MG is five and I’m sure she would thrive in a gymnastics class but because I don’t drive I can’t take her to one 
Am I wasting her potential by not exposing her to any classes? She also appears to be talented with music, should she be learning an instrument?
Lack of finances and lack of driving (it’s impossible to get to the nearest gymnastics club or the music lessons without a car or hours of walking…) mean neither of my daughters go to any classes, and never have done. I’m completely un-sporty and un-musical so it’s not something we do as a family but MG probably could be a professional musician or gymnast if she decided she wanted to and spent the time on it.
Should she be staring now? Will it be too late if she starts classes at age 10 if that’s what she chooses? She’d also like to go to ballet class, and mimics the karate moves that her school friends have shown her. I am biased, but from just copying others she looks like she has the right idea. From having no formal lessons at all she shows an aptitude in all things physical. She also copies the dance moves from TV programmes and then makes up her own dances.
I’m a couch potato, so I know nothing about any of these disciplines. Sport, gymnastics, dance, martial arts are all a mystery to me. Am I denying my children their talents because I’m clueless?
Or is it best just to leave her to be as she is, playing with everything and learning in her own way? She’s only five, will her talents really be written off if she doesn’t start a class now?
* I am really not a video person! It took me ages to get this online and the soundtrack doesn’t really fit but it will do. Excuse the tiny fraction of the chaos we live in that you can see in the background 
I am in a very similar situation to you. Are there any parents at school who could take her to classes with a friend? So many of my 7 yo’s friends do 3 or 4 activities after school, whilst “all” M does is swimming. On bad days I feel inadequate for not doing more with M, but on the other hand I find myself thinking, creative play at home is so valuable, and more stress free than rushing around every afternoon after school… I haven’t any answers, just wanted to express solidarity!
I have an offer of someone to take her swimming, because we don’t even do that, which I plan to take up! I think in September I’ll wonder what I was thinking of because there are after-school activities at the school from Y1 onwards but as you say, on bad days I think I’m letting her down (and her sister, but at three not so worried about her yet!) Thank-you! xx
I don’t think formal classes at her age are necessary. Just keep identifying her interests and letting her fulfil them in other ways. Put on music. Sing. Dance in the kitchen. Buy a children’s yoga book and do it together in the sitting room. Plenty of outdoor time to climb, run, swing, be free. Take your lead from her. Formal stuff can put a child off too early. My 5 year old has just started dance classes because she wanted to go with her friend but am thinking of scaling down. She’s so young and gets so tired.
Thank-you. She sits and watches TV too much and I worry that she’ll end up lazy like me! I do use YouTube to find lots of songs and watch ballet and gymnastics when she asks so combining her TV addiction and getting her up and about! I don’t think she’s anything like me thankfully
I come from the opposite end of the spectrum having (at least one anyway) thoroughly over-scheduled children and HATING it and all the faff it involves! I’d much rather they spent more time being creatively bored but it’s very difficult to say no when everyone else around you is doing the same and you get caught in the whirl. This week Bill did Viola through Colourstrings which means musicianship class and individual lesson (and next year will also mean orchestra-ARRGH), Beavers, cricket, swimming and diving club…He’s also already at the ripe old age of 7 ‘stopped’ doing karate, yoga, computer club, aikido and multi-sports. We’re on the one hand ‘fortunate’ that all this happens within walking distance of the house and on the other hand faced with an ever increasing choice of things to do that makes my head explode- he’s also expressed interest in art club, drama and tennis for instance…
RELAX and enjoy the peace and quiet. If there’s something she’s longing to do- could another parent not take her with a classmate? or does your school do any after school activities or in house instrument lessons?
As example I should also say I have a 14yr old nephew who did pretty much no clubs at primary school- but has taken up guitar and piano at his own behest in the last couple of years and is now really enthused and good. The key was waiting until he really could choose in an informed way for himself…
Listen to Zoe say I.
I think I’ll find it completely different in September as after school clubs seem to start at Y1 and I’ll probably be begging her to stay at home
Relax, relax, I’m over thinking again! Thank-you xx
Yep, Zoe doe have a strong point there! So impressed with her climbing the doorframe so easily. I think the soundtrack suits it perfectly by the way. I don’t think 5 is too early to start classes, although pressurising kids at that age isn’t wise, but I’m sure you’re not the sort of mum to do that. She obviously has a natural talent there. Very cute too!
She loves climbing that doorframe, has been doing it for ages. After my initial reaction (AAAAAAARRRRRRRGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHH internally) I encourage it – her grandparents have a fit when she does it in front of them though! I also encourage her to climb trees. I hope she doesn’t break anything because I’ll feel terribly guilty but it seems a shame to waste natural talent like that
Thank-you! xx
I don’t think that she will miss out. I didn’t start ballet until I was 8 and very quickly caught up with those who started earlier. My own two (4 and 2) don’t do any classes right now – we did a toddler music class but I think that was more for me, to fill time and meet mums! You do so much with them informally, there will be time for formal stuff later.
I think five is an age where children are happy exploring the world and seeing what other people like and finding their own interests too. I certainly wouldn’t worry about trying to get her into a lot of activities. Holly started piano two years ago (aged 7) and is enjoying it – had she started younger, I don’t know. We’ve just signed her up to gymnastics too but that was after months of her doing stuff at school with friends. What we have found in the past is that she will try something and then drop it so we now try to keep things to a minimum. Don’t worry – I think you’re providing her with lots of interesting things to do, and other ideas will develop as she gets older!