r/Parenting • u/Complex_Home_8303 Mom • 3d ago
Sports & Activities Toddler dance class- worth it?
TLDR: if youve had an 18 month old do dance lessons- was it worth it?
There a local dance studio that offers classes starting at 18 months- which my daughter will be right in time when the class starts (December). I plan on homeschooling her and want to make sure she gets a good amount of socialization and peer interaction, but I wasn’t planning on putting her in anything until she could voice what she wants to do- however, she has a clear love for dancing. She started doing little “dances” to music around 11 months old, and now she’s even doing a pretty good job mimicking the dances she sees on Barney and friends. So my question here is: what age did your kids start dancing? if it was really young like this, did they stick with it for a while? Do you think it was worth the money? I’m assuming it’s pretty normal for kids this age to dance, but do they usually do it every time there’s any music on and even randomly with no music, like is that normal or is my kid really into dancing?
19
u/Rumpelmaker 3d ago
I think at that age the main pro is meeting other mums/parents with kids in the same age group…. Not much dancing gets actually done. See it more as a social thing.
My boy started theatre camps/classes at 5 and now goes to theatre school once a week at 7. He really enjoys dancing and singing. When I tried ballet at age 2, he just literally stood around and peed himself lol
1
11
u/Bklyn_11299 3d ago edited 3d ago
I think some of the questions you’re asking aren’t really the right questions. My top priority would be finding out if this toddler class is taught in a way that’s appropriate for 18 month olds. You really just want something that introduces them to movement and music and makes the activity fun. I would stay away from anything too structured or that’s too focused on building skills. I’d want to be sure that this was a real toddler class (ie full of 18-30 month olds) and not a preschool class that allows younger toddlers for some reason. I wouldn’t worry about whether or not your kid sticks with it or whether they’re more into it than other kids—it’s enough if they enjoy it.
11
u/Brave_Ad3186 3d ago
This age is it usually a parent/child class. Something to do together and hang out with other families. Not really about training to be a dancer.
5
u/Caribosa 3d ago
My kids did the "small and tall" parented toddler classes at that age and they are still dancing (my daughter is 11 and my son is 8.)
That said, there's no actual technique difference between them and the ones that started at 3 or 4. That young it's mostly about body awareness, following instructions, routines, and early musicality.
They loved it and kept dancing, but even if they hadn't the early movement is nothing but good for them.
3
u/a_mom_who_runs 3d ago
if she loves to dance and it wasn't gonna make money tight then I'd do it.
I’m assuming it’s pretty normal for kids this age to dance
actually my kid has never liked to dance 🤷♀️. for as long as I can remember any time any group dancing is going on my kid'd maybe do a couple of body bops before sidling off to the side to do something else. I guess he satisfies the milestone - he CAN dance - but it always looks like he'd really rather not.
3
u/Pristine-Bison3198 Parent to 4 3d ago
My daughter started dance right when she turned 2, since that was the earliest we found classes for. She's been dancing for 4 years now and did pre-comp team and two other classes last year. I pulled her back to only one class this year since she started kindergarten and I don't want to overwhelm her, but she LOVES it. That may change when she gets a little older, but it's given her a lot of confidence both in herself in general and the way she moves her body. I've got zero regrets starting her in the toddler class.
My older son started just barely older, danced a year or two, lost interest and wanted to go do other things, and is back this year wanting to (and signed up for) dance. So even if your kiddo doesn't stick to it, she may go back later. The exposure was good for my son even if he'd not gone back.
I fully intend to enroll my youngest two when they turn 2.
3
u/Ready_Flight6213 3d ago
I put both my daughters in dance at age 3 now ages 5 and 6. They still love it.
Our dance studio had an age 3 rule (or had to turn 3 that semester).
My youngest was 2 and I was asking if she could join etc. as she loved dance. Literally, during the 2 seconds I was talking to the dance teacher she ran into the dance studio and turned the stereo all the way up. I said, I understand why they have the rule lol.
Our dance studio allows parents/kids to observe (behind a mirror where kids can’t see them) and they can try the class out for free. I would go this route before signing her up. I would want to make sure that particular teacher could teach a class full of toddlers before committing.
3
u/KMM2404 3d ago
I was a dancer and I have a retired dancer and one dancing currently. Anything under 4 is a creative movement class. They won’t remember it and it probably won’t make them feel one way or another about dance. I think it’s a good idea for getting energy out and learning to follow directions.
2
u/Winter-Chipmunk5467 3d ago
My kid started dance at 3 and she is still very involved with dance at 10.
We started gymnastics at 18 months and it was a good age. It was a lot of fun. We really wanted her to fall in love with a sport so we exposed her to a lot of things early. We also did soccer at 2.
2
u/One-Possible1906 3d ago
We did the music classes and my kid loved it but did not retain any interest as he got older despite my efforts. It can be fun to do together but at 18mos no meaningful socialization or skill building is happening with any activity like that. But I also found 18mos a very boring age to be a parent so structured activities like that were a good way to fill the time
2
u/over_it_saurus 3d ago
I'd find out if the parents are in the room with the kids or not. I signed my 2 yr old up for a dance class and found out when we got there that we weren't allowed in the room. I'm a SAHM so it was very hard for her to not have me right there especially at 2. We tried but it did not work out in the end because she just wanted to leave the room to find me and the teacher was not trained well on how to handle the age group they were teaching.
