Are there any "essential" classes for toddlers?

I have found that the most essential thing for my children is for me to be receptive to what they want. My kids are in swim classes because I agree with you that it is an essential skill. They currently are not doing anything else, but typically I would let them have one other activity. This way they can choose to try something they think they may like. They can explore what is out there, and maybe eventually they will settle on something they want to continue to do.

My son has pretty much settled on basketball and it is exciting to watch him play and great for him to learn team concepts.

I know your kids are younger than mine and one class is more than enough in my opinion for babies. Toddlers have fun doing most anything, so as long as you provide many activities for them, that is way better than any class can provide. Dance with them, cook with them, explore with them.

Preschool.

Montessori preschool is wonderful, as is Waldorf.

Yamaha piano lessons are very good for young children.

I should mention that they are both in day care already, which, while not exactly Montessori, follows roughly the same principles. Thus, they are exposed to music, art, yoga, and so on.

I tend to agree that swim lessons are essential, but honestly I can’t think of anything else. Of course I am a slacker mom, my kids never had music, karate, gymnastics, etc. When they got to be older toddlers (>4), they did start playing AYSO soccer. They all loved that and the sportsmanship part was good for them.

Mine did everything. It didn’t make a difference; none of it stuck. That’s not exactly true. My eldest dabbled in dance beginning at age 4 and took lessons off and on through grade school. She picked it back up in college for fun. Her body control is good from the early training. Ditto with tennis lessons. We started those at age 5, and took off and on. They weren’t competitive children, and would lay off lessons for awhile then start back up. Usually it took about three weeks to catch back up with kids who had been taking continually. Their body control naturally improved with age, enabling them to get caught up easily.

The things that I think made the biggest difference was letting them make a mess at home with craft things and playdough, etc. and exposure to the arts through Classical Kids CDs things like “Mommy It’s a Renoir” matching game (you can expand that yourself with post cards from art museums). Most of our toys came from educational toy stores, and included lots of building and role playing toys. I was constantly dragging home big cardboard boxes for them to get in, had lots of costumes, puppets, housekeeping things (fake food, etc.) Anything that encourages open play and imagination.

It’s not so much the lessons, as is it is what you can teach them by spending time with them. Having a dad who plays “house” with his sons when they’re little teaches them about role modeling, spending time to sit down with a bowl of mixed beans and sort them out together, or do a pouring activity is just fun time together. It doesn’t have to be major.

I think it is essential that you mirror their affect, love them unconditionally, be authoritative, but not authoritarian, provide a rich environment for all their senses, allow them to play actively as much as possible, try to keep the TV watching to a minimum, and enjoy as much time being right with them, playing too, as you possibly can. I honestly don’t think it matters what you play at or with. Swimming sounds fun. I wouldn’t essentialize it.

Yoga, dancing, and other things like that which improve balance, coordination, and flexibility are great for kids. If you gain these three things early, you might not be as clumsy as some people can be who lack these skills. :) Anything artistic, anything that allows them to experiment with science and cooking (when they’re a couple of years older), pretty much anything has its upsides. The issues come in when parents get obsessive or competitive about something, but if you remember that the activities are supposed to be fun, its all good. Children’s museums and libraries often have good programs for kids, even the younger ones. :)

I made a toilet out of clay for my Barbies one time at an art class. I was a precocious child.

I agree, swimming is an essential skill, which is why I had my kids in the water from the moment their umbilical cords fell off! But…I taught them myself, so it was free.

Other than that, I’d say no, nothing more. They’re learning plenty just by being alive at that age. Sure, take them to the kid’s museums, etc., take them places, but do it as a family outing, not as a “structured you must learn this,” kind of thing. But that’s just my opinion…

We have our almost 2½ year old signed up in a swim class, and a gym class. He is too young to really know how to swim, but he is learning to kick, and paddle his arms (which he knew, because we went swimming almost every day this summer) but, he also gets to socialize, sing songs and overall just have fun.
The gym class we do for socialization, learning to follow the rules, sharing….he is not in preschool or daycare, so we find this vital for him to be around.

