so Caelyns settled in really well at school now. She went haring in today without so much as a backwards look. Not hurt in the slightest

Shes currently doing 2x3 hour sessions a week and wont be going up to 5 til sept 2012 when im planning on two days at 9-3 and a single morning session.

But im thinking of adding in an extra activity from new year and cant decide between ballet, gym or an extra school session. Money isnt really the issue as now Im working again I can afford either.

There seems to be pros and cons to both. School is obviously the most expensive but I can do salary sacrifice to lower the cost and spread it out to make it affordable and having seen how good it is for her its very tempting to put her in 1 full day and 1 half day. Would help childcare too if someones only having Awen that day. And would give me a bit more one on one time with monkeychops as well as going up a step to prepare her for 5 sessions rather than jumping straight from 2 to 5.

Ballet or gym are cheaper per month though they have hidden costs if she gets into them but it means juggling her and Awen at the classes. I feel I put on my family enough as it is without asking them to have Awen to take C to ballet. But i would be able to do an activity just with c if I could organise it and she does want to do ballet particularly. And with gym i could probably take A and let her play there too on the kiddy section while C does the bigger stuff.

But then Im also thinking once her free sessions kick in I could let her do the extra ballet or gym with the money i will then be saving and it just means waiting til sept when she will be bigger and more likely to be able to take direction from a dance or gym teacher anyway. I do worry about having her do 'too mcuh' if she does school and ballet but cos im putting her in full days its only 3 days a week in school so probs not tat much on her anyway.

Im having to consider it now cos schools sent a letter home offering tuesday afternoon places and shes currently in tuesdays and fridays so its ideal and i dont wanna miss out.

what would you lot do?

Chloe does gym classes and loves it, alot of the other mums bring little ones along too who play along, so that could be an option, but I think I would probably go with school, as she will get to do a variety of things there and when she's doing 5 sessions next year, you could look at gym or dancing then

I agree with Mandy, at this stage I would probably opt for the extra school session as she will get a variety of activities and she already enjoys it, it will take some strain off you (financially and time wise) and break her in more gently to the 5 sessions rather than 2. Once you get her hours in september confirmed you could look at finding a class that fits around them as if you were to take up a class now and then find out it clashes with her nursery days in september she might be disapointed?

Thomas will also be doing 2x 9-3 days and one morning in January - I'm really nervous about it as he's never been before and it will be a long day for him to go straight into a 9-3 from nothing so I would love to be able to send him a few mornings now to break him in gently

xx

I'm biased..I'm a ballet/dance mom..and Maddy absolutely adores it. She's been doing it since Kindergarten, and has grown in confidence, friendships..and skill. I totally look forward to their shows and pretty soon competitions we will be traveling too. Also..C can wear all the tutu's her little heart desires. xxx

Hmm well some good points. Ive decided to go for the extra school session. I agree right at the moment its doing her so much good and the extra sessions are there, it makes sense to ease her up to 5 sessions a week rather than jumping in. Plus I dont have to go either or. ONce shes got her free sessions Im gonna put her in for 2 full days and a half day then look for a dance class around her school hours in september when she will also be more likely to be able to retain directions from a dance teacher as shes a bit of a whirlwind to get her to listen to you right now

i am having the same dilemma.... do i pay for dita to go to school (straight after her second birthday) in january or do i get her to dance lessons and wait for school til september or even the next january when she is 3.

with braden it was an easy session, he had no peer interaction so i wanted school but with little missy we see a lot more little children due to friends and family popping them out and also she is very clngy so just leaving her at school might cause many problems where as dance i can staywith her but she wont be right by my side the whole time...hopefully....lol
another one is trying to fit it in with nights too which will be hard work!
x

For dita if it were me Id go for school purely because she is clingy. A bit of time on her own playing without you there might be just what she needs, I reckon doing dancing with her until shes gotten over the cliniginess might make it worse iyswim

I would of suggested more sessions at school too (bit late for my opinion now though ) x