DC's "classes" are killing me!

[Anonymous]

Working mothers always say that daycare is good for their toddlers because of the structure and socialization and then attack OP and other SAHMs who take their same age toddlers to classes that are 40 minutes long, four times a week, saying that it is too much for a toddler.

Which is true? Both statements cannot possibly be true.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, honestly consider dropping classes. Here's my take on it - I kinda hate the whole toddler/baby class industry for creating a perception that they need it. They really don't! And they don't socialize much at that stage, especially in artificially created settings!

a. Drop story times. Read the books of your choosing, at the time of your choosing, in the position of your choosing (lying down, sitting down on the couch, whatever!)

b. Drop music classes, what nonsense! Play the music of your choosing at home, sing if you want, give him a rattle if you want, go with the flow!

c. Every day, EVERY DAY without fail take him out to the park or playground or other controlled setting where you can let him loose for a while. Let him get lots and lots of physical activity. If he falls or eats a handful of mulch, it's not a big deal! Once he gets lots of physical activity, he will be wonderfully cooperative and sleep much better.

d. Prioritize sleep, YOUR sleep and your physical fitness.

Disagree. These activities are very important. Music Together, up through age 3, was awesome. Our daughter, who is musically inclined, loved everything about it, and the CDs made long road trips fun.

Oh please. They teach nothing com

Nothing complicated and certainly nothing you cannot do at home. It ain't juliard.

The point is to be around other kids who are engaged in the same activity. And you spelled Julliard incorrectly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm a sahm to a 17 month old. I'm in the same boat. DS loves getting out and going places but I find it completely exhausting. We do in-house play dates once a week-- those are easier for sure.
I hired a sitter who drives so that I can get a break mid-week. Sitter takes him to an activity/park.
I wish there was some sort of drop-in daycare or drop-off mothers morning out program around here. DS could use the socialization and I could use the free time....

Get a job.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This thread is not about whether the classes are appropriate for the toddler. The op has identified where her body needs strengthening. This would exist even if she pulls her kid out of the classes. This thread should be focused on how to strengthen op's back.

How do we know? See a dr.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm a sahm to a 17 month old. I'm in the same boat. DS loves getting out and going places but I find it completely exhausting. We do in-house play dates once a week-- those are easier for sure.
I hired a sitter who drives so that I can get a break mid-week. Sitter takes him to an activity/park.
I wish there was some sort of drop-in daycare or drop-off mothers morning out program around here. DS could use the socialization and I could use the free time....

Get a job.

That's a good one--very creative.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, honestly consider dropping classes. Here's my take on it - I kinda hate the whole toddler/baby class industry for creating a perception that they need it. They really don't! And they don't socialize much at that stage, especially in artificially created settings!

a. Drop story times. Read the books of your choosing, at the time of your choosing, in the position of your choosing (lying down, sitting down on the couch, whatever!)

b. Drop music classes, what nonsense! Play the music of your choosing at home, sing if you want, give him a rattle if you want, go with the flow!

c. Every day, EVERY DAY without fail take him out to the park or playground or other controlled setting where you can let him loose for a while. Let him get lots and lots of physical activity. If he falls or eats a handful of mulch, it's not a big deal! Once he gets lots of physical activity, he will be wonderfully cooperative and sleep much better.

d. Prioritize sleep, YOUR sleep and your physical fitness.

Disagree. These activities are very important. Music Together, up through age 3, was awesome. Our daughter, who is musically inclined, loved everything about it, and the CDs made long road trips fun.

Oh please. They teach nothing com

Nothing complicated and certainly nothing you cannot do at home. It ain't juliard.

The point is to be around other kids who are engaged in the same activity. And you spelled Julliard incorrectly.

So did you it is Juilliard.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm a sahm to a 17 month old. I'm in the same boat. DS loves getting out and going places but I find it completely exhausting. We do in-house play dates once a week-- those are easier for sure.
I hired a sitter who drives so that I can get a break mid-week. Sitter takes him to an activity/park.
I wish there was some sort of drop-in daycare or drop-off mothers morning out program around here. DS could use the socialization and I could use the free time....

Get a job.

That's a good one--very creative.

Agree that wasn't a very nice response but you have to admit it sounds like being a sahm is not the best choice for her. Most of us manage to work full time plus do kids activities and play dates on the weekend, so it does seem odd she's exhausted by her schedule.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:WAY too many structured activities.

Developmentally, toddlers don't need that kind and amount of structure to learn.

Four a week is too many? I disagree 100%. Toddlers do need socialization and learn to sit and participate. That is the entire point of the classes. I do a lot of classes with my toddler, too. It adds structure to our day and like OP, I do them in the morning. In the afternoons, DD and I run around the park or go swimming.

No they don't.

Toddlers do not need that kind of structure to learn. It is developmentally inappropriate. Mom might need those classes for socialization but the toddler does not.

NP here and you are wrong, PP. They do need it and it is absolutely developmentally appropriate.

