Activities

Jule'sMomInOR · #1 February 8th, 2012, 05:32 PM

What activities is your LO in? I think we might be in too many, but it's so much more entertaining to be out and about. Plus, our nanny is here until about 3:15 and it's a long 3 hours until DH gets home, so lots of times I take her somewhere in the afternoons even after she's been somewhere in the morning. Here's what our week looks like:

Monday - music class, library story time
Tuesday - art class is starting next week
Wednesday - my friend hosts a music class followed by playdate at her house in the morning, and we go to Gymboree play class in the afternoon
Thursday - library story time, sometimes the indoor playground or outdoor playground depending on weather, afternoon open gym at Gymboree
Friday - art class at Gymboree followed by play class at Gymboree
Saturday - two Gymboree play classes back to back
Sundays we usually try to do a special outing like the zoo, a museum, Out of this World Pizza, etc. but sometimes we bum around the house.

I know kids need a lot of free play at this age and I hope she's not too scheduled. She does absolutely love Gymboree, though, and she kids tons of physical activity there. Plus, the open gyms are a lot like free play.

krislati · #2 February 8th, 2012, 05:36 PM

We don't have nearly that many activities. We go to a mommy n me gymnastics and we will be starting swim lessions in a few weeks along with the gymnastics. We do other stuff during the day, it just not scheduled. We go to story time at different times in the day, whenever we can fit it in. My dd has something going on most nights though, so it's hard to run them both everywhere.

inyourhonor · #3 February 8th, 2012, 05:41 PM

Um.. none :/ He plays at home with me, his dad and brothers. A lot of why we don't do any is money, but I personally don't get into doing activities with them till they're older.

My oldest just did soccer, I want to get him into t-ball. I have 3 boys and right now to have all them in something would cost more than I can do. So we go do stuff for free or as a family, nothing scheduled.

Celine · #4 February 8th, 2012, 06:12 PM

Wow. That's a lot of activities! I was doing a lot of activities (not as many as you) but I was getting burnt out. It was just too much for me. Sophia loved it. I started doing about an hour for myself each day- we go to the gym - it's activity for Sophia and grown - up activity for me.

So our week is:
Monday - Sunday: 1 hour daycare at the gym every morning (I get to work out at the gym while she plays at the daycare w/ kids her age)
Mon & Wed: Mommy & Me Gym class for 45 min
Wed: Playdate for 1 hour after the Gym class
Fri: once a month storytime at the library and usually a playdate

Sometimes a friend of mine will come over in the afternoon w/ her LO or I will go to her place for a spontaneous playdate- but not too often.

I<3HelloKitty · #5 February 8th, 2012, 07:17 PM

When I'm off in the summers I take Ellie to story time at the library but that's it.

she gets socialization at daycare.

noworries · #6 February 8th, 2012, 09:32 PM

We don't have any scheduled activities right now. Won't until he's a little older.

audiesmommy · #7 February 8th, 2012, 09:40 PM

i wish i could take audie to do that many thing, but with being visually in-pared and cant drive its harder for me. we do do the gym daycare i work out and and she has a ton of fun. we do that a few tiems a week. we also do swimming alot she loves it and i grew up in the sport so i enjoy teaching her how to swim. i also babysit all the time so she gets to play with someone allmsot everyday. i have never looked into story time at the library, thats a good idea and im definitely going to look into it. she likes it and u have the energy for it why not take her to do all those things they are only home with you for a few years befor school mines well enjoy every minit you can

Irish_Wristwatch · #8 February 9th, 2012, 04:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by noworries

We don't have any scheduled activities right now. Won't until he's a little older.

ditto

sometimes we do a playdate or take him to open swim but thats not scheduled

KMH · #9 February 9th, 2012, 06:19 AM

We don't really do anything like that, either. We go to a playgroup once a week for about 2 hours, but that's about it. We'll do Mommy-and-Me swimming lessons this summer for a couple of weeks, but that's about it.

At home we do lots of activities together and we have a semi-regular schedule for our days so she knows what to expect. I think she gets plenty of stimulation for her age.

And to be honest, I'm just not into running around everywhere every single day

shockandawe · #10 February 9th, 2012, 08:05 AM

um - wow. You're one busy momma.

We started kindermusic. It took me one session to realize I'm not that kind of mom. I'm social, and I'm interactive, but I'm so busy with her at home doing fun stuff, that doing it with a group just seems over the top. Totally worth it because she's leaned new things I wasn't getting through to her with, but, I don't think I would ever be willing to sign myself up to more than one activity per session.

As it was, it only took me two weeks to adjust this kindermusic commitment and start sending her on Tuesday mornings with the nanny instead of Saturdays with me. I'm very much a chauffeur mom I think. I'll wait again til she's a bit older, when I can take her to organized sports or classes where I can watch her grow and socialize with others in a more structured and independent way.

