4 year old might get kicked out of ballet

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I got kicked out of ballet when I was 5. Best thing that ever happened to me, that sh*t was just boring.

Me too. I ran into the boy's bathroom to keep the teacher from getting me as she chased me down the hall.

Sounds like this was a good thing for you.

Meant leaving ballet, not a crazy teacher chasing you down the hall.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Well, i would wait a bit more and see how it goes. Regardless of whether your child's behavior is right or wrong, sounds like this teacher and this class are not a good fit for her. So if things don't improve, I'd press to get your money back and try a different class.

+1. Talk the teacher's boss and explain that DD never had a problem before with the other teacher. All of a sudden, there's a problem with this new person.

[Anonymous]

Definitely talk to the teacher's boss. Ask if there has been a recent change in the teaching philosophy. As DD gets older, paying attention and following instructions will become more important and she will need to be better behaved (but at this age, she is behaving normally). There are plenty of other ballet studios out there if you don't get the right answers. As long as your daughter isn't purposefully disruptive in every class, it sounds like the teacher over reacted (maybe she was having a bad day).

[Anonymous]

Observe again. If she doesn't like the new teacher, or is just reacting to the change (or sad about losing the old teacher), she may, in fact, be listening less.

She also may not like the class as much any more with the new teacher, or, as others have said, perhaps this teacher is more "serious."

You need to observe an entire class, and talk to the director.

[Anonymous]

Oh good grief - do not go to the boss because you were told your daughter isn't listening. Talk about being snowplow parents trying to externalize all responsibility.
A 4 yr old in a class should be able to follow the directions of the class. I taught swimming lessons to groups of 3-5 year olds for years. I absolutely expected them to follow my directions - because of safety and so that I can do my job and give the kids what their parents paid for - swimming lessons.

Jumping on the spot or doing something that isn't otherwise being disruptive isn't an issue - but if she is running around the room or getting in the way of other kids or generally being bratty - the issue is her. If the new teacher is the issue and your child is the same as all the other kids then there is no reason why the teacher would single out your child.

Maybe you should watch a few classes with this teacher before you dash off to make a scene with the teacher's boss about how your precious snowflake isn't being allowed to express her creativity and individuality and is being asked to follow directions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Oh good grief - do not go to the boss because you were told your daughter isn't listening. Talk about being snowplow parents trying to externalize all responsibility.
A 4 yr old in a class should be able to follow the directions of the class. I taught swimming lessons to groups of 3-5 year olds for years. I absolutely expected them to follow my directions - because of safety and so that I can do my job and give the kids what their parents paid for - swimming lessons.

Jumping on the spot or doing something that isn't otherwise being disruptive isn't an issue - but if she is running around the room or getting in the way of other kids or generally being bratty - the issue is her. If the new teacher is the issue and your child is the same as all the other kids then there is no reason why the teacher would single out your child.

Maybe you should watch a few classes with this teacher before you dash off to make a scene with the teacher's boss about how your precious snowflake isn't being allowed to express her creativity and individuality and is being asked to follow directions.

Thank you! We stopped taking a ballet class when my DD was 4 because of a girl who wouldn't listen. She was a huge distraction for the other girls and a total timesuck for the teacher. I enrolled my DD elsewhere where she could actually learn a little rather than hear "Larla! Larla, please come back in line with everyone else!" fifty times a class. Her mom sat there and literally giggled at the antics. I only wish they'd had the guts to kick that girl out--instead, they lost at least one customer, if not more, who actually wanted to be there.

[Anonymous]

Not sure they would have to give your money back if They can't fill the slot.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not sure they would have to give your money back if They can't fill the slot.

If she has not received the services and the session has not started they do need to refund the money.

[Anonymous]

So the teacher after her class today said that she needs to start listening more or dd will not be able to attend the class anymore.

If you honestly think your DD is not behaving worse than other children in the class, I would seek a more specific explanation and failing an agreement, go to see the manager. I am NOT the complaining type of parent; my 3 year old can focus on a weekly 30 minute violin lesson that demands finger precision and good listening.

I already signed her up for the next session and they won't give me a refund.

This is so outrageous it seems like a misunderstanding. The person giving you the refund should be aware that it is the school's decision to not welcome back your daughter, not you backing out of the contract. If they will not, chargeback if you have to, complain to the BBB, make a ruckus.

Would you mind sharing the name of this ballet place? I was considering ballet for my daughter next year.

[Anonymous]

I totally see this parent. Her 4 year old is running around the class like a maniac while the rest of the kids are participating and this drama-mamma wants her money back because its "not fun" for little Emma?

If your child isn't ready for organized classes, go back to mommy and me until she is

[Anonymous]

Actually, I think it's fine for them to kick a child out of class if the child isn't listening.

