Good ages to spend money on enrichment classes

[Anonymous]

We are not rich, but we do want to spend some money on enrichment classes that are beneficial to my 2 kids (4 year old boy & 1 year old girl). I did many gym & music classes when my boy was a baby/toddler, and I find them later it is not worth it at all. And, he also did some soccer/swimming classes when he was 2/3 year old, and I don't think he learned much at all. They are all mostly for fun & cute pictures.

If I want both kids to learn swimming/karate/gymnastic/piano, basketball/soccer/baseball for my boy, and ballet for my girl. What are the good ages (that they learn something) for me to spend money on weekend/evening enrichment classes? Please share your experiences. Thank you.

[Anonymous]

When they are old enough to make specific decisions based on their interests, rather than on gender norms.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When they are old enough to make specific decisions based on their interests, rather than on gender norms.

+1000

[Anonymous]

I think it’s when they show an interest in something. My three YO, now four, loved the movie Leap and watched it over and over and would dance along with it. She is been taking ballet classes and loves it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think it’s when they show an interest in something. My three YO, now four, loved the movie Leap and watched it over and over and would dance along with it. She is been taking ballet classes and loves it.

I have not doubt your kid loves her classes but OP is asking when it will be "beneficial" for her kids. I think OP wants the kids to learn longterm hard skills from these classes. So, I don't think there's anything wrong with a 3 year old taking ballet, but I doubt that it is "beneficial" in the way OP is thinking about it. For example, we took our first kid to baby swim lessons. We had fun splashing around with her and she loves the water but did it make her an amazing swimmer? No. We could have spent time with her in the pool without the classes and had fun and she would have still learned to be comfortable in the water and later to learn how to swim

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think it’s when they show an interest in something. My three YO, now four, loved the movie Leap and watched it over and over and would dance along with it. She is been taking ballet classes and loves it.

I have not doubt your kid loves her classes but OP is asking when it will be "beneficial" for her kids. I think OP wants the kids to learn longterm hard skills from these classes. So, I don't think there's anything wrong with a 3 year old taking ballet, but I doubt that it is "beneficial" in the way OP is thinking about it. For example, we took our first kid to baby swim lessons. We had fun splashing around with her and she loves the water but did it make her an amazing swimmer? No. We could have spent time with her in the pool without the classes and had fun and she would have still learned to be comfortable in the water and later to learn how to swim

Real ballet does not start until ages 7-8. Until then it is "pre-ballet", which is basically just movement classes. Great, but you can certainly do without and it's not really learning ballet technique.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think it’s when they show an interest in something. My three YO, now four, loved the movie Leap and watched it over and over and would dance along with it. She is been taking ballet classes and loves it.

I have not doubt your kid loves her classes but OP is asking when it will be "beneficial" for her kids. I think OP wants the kids to learn longterm hard skills from these classes. So, I don't think there's anything wrong with a 3 year old taking ballet, but I doubt that it is "beneficial" in the way OP is thinking about it. For example, we took our first kid to baby swim lessons. We had fun splashing around with her and she loves the water but did it make her an amazing swimmer? No. We could have spent time with her in the pool without the classes and had fun and she would have still learned to be comfortable in the water and later to learn how to swim

Real ballet does not start until ages 7-8. Until then it is "pre-ballet", which is basically just movement classes. Great, but you can certainly do without and it's not really learning ballet technique.

Agree. For ballet, wait until age 8.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think it’s when they show an interest in something. My three YO, now four, loved the movie Leap and watched it over and over and would dance along with it. She is been taking ballet classes and loves it.

I have not doubt your kid loves her classes but OP is asking when it will be "beneficial" for her kids. I think OP wants the kids to learn longterm hard skills from these classes. So, I don't think there's anything wrong with a 3 year old taking ballet, but I doubt that it is "beneficial" in the way OP is thinking about it. For example, we took our first kid to baby swim lessons. We had fun splashing around with her and she loves the water but did it make her an amazing swimmer? No. We could have spent time with her in the pool without the classes and had fun and she would have still learned to be comfortable in the water and later to learn how to swim

Real ballet does not start until ages 7-8. Until then it is "pre-ballet", which is basically just movement classes. Great, but you can certainly do without and it's not really learning ballet technique.

Agree. For ballet, wait until age 8.