We're also moving her to a daycare situation where she'll be getting a lot of the social benefits an activity would give her daily. In my view, chilling and playing a family is pretty freakin awesome. Not just a budget decision. That's where you learn to make your own fun and get creative with your time.

Jule'sMomInOR · #11 February 9th, 2012, 08:43 AM

I'm not surprised that Juliana's in a lot more activities than other kids her age, but I am a little surprised at how much more.

These activities really help me pass the time and it's so much more relaxing to be in a place like Gymboree where she is encouraged instead of forbidden from climbing, running, and doing stuff kids do. Plus, since I work from home I rarely have the opportunity to meet other moms and this is really fun for me as well as her. The one art class we have at Gymboree is a deal for the month of February and we won't continue paying for it.

I'm sure if we ever have another baby, he/she won't be in as many things.

sfarrow3 · #12 February 9th, 2012, 09:19 AM

I really don't think its alot personally. London is in daycare and they have a structured curriculum that consists of all those things. They go to the library twice a week too.

Jule'sMomInOR · #13 February 9th, 2012, 09:22 AM

I've been trying to find articles on whether all of these activities are good for kids. I've found a ton of stuff on how music class helps kids be better at math and other stuff, but I'm still looking for something about the ideal age to start. I see "preschool" but does preschool mean age 4 or just any age younger than kindergarten?

Anyway, even if it's not going to help her with math it's still fun so it's worth it to me. Luckily we live within a short driving distance of all of this stuff.

sfarrow3 · #14 February 9th, 2012, 09:27 AM

i think preschool is 3/4. IDK if they are happy with doing all those things then I think its ok...

Celine · #15 February 9th, 2012, 09:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sfarrow3

I really don't think its alot personally. London is in daycare and they have a structured curriculum that consists of all those things. They go to the library twice a week too.

That's a nice daycare that you have. I knew daycare facilities have structured curricula, but I didn't know they offer gymboree-like activities and take them to the library. That's a really cool place you have for your LO!

I also think it's great that you are doing all those activities w/ Juliana. You are doing a great job for your LO and if you enjoy it, too, it makes it even better. I think it's all about what's right for you and your LO.

shockandawe · #16 February 9th, 2012, 09:55 AM

Absolutely it's great that you and Juliana take advantage of those activities.

The daycare I'm interviewing tomorrow does a lot of that kind of stuff as well. Every day they do arts and crafts, and do time outside. I won't likely be keeping kindmusic up after she starts there because I know the daycare centre is already going to be keeping the kids this active. The big bonus I'm seeing is that it means when I get my weekend with Maggie, it'll be relaxed and chilled, and less chaotic than it is now. I'm sorta looking forward to that!

krislati · #17 February 9th, 2012, 10:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jule'sMomInOR

I've been trying to find articles on whether all of these activities are good for kids. I've found a ton of stuff on how music class helps kids be better at math and other stuff, but I'm still looking for something about the ideal age to start. I see "preschool" but does preschool mean age 4 or just any age younger than kindergarten?

Anyway, even if it's not going to help her with math it's still fun so it's worth it to me. Luckily we live within a short driving distance of all of this stuff.

As long as the two of you enjoy doing it together and it's fun, I don't see any harm in it. Her day is structured and she knows what to expect and she isn't overwhelmed, I think it's a good thing. I'm not sure there is an ideal age, I could be wrong.

sfarrow3 · #18 February 9th, 2012, 10:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Celine

That's a nice daycare that you have. I knew daycare facilities have structured curricula, but I didn't know they offer gymboree-like activities and take them to the library. That's a really cool place you have for your LO!

I also think it's great that you are doing all those activities w/ Juliana. You are doing a great job for your LO and if you enjoy it, too, it makes it even better. I think it's all about what's right for you and your LO.

Thanks! Yeah they go to a great daycare!

shockandawe · #19 February 9th, 2012, 11:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by krislati

As long as the two of you enjoy doing it together and it's fun, I don't see any harm in it. Her day is structured and she knows what to expect and she isn't overwhelmed, I think it's a good thing. I'm not sure there is an ideal age, I could be wrong.

This is the key I think. If Juliana starts showing signs of being stressed out and needing more downtime, just adjust your schedule to remove a few things. Otherwise, enjoy it!

Ally-Mac · #20 February 9th, 2012, 12:02 PM

we only do soccer right now. for awhile I was doing kindermusik on saturday am and swimming on sunday am. With me working all week, I really wanted one weekend morning to just chill/relax and take my time.

She is in daycare -- so she has alot of structured activities in daycare (circle time, song time, reading time, outdoor play, sensory play, etc..she loves it!)