends to become overwhelming.

I won't even get into how much everything costs...suffice it to say I have 2 part-time jobs.

 

[mjkacmom]

I get what you mean. I have 3 children. They are all involved in afterschool activities. Let's just say that they each do 2 things...

3 children - 2 activites a piece = 6 separate activites. That could very well mean that we are running around 6 days a week. More often than not, there will be activities that will be on the same day...possibly at the same time. For me, there are days that each child has a committment. There is a lot of running around involved. I will be honest and say that sometimes I don't know whether I am coming or going. It tends to become overwhelming.

I won't even get into how much everything costs...suffice it to say I have 2 part-time jobs.

LOL - I have to grab my 5 year olds from school and drive 20 minutes to gymnastics. My 2 oldest will walk home, and my ds will be picked up, along with his friend, to go to his friend's home, do homework, and get to a soccer game at 6, followed by goalie clinic at 7. My mom will pick up dd7 at school, bring her to her house, where she will be picked up by another friend and her kids, drop friend's ds off at swimming, and get to a dance class at 5:15. I will get home from gymnastics at 5, feed a few kids, and drive 20 minutes to dance class and pick up dd7 at 6:15, and leave dd12 there for her 6:45 ballet class. Can't decide if I should just come home, or hang out there with the 3 kids.

I hate Wednesdays - although we have daily activities, this day is my worst, and DH doesn't get home until 9:30!

 

[holbear]

[LOL - I have to grab my 5 year olds from school and drive 20 minutes to gymnastics. My 2 oldest will walk home, and my ds will be picked up, along with his friend, to go to his friend's home, do homework, and get to a soccer game at 6, followed by goalie clinic at 7. My mom will pick up dd7 at school, bring her to her house, where she will be picked up by another friend and her kids, drop friend's ds off at swimming, and get to a dance class at 5:15. I will get home from gymnastics at 5, feed a few kids, and drive 20 minutes to dance class and pick up dd7 at 6:15, and leave dd12 there for her 6:45 ballet class. Can't decide if I should just come home, or hang out there with the 3 kids.

I shuffle between 3 kids and karate, baseball and gymnastics. I'm lucky my two oldest both do karate, and the two youngest both do gymnastics. They aren't in the same classes, but I can try to arrange back to backs or overlapping. I hang out an awful lot.

As to the original question..
I agree about what some others have said about finding something your child likes, whatever it is. My daughters both took dance. My oldest took six years of ballet/tap and one of jazz. She really liked the jazz best as it was so energetic. She is now doing artistic gymnastics and karate. I never thought she would be interested in karate, but after going to so many of her brother's classes and bugging me for 3 months. I caved. She does seem to enjoy it but is sorry she doesn't have more time to pick up more gymnastics.

My son has loved any activity he tries. He has been in baseball and karate for 6 years now.

My youngest took 2 years of tap/ballet. She loved the costumes, she HATED going to class. She then took gymnastics for a year and was asked to switch to rhythmic gymnastics. SHE loves it! (has gotten quite obsessed with it actually).

The important thing is to give your child the opportunity to try things that you think might interest them, but don't MAKE them do it if they hate it. With DD's ballet, I did make her finish the year since she made a commitment to her class and had to perform recitals. I do make the kids go to practices even if they don't want to go. They can quit if they want, but if it is paid for they are going!! The activities aren't cheap. LOL

 

[Mouse House Mama]

20 hours a week? When have I ever said 20 hours a week?? You need to go back and reread some posts. I think someone needs to stop stretching the truth.

I was worried about her in school when they wanted to skip her ahead a grade- not because of right now but because of the social stuff later. My DD is a very bright child and very talented. Right now she goes in for testing on Tuesday (IQ) but unless those numbers are way high we are fine with the program she is in right now.

Of course I worry about burn out. Anyone who parents a type A child will be worried from time to time and as a young mom I think I worry more than most. My DH has to pull me aside and remind me that we have a happy, healthy, bright, and hard working child and that I should just shut my mouth and be happy.








-Becca<---------Shutting her mouth

Excuse me- 12 HOURS.
It is still a lot for a 6 year old imho.

Oh- and just because you are "young" doesn't mean you worry more or less than anyone else. That is rude and insulting. I bet you wouldn't find it sweet if I said "Well, I am older and have more kids so I know more than you."
Oh- and I do have a type A child so I know more than you think about it.

Sorry if this sounds snippy but I cannot stand when someone implies "Poor me! I really am the best parent in the world and none of you could possibly understand what it is like to be that way!" As if none of us "really" care and worry about our children. Perhaps that was not your intent and if so then I completely apologize but it does come across that way. The internet is funny that way in that tone of voice is hard to interpret. So again- if you didn't mean it that way I'm sorry.

OP- I still think that their indifference is a passive aggressive way of saying they are not interested in dance. Maybe let them give you ideas of stuff they'd like to do? Good luck!

 

[npmommie]

I guess the choices we see are Hip Hop, Tap, and Ballet.... which one gives you the best aerobic exercise? My kids don't seem to care which one they go to, so I want to pick the one that burns the most calories.

I am curious why you want the one that burns the most calories, and not just pick the one they like the most and have the most fun with?

 

[I_Know_You2!]

my kids walk 2 minutes to school. School is 5 houses away.

Any you might know what is best for YOUR kids but you have no idea what is best for mine....

OK, so, back on topic, it seems like any dance style will be fine... Thanks all.

LOL, actually they pay me good money to know what is good for all kids, and not just my own. Pardon me for caring that your kids need time with parents, healthy foods, free time, and exercise to live healthy happy lives...

 

[CPT Tripss]

You missed my point, sorry I wasn't clear.

I was commenting on it's no big deal attitude. I have seen more than one family destroyed by exactly these type schedules. Not all mind you. Running 5 days a week with a 6 year and a baby is very different than a 6 and a 12 year etc. Marriages suffer as well as finances. Again, not everyone runs into trouble but the smug attitude when you haven't been there and done that is a little tiresome.

Family's get destroyed for lots of reasons. Kids activities alone is (in my experience) not frequently a reason.
I piped up, after 14 years (the 7 plus 7 you wanted) of sport parenting (a term I do not particularly like) as I saw what seemed to me as a smug, judgemental post.

 

[jrmasm]

Family's get destroyed for lots of reasons. Kids activities alone is (in my experience) not frequently a reason.
I piped up, after 14 years (the 7 plus 7 you wanted) of sport parenting (a term I do not particularly like) as I saw what seemed to me as a smug, judgemental post.

Smug and judgemental? Maybe. I'm far from perfect. I have no problem admitting that.

For the record, I am a sport parent as well. My oldest is in 8th grade. I realize that I have a lot more years to go since my youngest is only 4 and that my perspective will be different 7 years from now. My perspective was also very different when my oldest was 6. I thought I was pretty darn smart then too.

Have the families that I have seen broken up been destroyed only because of children's activities? No, of course not. But I think it's naive not to admit that children's activities can be a huge stress.

Starting a young child out with many hours of activities a week is a a dangerous road to head down. In my experience, it is much easier to add then take away. There is always another team to join, another class to take etc. I think it is very easy to make this mistake with a first child.

I never said that kids can't be successful with a full schedule and I tend to agree with your position that busy kids have less time to get in trouble. But I also think that an age appropriate balance needs to met. A kid in high school should not have the same schedule as a first grader. Can you honestly disagree with that?