- signed a Preschool Teacher who can tell the poor little souls who have never been to a structured class and have mothers who believe as you do.

Where do you teach?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm a sahm to a 17 month old. I'm in the same boat. DS loves getting out and going places but I find it completely exhausting. We do in-house play dates once a week-- those are easier for sure.
I hired a sitter who drives so that I can get a break mid-week. Sitter takes him to an activity/park.
I wish there was some sort of drop-in daycare or drop-off mothers morning out program around here. DS could use the socialization and I could use the free time....

Get a job.

That's a good one--very creative.

Agree that wasn't a very nice response but you have to admit it sounds like being a sahm is not the best choice for her. Most of us manage to work full time plus do kids activities and play dates on the weekend, so it does seem odd she's exhausted by her schedule.

Nonsense. I am the most healthy and fit woman I have ever met and I am only 24 years old. I am a nanny and also physically tired from doing my job correctly and have never been fond of sitting without back support. Being an active SAHM or a nanny is very, very different than an office job - I know as I have had both.

[Anonymous]

What is hard about sitting on the floor? Do you work out at all?

I can understand being exhausted watching a toddler. I personally found it to be nice to go to places like Gymboree or My Gym for my son to run around and play.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What is hard about sitting on the floor? Do you work out at all?

I can understand being exhausted watching a toddler. I personally found it to be nice to go to places like Gymboree or My Gym for my son to run around and play.

Not OP but I do work our religiously and sitting on the floor or in bleachers without backs kills my back too.

[Anonymous]

I worked at a preschool for many years, and I learned to pick up the children using my legs rather than bending over. It became a habit and now with my own toddler I always bend at the knees to pick him up or pick up things off the floor. Also, I realized one day how hunched over I'd get pushing the stroller. I ended up buying a new one with an adjustable handle that I could lower (I'm short), and made an effort to relax my shoulders while I pushed it.

I found these two things helped a lot with keeping my back healthy. Hope it helps.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:WAY too many structured activities.

Developmentally, toddlers don't need that kind and amount of structure to learn.

Four a week is too many? I disagree 100%. Toddlers do need socialization and learn to sit and participate. That is the entire point of the classes. I do a lot of classes with my toddler, too. It adds structure to our day and like OP, I do them in the morning. In the afternoons, DD and I run around the park or go swimming.

No they don't.

Toddlers do not need that kind of structure to learn. It is developmentally inappropriate. Mom might need those classes for socialization but the toddler does not.

NP here and you are wrong, PP. They do need it and it is absolutely developmentally appropriate.

- signed a Preschool Teacher who can tell the poor little souls who have never been to a structured class and have mothers who believe as you do.

You sound like a lazy teacher. What do you think toddlers did before parents started going crazy over baby/toddler classes? My entire generation grew up with mostly stay at home moms and started pre-school at age 4, I guarantee our mothers were not taking us to gymboree and music together (those did not exist 30+ years ago), and we turned out just fine.

My sister and I didn't go to Music Together or Gymboree, but we did go to tot groups (play group), library storytime, etc. And I guarantee that we were able to sit still for 10-15 minutes by 4.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:WAY too many structured activities.

Developmentally, toddlers don't need that kind and amount of structure to learn.

Four a week is too many? I disagree 100%. Toddlers do need socialization and learn to sit and participate. That is the entire point of the classes. I do a lot of classes with my toddler, too. It adds structure to our day and like OP, I do them in the morning. In the afternoons, DD and I run around the park or go swimming.

No they don't.

Toddlers do not need that kind of structure to learn. It is developmentally inappropriate. Mom might need those classes for socialization but the toddler does not.

NP here and you are wrong, PP. They do need it and it is absolutely developmentally appropriate.

- signed a Preschool Teacher who can tell the poor little souls who have never been to a structured class and have mothers who believe as you do.

You sound like a lazy teacher. What do you think toddlers did before parents started going crazy over baby/toddler classes? My entire generation grew up with mostly stay at home moms and started pre-school at age 4, I guarantee our mothers were not taking us to gymboree and music together (those did not exist 30+ years ago), and we turned out just fine.

As someone that has worked with the elementary school, I can also tell which kids have had opportunities to sit and listen, develop patience, etc. One year of preschool doesn't cut it for children that are expected to read by the end of kindergarten. And the kindergarten I attended 25 years ago? It was at a science/math magnet school, it was the only school in the area that limited play time in favor of education. The only kids that got in were the ones who could show that they knew basics like sitting still and listening, full alphabet and numbers to 20 (minimum), etc.

[Anonymous]

Some of the most docile, well behaved, able to follow directio kids I have ever seen are first daughters of stay at home moms.

Some of the least focused, busiest, unable to sit and listen kids I know are boys who are coming out of daycare.

Teacher, I really doubt the dicferences are so significant as you say and that they aren't easily overcome in the first month of classss for all but the wildest of personalities.