What to do when your child asks for enrichment classes?

[nicsmom]

mine is asking for art classes but we really dont have the time.

now looking ard to look for those that will fit.

[tamarind]

I think it is good that the child shows interest in learning so many things. If the parents have enough financial resources to pay for all those classes, then why not ?


But for parents like me, who have limited financial resources, and no time to bring the kids around, I prefer to DIY.

I saw a baking class which teach kids to bake cupcakes or cookies. One session of 2 hours cost $80 ! I bought my own baking equipment like oven, electric mixer, weighing scale, etc. Total less than $250. I have been teaching my kids to bake cupcakes and cookies since they were 3 years old. We have baked about 10 - 20 times now. Check out my blog.

http://tamarindvillage.blogspot.com/2007/09/cupcakes.html

Earlier this year I also saw a class which teach older kids to be entrepreneurs, it costs over $100 for a half day course. I decided to teach my girl the process of making, selling. Check this out.

http://tamarindvillage.blogspot.com/2008/02/chloes-young-entrepreneur.html

My hubby is giving them elementary Maths & Science lessons, from maths (Pascal's triangle, concept of infinity), astronomy (e.g. the earth is a big globe, land looks flat only because it's a BIG globe; planets of the solar system: their names in sequence, whether rocky or gas giants, whether cold/hot depending on distance from the sun), to biology (e.g. observe and draw parts of a flower's boy- and girl-parts, flower -> fruits -> dissemination of seeds) and even chemistry (e.g. concept of atoms & molecules, 3 states of water: ice, liquid, steam/vapour).

We really save a lot of money !

[poohcutie]

red_ryder:

I try to limit to 2 enrichment classes, so as not to tire out the kid and leave time for free play.



Anyone else in such a dilemna?

hi
same situation as u.
My gal is 5 this yr. Currently doing her dancing class on sat and 3 other enrichment classes over the weekends.
jst few days ago, she requests for fencing lesson
Others may think that im the one forcing her for all these!

:oops:

[mom2boys]

suddenly has this question - does boys and gals reacts differently with regards to enrichments courses? need some feedback on this.


does gals usually will request parents to bring them to class like drawing, swimming etc?

i was asking my 4yr old boy ‘would he like to learn tekwando?’ he responded ’ ok lor’…then ‘hmmm…dun wan lah’…
then I pop another question ’ would you like to go for drawing class or music lesson?’ he responded ’ i want both…’ in a cheeky way…so make me wonder should i or should i not send him to these classes…worried in the end, he doesn’t like it. waste the $$ and time…

[jedamum]

mom2boys:

suddenly has this question - does boys and gals reacts differently with regards to enrichments courses? need some feedback on this.

My elder son never requested for any enrichment.
I have to be the one to initiate and ensure that he goes through it before deciding if it is appropriate and if he truly enjoys the lesson.

[Luanee]

My 6 yr old girl requested for ballet, drawing and cooking classes... quite good in the sense that whenever she misbehaves or not practise her spelling, I would threaten to cancel her ballet class and she will obey quickly...

[ChiefKiasu]

Luanee:

My 6 yr old girl requested for ballet, drawing and cooking classes... quite good in the sense that whenever she misbehaves or not practise her spelling, I would threaten to cancel her ballet class and she will obey quickly...

Good for you. That means she really likes the class! Money will be well spent.

[nat_mom]

I agree that it's ok for them to have more than 2 enrichment classes at this age, esp if they are the ones asking for it. My gal is attending abacus on Mon, phonics on Wed, ballet on Thur, piano and Chinese on Sat, drawing and swimming on Sun. Other than piano, the rest were requested by her. She looks forward to all her lessons. She had requested for me to look for science enrichment too...but told her i do not want to overload her with another class on Sat, 2 is enough as we could have bonding time after that. Am planning to stop all except piano and Chinese when she goes P1 next year. But usually she has such gd rapport with the teachers that she does not want to withdraw. Had initially wanted to stop her phonics in Jun, but she will reason with me that what Teacher Rosie is teaching is different from what she learns in her pre-school and she wants to learn that so that she can be a better reader :? Spoke to her for quite a while and she finally agrees to stop abacus, phonics come year end

[SMILEY]

nat_mom:

Am planning to stop all except piano and Chinese when she goes P1 next year.

I think swimming is another course that you should consider. As children should be physically fit in order to perform academically.

[metz]

mom2boys:

suddenly has this question - does boys and gals reacts differently with regards to enrichments courses? need some feedback on this.


does gals usually will request parents to bring them to class like drawing, swimming etc?

i was asking my 4yr old boy 'would he like to learn tekwando?' he responded ' ok lor'...then 'hmmm...dun wan lah'....
then I pop another question ' would you like to go for drawing class or music lesson?' he responded ' i want both...' in a cheeky way...so make me wonder should i or should i not send him to these classes...worried in the end, he doesn't like it. waste the $$ and time...

The only course my 5 yr old boy ever requested so far is learning violin. Other than that, I'll suggest for him to try out different courses. If he likes it, he gets to stay on the course. Courses he's having now include Violin, Aikido and BerriesWorld. Other things in the pipeline include fencing (when he turns 6), swimming, inline skating, and piano.

As for my gal, she's been bugging me for ballet classes since 2.5yr old. Got her wish when she turned 3 yr old She's also having Chinese at Berries. Things in the pipeline include swimming, violin and possibly piano.

I used to think sending kids to classes is an extravagant hobby, not to mention torturous and redundant for the kids. But seeing how my kids enjoy themselves in various classes, my view changed. As long as the kids are happy learning another skill, enrichment classes are not necessary bad. Furthermore, it's good for character building. Besides handling academic work well, they are also learning to manage non-academic activities.