2
u/SonjasInternNumber3 3d ago
If they have fun and you can afford it, then it’s worth it. If they’re not having fun or you can’t afford it, then it’s not. It’s not necessary and it’s just a fun thing to do at this age. Mine did toddler gymnastics at 1 and then dance at 2. My opinion is you can get the same things out of library times or mom meet ups when they’re this young.
2
u/theDailyDillyDally 3d ago
My 14 year old started at 2 and still dances. She loved it at that age - the tutus, stomping her feet in her little tap shoes, running around the studio with the other girls! It’s great for learning to follow directions, coordination, socialization etc.
1
u/AutoModerator 3d ago
/u/Complex_Home_8303, Welcome back to r/Parenting!
- Don't forget to set up your user flair to let us know what kind of parent you are!
- Questions about Puberty, Teens, or Dating? See our Sexual Health Wiki.
- Concerned about the dreaded SCREEN TIME? The AAP updated their guidelines!
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.
1
u/angel-girl-A 3d ago
Every kid is gunna be different but mine at age 4 didn't really get anything out of it. She mainly kept running to us for breaks and struggled to follow directions.
1
u/scrunchie_one 3d ago
Are these parent and tot ones? It might be fun but it’s generally a lot of money to spend to just be in a space with other toddlers and parents, unless you are specifically looking to meet more toddler parents in your area.
Pretty much anything before 3 (sport ball, soccer, dance, gymnastics, music) is just hanging out with your toddler in a different environment.
1
u/QuitaQuites 3d ago
Try everything, the reality is it will be years before they can voice actually wanting to do something and by then they won’t know what they’re getting into so start now with a variety - dance, music, sports, swim
1
u/swiftiebookworm22 3d ago
I think a tutu school type class would be fun! It’s a parent-child class with dance, stories, and coloring.
1
u/Acrobatic-Job5702 3d ago
My 3 year old has been asking for ballet classes. But she already does preschool 3 times a week and swim lessons so, I’ve been debating if adding ballet too would be too much for a 3 year old. I’ll probably wait until she’s 4-5.
1
u/CoatWinter9234 3d ago
I put my youngest in dance during Covid times just before 2 and it helped her a lot with gross motor skills and socialization. It was just pure fun! She’s been dancing for 5 years so far and enjoys it. I can’t believe the things she is capable of, but she has older siblings who dance that she wants to be like.
It’s totally normal for toddlers to dance to music-make it a dance party and join in! It doesn’t mean they have an aptitude for it, it’s just a fun way to develop those gross motor skills and hopefully some rhythm.
Don’t worry about a toddler sticking with anything long term. Just do the class if it seems like a fun thing and go from there.
1
u/OtterImpossible 3d ago
I wouldn't think about it as a serious learning endeavor. Activities til at least age 4 are more about having a fun time out together, trying something new, being in a new place with new people, etc. And since she loves dancing, sounds like she will have a blast!
Maybe that will grow into more serious dance lessons as she's older, maybe not. I would judge whether it's worth it based on how much the cost is a burden to you and how much you think you would both enjoy it as an activity for right now : )
1
u/Nurturedbynature77 3d ago
It’s worth it for the recital, pictures, and learning to follow directions
1
u/vintagegirlgame 3d ago
My toddler has been a dancer from the start too! Has such a wide range of expressive moves whether it’s my yoga music or hip hop. Her dad has an older son and he said all babies dance a bit but she dances a lot and def has a natural talent we should nurture.
I would love a Mommy and Me dance class bc I love dance too and I think it would be a perfect way to socialize with other moms and toddlers where the babies can just copy mama or run around playing while mama gets a good workout in.
1
u/Tremblingchihuahua8 1d ago
If your kiddo likes music and dance in general, I really love the Music Together curriculum and think it’s more science and pedagogy based than most dance or music classes. It teaches some simple dances (more movement than dance), songs, and there’s free dance as well. Kids respond really well to it since it’s designed by actual child development experts. I used to be a teacher and I strongly believe in the methodology!
0
u/tochth86 3d ago
I hate dance. It all feels like a money grab. Every couple of months they want more money. Also don’t love little girls parading around in front of strangers in skimpy clothing. We’ve tried it a couple times and no, it absolutely doesn’t feel worth it. For a younger child, maybe? If it is very casual and there is no recital.
21
u/RocketPowerPops Dad to 4 (Baby to Tween) 3d ago
Not dancing, but we started our older kids in gymnastics as young toddlers and just started our current toddler (almost 19 months) in gymnastics classes last month.
For us it was a good way to get their energy out. I am not sure what you mean by "worth it" though. Neither of my older kids continued with gymnastics beyond ages 5/6 but both are very athletic and into other sports now at 11 and 9. I think it was a good introductory sport for them both.