Group classes are not fun for smart kids

[Anonymous]

Like group gymnastics classes, swim classes, even sports practices at young ages. There is so much down time waiting for other kids to take their turn, and half the time those other kids are not even paying attention. I think private classes are the way to go, and will eat the cost. At what age do group classes start getting more efficient and challenging?

[Anonymous]

This has nothing to do with smart kids. Yes, they are boring.

[Anonymous]

Also not fun for impatient kids, or kids with ADHD, or kids with autism.

[Anonymous]

I don't think the fun of group gymnastics and so on has anything whatsoever do with how smart one is.

Groups like these are usually not as efficient, in the same way that group academic instruction vs having a private, personal tutor is in terms of education per minute (or nearly personal -- model/rival works well.)

But on the other hand, downtime to rest, peers to be friends with, other people whose mistakes you can see help balance things out. We are social creatures.

[Anonymous]

These classes are about socialization as much as the activity. Your kid will not become a professional gymnast, whether they are in a group class or a private class.

[Anonymous]

Smart? You mean impatient, as in, your "smart" kids don't know how to wait their turn? Are you confusing smart with athletic? Or with listening to directions? Do you know that IQ has nothing to do with being attentive? My ADHD kid has a 145 IQ.

Hmm. It's hilarious that you're not coming off as very smart yourself in this post

[Anonymous]

What does being smart have anything to do with it? My son hates being cold and hated swim classes because he had to wait for all the other kids to take a turn.
He, however, liked soccer and basketball because he is a social boy and loves being around his friends.

[Anonymous]

Sorry to break it to you, but even in elite gymnastics there is a lot of waiting around. Have you ever watched a group of girls mess with their grips? Just standing around.

[Anonymous]

Some kids are smart enough to learn by observing others.

[Anonymous]

I teach group classes for kids and disagree. Smart kids are able to learn from hearing corrections and tips given to other kids and apply them to themselves. Thy also learn quicky watching others and observing what they do well and what they are still working on improving. Group classes can be fun or not fun for different kids for a myriad of reasons, but smart is not a reason I would give based on my experience. Private classes are a great supplement for things like fine-tuning skills or working on specific issues, but for most cases are not a substitute for a group setting.

[Anonymous]

Learning to play well with others isn’t about IQ, it’s about having good social skills & emotional intelligence. Nobody cares how smart you are in life if you’re a prick to work with.

[Anonymous]

My kids gravitated towards things with their friends.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This has nothing to do with smart kids. Yes, they are boring.

I really don’t understand why parents sign their kids up for these classes at ages 4-6. Maybe so they feel like they did something good for their child without having to actually spend time with the child.

The children would benefit so much more from more playground time or throwing/catching/kicking a ball with their parent. But that would cut into the parent’s phone scrolling.

[Anonymous]

It’s extremely obvious to me (and, like, everyone) in adulthood who never played team sports. You, OP, obviously did not. Give your kid a leg up.

[Anonymous]

Intelligent children (and parents) understand the need for turn taking during a group activity. Patience is an important skill to develop in all people regardless of perceived brainpower.