This may be true for some but they are usually watching what your child is doing in these recreational classes and then inviting them to join another class that is invitation only if your child is making more progress than the rest of the class. This has happened with both my kids at ages 4-5 at both dance and gymnastics. These are usually longer and more difficult classes.

[Anonymous]

My kids loved every thing they tried and were good at it. Though, when it came time for serious dedication to activities - practice and homework, that's the time they lost interest.

Honestly, they only committed to activities (and basically found their niche) when they were in middle school. I think you should expose them to lots of things and then go slightly beyond what the classes are offering to gauge their interests. You also have to make the committment to logistically support them, so there is that factor too.

[Anonymous]

I'm not sure there is a magic age. Both of my kids (a boy and a girl) started gymnastics and ballet when they were three. Both of those classes have been great for working on balance and gross motor skills. My daughter is now 6 and is enrolled in ballet and jazz, and she's in a professional production of the Nutcracker this December. Dance is "her thing" and she has gained confidence and organizational skills from the classes and rehearsal process. She could have gained those skills from another activity as well. But dance brings her great joy. My son is now 4 and in his second year of gymnastics and dance. As long as he continues to enjoy them, I'll continue to enroll him.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think it’s when they show an interest in something. My three YO, now four, loved the movie Leap and watched it over and over and would dance along with it. She is been taking ballet classes and loves it.

I have not doubt your kid loves her classes but OP is asking when it will be "beneficial" for her kids. I think OP wants the kids to learn longterm hard skills from these classes. So, I don't think there's anything wrong with a 3 year old taking ballet, but I doubt that it is "beneficial" in the way OP is thinking about it. For example, we took our first kid to baby swim lessons. We had fun splashing around with her and she loves the water but did it make her an amazing swimmer? No. We could have spent time with her in the pool without the classes and had fun and she would have still learned to be comfortable in the water and later to learn how to swim

Real ballet does not start until ages 7-8. Until then it is "pre-ballet", which is basically just movement classes. Great, but you can certainly do without and it's not really learning ballet technique.

Agree. For ballet, wait until age 8.

This may be true for some but they are usually watching what your child is doing in these recreational classes and then inviting them to join another class that is invitation only if your child is making more progress than the rest of the class. This has happened with both my kids at ages 4-5 at both dance and gymnastics. These are usually longer and more difficult classes.

I think it’s great to start ballet earlier (my own DD did), but if there is a money constraint like OP’s, you need to make hard choices.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When they are old enough to make specific decisions based on their interests, rather than on gender norms.

Agreed! Has your 1-year-old girl expressed interest in ballet already, but indicated that she has no interest in basketball/soccer/baseball? If so, that's impressive. (And just a note: she may well want to emulate her big brother in the activities he is doing.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think it’s when they show an interest in something. My three YO, now four, loved the movie Leap and watched it over and over and would dance along with it. She is been taking ballet classes and loves it.

I have not doubt your kid loves her classes but OP is asking when it will be "beneficial" for her kids. I think OP wants the kids to learn longterm hard skills from these classes. So, I don't think there's anything wrong with a 3 year old taking ballet, but I doubt that it is "beneficial" in the way OP is thinking about it. For example, we took our first kid to baby swim lessons. We had fun splashing around with her and she loves the water but did it make her an amazing swimmer? No. We could have spent time with her in the pool without the classes and had fun and she would have still learned to be comfortable in the water and later to learn how to swim

Real ballet does not start until ages 7-8. Until then it is "pre-ballet", which is basically just movement classes. Great, but you can certainly do without and it's not really learning ballet technique.

Agree. For ballet, wait until age 8.

This may be true for some but they are usually watching what your child is doing in these recreational classes and then inviting them to join another class that is invitation only if your child is making more progress than the rest of the class. This has happened with both my kids at ages 4-5 at both dance and gymnastics. These are usually longer and more difficult classes.

I think it’s great to start ballet earlier (my own DD did), but if there is a money constraint like OP’s, you need to make hard choices.

My DD didn't start ballet until 8 and had no experience before then (except through in-school dance activities). She went straight to a pre-pro school.

[Anonymous]

I would say 8 is a good age.

[Anonymous]

6-7 is the very earliest for piano. Agree with pp that 8 is a good age, probably for everything.