Parents putting their toddlers in a zillion organized activites?
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I agree. Yes. I guess my point this whole time, and I got distracted, is the whole structured environment deal. There are so many parents in certain areas, who flip out if their tots aren't in a ton of "programs" and I think (just my opinion) that they are missing the forest for the trees.
Well, what is the concern with what other parents do?
In my area I would say it's split 50/50 with those parents who choose activities and those who choose none. I live in a suburb of a large city though, we're probably a little more laid back.
Quote:
So when I get asked why my kid hasn't been enrolled in activities, I need to "justify" my parenting. Um, how about I just give an answer, something like "No she isn't. So how's the weather tomorrow?", like most normal people would respond.
What is wrong with that response? I met someone at a party a few months ago who had a daughter the same age as mine. I asked her what preschool she was sending her daughter to. My bad for assuming but she launched into a diatribe about how preschool wasn't necessary and the rest of her kids were fine without it and it was a waste of money and time. Obviously it was a sore subject but I was honestly just making conversation. I wish she had just said, "Nowhere. So how's the weather?" instead of going 0-60 fighting some imagined battle strike from me in the Mommy War. She came off as really insecure in her choice.
So I say be confident in your choice and if people keep persisting that you justify, stand tall and shut them down. "I am comfortable that we made the right choice for my child and family. How is that weather?", keep repeating until people realize that you won't allow them to tear you down to build themselves up.
Last edited by CarolinaPig; 09-02-2014 at 08:39 AM..
I'm the exact parent you are talking about! We have a lot scheduled and I am a SAHM to a 2 year old.
Monday: Little Gym
Tuesday: Free
Wednesday: morning Preschool (starts tomorrow)
Thursday: regular play date
Friday: free play at Little Gym.
I will absolutely say that doing these activities is as much for me as it is for her!
We did the YMCA classes until recently, but we've done Little Gym for several months and she LOVES it. It's so confidence building and when she's having a great time, I'm having a great time!
Preschool is going to be wonderful for both of us. She will get a couple of hours of independence from me, and more importantly I will have a couple of hours a week just for myself. It will make me a better parent to have some down time... even if it's just a couple of hours a week.
Her regular play date is a godsend. We are 5 Moms with similar aged kids and we've been meeting every Thursday for well over a year. I like these ladies, we would be friends even without kids and we chat while the kiddos play. It's socialization for the kids AND the parents.
It's a lot to have scheduled, but it works for us!
I'm the exact parent you are talking about! We have a lot scheduled and I am a SAHM to a 2 year old.
Monday: Little Gym
Tuesday: Free
Wednesday: morning Preschool (starts tomorrow)
Thursday: regular play date
Friday: free play at Little Gym.
I will absolutely say that doing these activities is as much for me as it is for her!
We did the YMCA classes until recently, but we've done Little Gym for several months and she LOVES it. It's so confidence building and when she's having a great time, I'm having a great time!
Preschool is going to be wonderful for both of us. She will get a couple of hours of independence from me, and more importantly I will have a couple of hours a week just for myself. It will make me a better parent to have some down time... even if it's just a couple of hours a week.
Her regular play date is a godsend. We are 5 Moms with similar aged kids and we've been meeting every Thursday for well over a year. I like these ladies, we would be friends even without kids and we chat while the kiddos play. It's socialization for the kids AND the parents.
It's a lot to have scheduled, but it works for us!
I don't see this as overscheduled at all. Sounds fun!
I'm one of those parents. We tried a lot of different activities with my four year old since he was 7 months old. I'm glad I did. I was one of those kids growing up with no other kids around and I had terrible problems with social skills and not knowing how to play with other kids. I didn't want my son to have the same issues so we started early, to get him used to being around others, interacting, playing, as well as listening, following instructions, etc. When he was younger we lived in a small apartment in a city where it rained a lot, I didn't have many friends (actually most of my friendships have been made through kids), I was a sahm and he needed a lot of stimulation. We would boh start getting bored and stir crazy if we sat at home all day, and getting out somewhere with a safe place he could run around and explore without me having to hover over him was a lifesaver. It's been nothing but helpful - he's not a particularly athletic kid and gymnastics classes have done wonders for his attempting things he wouldn't do with us or on his own. And yes,there is such a thing as socializing babies as I've observed - at seven months we started a free baby program at the library where they'd sit around with a bunch of toys and sing songs etc. We all saw the progress in the babies - at first, they would play with the toys but not approach the other babies, some would get scared and start crying, hang on to the moms etc. But as time progressed they all got a lot more comfortable, join in happily, stop getting overstimulated, and were no longer afraid of the other babies, would grab and 'explore' them, smile more, it was really cool to see. So yes, I do believe there is definite value to these things.
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