For your 3 year old, I’d actually ask him what he wants to do. I’ve seen things at our YMCA and township that do indoor sports such as soccer or whatever for kids your sons age. I think if he’s interested in that, or some form of karate, that it’d be quite beneficial.

I’m definitely not a Type A parent either, but I do like my child to be involved in activities as much as possible, and when he can actually chose which ones to do, we’ll let him. Oh, and when he’s older we’ll do music lessons, but he’s too young for that currently (I’d say your children are too young as well)

Swimming is definitely important for safety reasons. Anything to keep your child active and interested in life will be beneficial.

If there is anything I wish I could have stuck with when I was younger, it’s piano lessons. I’ve found that a lot of my friends feel the same way. I’m not pushing for let’s make them the next Chopin, but rudimentary knowledge and perhaps a few favorite classics you can plunk out on the piano…? (it’s so impressive + the added benefit of a deeper appreciation for music =p)
I’m working on this now, but my friends who had had piano lessons when they were younger learn things so much more quickly and less painfully.

Differential Equations

Yeah, well that goes without saying.

Differential equations…That is soooooo funny. Looks like someone took wit and humor classes… ~

Nothing is essential other than food, shelter and love – but I am a fan of Montessori pre-schools, swimming classes, dance classes, art classes…taking them to kids’ museums often…doing yoga with them…fun, fun, fun

@mote, touche!

Well the most essential way to have positive kids is let them spend time with you :) By you modelling the kind of loving and caring behaviours and morals you believe are important they will take that all in from you. At the very young ages of 1 and 3 the most important teachers are their family. Your imput into them is far more valuable and important then anything a gym or art or yoga class can offer them at the moment – that can all come in time. Swimming is a great hobby and going to classes from very young is great – great for safety of learning to swim, great for the exercise, great for the socialising, great for the fun fun fun!!

I know the pressure is on to give children the very best and with all these people – experts and other parents, putting pressure on people to fill their kids up with this that and the other otherwise you are letting your kids down. Its horrible. Your babies just need the fundamentals – a loving, attentive and caring family. Focus on outdoor play with them, playdough, blowing bubbles, walks in all weather, make fun obstical courses for them to drive their ride on bikes over, get them to jump and climb and swing and sing and tell stories and talk with them and laugh. All that is free and they will get far far more out of it then anything an expert stranger can offer.

Playgroups are definatly great for that age. Having them socialise and play and have fun in a relaxed child friendly no pressure to perform or conform environment will enable your kids to grow up confident and strong and well balenced. There is plenty of time for hobbies and interests etc later on. Let them discover themselves in the world first then introduce new things and places gradually – otherwise they will have tried everything by the time they are 5 and everything will be boring.

Those are my thoughts. Though I do appriciate that there pressure to do everything to ensure your childern have the best is high. I think in the long run they will thank you for the fun times they spent being able to grow freely in a happy carefree home. Its a fun childhood that way rather then being brought up in an environment where they felt the need to compete with other kids and conform to programmes and take part in things external from their family and home. You want the kids to internalise the security of you and their home and the rest of the family and pets so they have a secure base to move and grow from as they get older and start displaying interest in excurricular activities.

Preschool though is different. I think that is a great place for children to practice their developing skills and to learn more and also to have a place to practice independance in nurturing learning and play environment. And by skills I dont mean they learn to read I mean they learn to listen, they learn to stop and think before they act, they learn to share toys, they learn to wash their own hands after using the bathroom etc and they learn they can do these things and that they are clever and important skills – much more useful then being able to do a cartwheel or a yoga downward facing dog or discuss the timbre of a piece of clasical music. There is time for all that. But first let them be kids and let them feel and see that their achievements are internal successes first before they get pressured by society to believe that success is about external achievements and acknowledgment.