How do you manage "classes" for younger children when there are older siblings

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is this a class where you are on the floor participating with your 18 mo old? My kids went to a kid gymnastics place where there was a seating area that was not the gym floor but overlooked it and then an even larger area that was not overlooking the gym floor that had a play area with toys and more tables and chairs, and a little kitchenette with snacks and drinks you could buy. The reception desk was in that area. Is there no area with chairs where your 5 yr old and you can sit? Or is the issue that you need to be with your toddler on the gym floor? My older child went with us to everything but we did wait to start swimming lessons until my youngest could go in to a class without me. It sounds like the problem here is that they don't have chairs for people to wait on the side or outside of the gym area.

18 month olds do parent-child gymnastics. Mom would be with the younger child.

And in my long experience in the gymnastics world, no gym would be (nor should they be!) okay with an unattended 5 year old in the waiting area.

[Anonymous]

As a parent of a toddler I’ll say that we quit the DC Gymboree because they were so lax about letting older siblings run around in baby/toddler classes and it was dangerous and distracting so I’m grateful for the places that enforce the rules.

I’d look for a drop off activity (or babysitter) for your 5 year old so you can actually spend 1:1 time with your toddler.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is this a class where you are on the floor participating with your 18 mo old? My kids went to a kid gymnastics place where there was a seating area that was not the gym floor but overlooked it and then an even larger area that was not overlooking the gym floor that had a play area with toys and more tables and chairs, and a little kitchenette with snacks and drinks you could buy. The reception desk was in that area. Is there no area with chairs where your 5 yr old and you can sit? Or is the issue that you need to be with your toddler on the gym floor? My older child went with us to everything but we did wait to start swimming lessons until my youngest could go in to a class without me. It sounds like the problem here is that they don't have chairs for people to wait on the side or outside of the gym area.

18 month olds do parent-child gymnastics. Mom would be with the younger child.

And in my long experience in the gymnastics world, no gym would be (nor should they be!) okay with an unattended 5 year old in the waiting area.

I think that is why our gym had a waiting area in the main gym so that kids could sit on a chair there, in addition to the waiting area that had the playroom space but that was separated.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The honest answer is that most people don't. Youngest kid doesn't know any different and can't talk to complain, so …

+1

Your 18 month old doesn't need the class and neither do you.

This. Those classes are for first kids only, sorry.