Consider the plight of a gymnastics Mom with a 3-year-old who does not want to go to a structured class.
So last week was the start of a new gymnastics session. Jacob didn’t want to go when he woke up in the morning. I told him we had to at least go and say hi, which is the line I use for everything. By the time we get there and he sees all that’s happening, he’ll most likely forget that he didn’t want to go. But here is the catch: If he decides he still wants to leave, I have to follow through. Maybe we’ll compromise and stay just long enough to get something out of it, but if I told him that we can leave, then I can’t turn that promise into a lie. This is a big part of my ‘mutual repsect’ philosophy.
Jacob didn’t want to stay. We hadn’t paid yet, so what was I going to do, force him to stay and watch while the money went down the toilet? At 3 years-old I don’t think I need to worry that I’m teaching him to be a quitter. We simply went in and told them we wouldn’t be coming back for this session. I told Beth that we would try again in January. That’s what I plan to do.
Murphy’s Law: Gymnastics Drop-Out
photo – Arial at drop-in preschool
A pretty common problem.
Some 3-year-olds, especially girls, love to go to a class with a teacher. Love to “follow the leader”.
But many, perhaps most children, do not.
For the past 10-years I’ve been advocating “drop-in preschool” for those kids. Come when you want, supervise your own child, pay only for the gym time you use.
I find parents are terrifically appreciative of this option. It was by far our most popular preschool class for parents and coaches at Taiso Gymnastics, Saskatoon. More popular than “parent and tot”.
We paid one or two “supervisors”, but no coaches. (Check with your insurance company first, of course, if you want to do this.)
I feel there is no need to go into a completely structured class until the kids start school.
Gymnastics Coaching.com 