The issue is that this is the first you are hearing of the problem. There should be a better process. The teacher lets you know your kid is being disruptive, gives concrete examples, and explains it needs to change.

Then if there is no improvement, they threaten to kick her out of class.

The other issue is the money. While you should not get a refund for this term. You should get your money back for next term. Go to the credit card company and file a complaint (and yes, this is why it's always better to pay with credit card).

You should sit your kid down and tell her that she has to follow instructions in class or she will no longer be able to go. If she loves going to ballet class, then the threat of losing it should be enough to encourage her to focus more in class.

The other thing is it sounds like your daughter doesn't like ballet. She just likes wearing the clothes. If the teacher gets that impression as well, then I can see her frustration.

For people who take ballet seriously, 4 isn't too young to follow directions and not see it as goof off in a tutu time.

Don't get me wrong, I actually don't like ballet culture. But you did enroll your kid in a ballet class. It sounds like you don't even expect her to do ballet.

When I was young, we didn't have a lot of money. My parents weren't tiger parents, but they also would never pay for lessons that they just saw as an opportunity for me to dress up, even at 4.

It's possible you are setting the tone for your child's behavior, that it is play time. And even though your kid is 4, she shouldn't get the idea that a class (where a teacher is trying to teach things to a group) is just play time.

[Anonymous]

Switch her to Miss Lauren's class for a bit. She is the most fun and not as serious as some of the others and she is very good at classroom control. I think some of the teachers try to emulate a classical ballet style, being a bit prissy or just young and stiff, and Lauren is just fun.

That being said, we had a crier who still drank a bottle in class at 3, came in with her paci and overall was really disruptive. When you consider it's $25 a class, it can be disappointing if there is one kid who can't get quiet enough to hear the book.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Actually, I think it's fine for them to kick a child out of class if the child isn't listening.

The issue is that this is the first you are hearing of the problem. There should be a better process. The teacher lets you know your kid is being disruptive, gives concrete examples, and explains it needs to change.

Then if there is no improvement, they threaten to kick her out of class.

The other issue is the money. While you should not get a refund for this term. You should get your money back for next term. Go to the credit card company and file a complaint (and yes, this is why it's always better to pay with credit card).

You should sit your kid down and tell her that she has to follow instructions in class or she will no longer be able to go. If she loves going to ballet class, then the threat of losing it should be enough to encourage her to focus more in class.

The other thing is it sounds like your daughter doesn't like ballet. She just likes wearing the clothes. If the teacher gets that impression as well, then I can see her frustration.

For people who take ballet seriously, 4 isn't too young to follow directions and not see it as goof off in a tutu time.

Don't get me wrong, I actually don't like ballet culture. But you did enroll your kid in a ballet class. It sounds like you don't even expect her to do ballet.

When I was young, we didn't have a lot of money. My parents weren't tiger parents, but they also would never pay for lessons that they just saw as an opportunity for me to dress up, even at 4.

It's possible you are setting the tone for your child's behavior, that it is play time. And even though your kid is 4, she shouldn't get the idea that a class (where a teacher is trying to teach things to a group) is just play time.

Op here. I guess the thing that confuses me is this I'd really a class for three year olds-- DD is turning four next month. I took dance classes as a kid too -- I was taking classical dance from the ages of 7 to 13. I was actually really poor as a kid, so I took them very seriously because I knew they would get taken away if I didn't. This class is meant for three year olds-- the only thing they do that is remotely similar to a dance class is stretching. From what I have seen, I don't think DD is doing anything that is out of the ordinary for a three year old. I agree with the other posters that I should observe the next class more closely-- parents aren't allowed in the room so I would have to watch from monitors that are relatively far away from DD's class, which is the main reason I haven't been paying close attention the past couple of weeks. It could be that she's bored with the class-- she took the class for two year olds last spring and summer and has been taking this class since the fall. The structure of the class is the same between the two levels-- they sing exactly the same songs so its essentially over a year of her doing the same thing every week. She just likes the class so much-- she started crying when we were saying that she might have to stop taking them that it's heartbreaking for me.

[Anonymous]

Why does it confuse you OP?

A class for 3 year olds can still be a class where kids are expected to listen.

Seeing as you haven't been watching you don't really have any idea what your daughter has been doing. The teacher is in the classroom - she is seeing it. I would talk to her more and find out what the problem is.

[Anonymous]

I agree with the other posters that I should observe the next class more closely-- parents aren't allowed in the room so I would have to watch from monitors that are relatively far away from DD's class, which is the main reason I haven't been paying close attention the past couple of weeks.

Yes. Before you do anything else, this is what you need to do. See if your daughter's behavior is different from the other kids in the class.