Comments on Hobo Mama: Why I want my son to take ballet classes

Check out www.boysdoballet.com

2011-08-07T07:24:13.271-07:00

Check out www.boysdoballet.com

I really want my son to learn Irish step dance. Or...

2009-12-21T11:38:40.161-08:00

I really want my son to learn Irish step dance. Or I should say, I want HIM to want to learn Irish step dance! Every time I there are Irish dancers on TV, I say, "Look, Michael! Look at the Irish dancers!" Maybe if he sees it enough, he'll want to do it? hee hee.

My husband and I both love to hike, too, so hopefully that will be something we can do as a family. But in the end, it doesn't really matter what he chooses, as long as he is active in some way that he enjoys.

I loved dance as a child, but my family was sports-oriented. I tried the sports thing, but I just wasn't good at it and didn't really get excited about it.

Our oldest girl took ballet class when she a pre-s...

2009-12-20T22:15:26.910-08:00

Our oldest girl took ballet class when she a pre-schooler and we'll probably enroll our other girl too. But I don't think I can get my son to take ballet class.

I don't think taking classes is in conflict wi...

2009-12-20T08:17:21.911-08:00

I don't think taking classes is in conflict with unschooling (being an unschooled child myself). I enjoy yoga and may enroll my little one in kid classes when he's 3 or 4. I've also thought of gymnastics, which I loved as as child. I don't know. We'll see. He enjoys directed play so I think we will do something when he's a little older. He's only 2.5 right now. I'll just ask him and see what he thinks.

Yep - horse riding classes, for both of us, as soo...

2009-12-20T04:26:56.087-08:00

Yep - horse riding classes, for both of us, as soon as she's big enough. I can't wait.

Yep - horse riding classes, for both of us, as soo...

2009-12-20T04:23:57.809-08:00

Yep - horse riding classes, for both of us, as soon as she's big enough. I can't wait.

My husband & I were shopping at TRU yesterday ...

2009-12-20T01:50:43.541-08:00

My husband & I were shopping at TRU yesterday and noticed that a lot of toddler toys are basically kid versions of home exercise equipment. There was a stair machine that counted steps! I want my child to be active, but this seemed a bit ridiculous.

Our kids have our same athletic body-type and we a...

2009-12-20T01:05:57.599-08:00

Our kids have our same athletic body-type and we all love activities like hiking or biking. What I love about hiking is it's a great way to become aware of the world and nature, using observation and other sense perceptions.

But I loved ballet. I asked to start when I was 9 or so. I kept with it until high school then soccer and track took over. But ballet is fabulous for balance (like you said) and posture. I think that is so great your son is taking part!

I had my 5 yo son go to sports day camp for 2 weeks this summer and he didn't like it. Mostly because he was scared of the pool. I'd like him to tell me what kind of organized activity he'd like to do, which I don't expect him to know for a few more years.

I really would like my daughter to do sports when older since I think it has enormously powerful and positive effects on girls for self-esteem and confidence etc... She's a bigger risk-taker than my son (she's almost 3) so I'm kind of afraid she'll want to do crazy stuff like skydiving ;)

My 3-year-old daughter took ballet at her request,...

2009-12-19T20:22:10.117-08:00

My 3-year-old daughter took ballet at her request, and I really didn't enjoy it. Mostly for the same reason that I don't enjoy most of my kid's classes, and that is that many other parents are putting a lot of pressure on their kids. My child isn't bothered by it, but when she doesn't listen well and another kid follows her lead and gets in trouble, I am bothered. And then it triggers all of my 'good student' issues.

Now that my kid is 4 and I don't have to be in the room during most classes things are better. I drop her off and go on a walk with my toddler. I come back in an hour, and she says that she's had a great time. None of the other parents are there, either, and it just reduces a lot of the angst for me. I have heard from teachers, too, that kids often do better when their parents aren't there and yelling from the sidelines.

I don't sweat too much about the classroom management tactics that are employed in these classes. I don't think that one hour a week is enough to have a serious impact. And kids learn pretty quickly that certain people just relate to them differently, like grandparents. But, I will also point out, we do school as well.