Summer is here, which means our extracurricular activities
are piling up.
I like using the summer sessions of classes/activities to “test”
them out on Abby. The school year is way
too long of a commitment for a high-spirited 2.5 year old (although, she will
be 3 in August). But 6-8 weeks is
perfect.
Here is what we are enrolled for this summer:
Mommy & Me Ballet
 |
| Abby at ballet, last year (left) and this year (right) |
This is our second summer taking ballet with The Tallahassee Ballet. We did it last summer, and Abby enjoyed
it. I even contemplated signing her up
for the year (Sept – May) but didn’t because I was due with Will in November,
and, well, the logistics of having a newborn and shuffling Abby to & from
class, plus the added expense of having 2 kids won out. Plus, she was just 2 then, and I am not sure
how she would have handled it. Last
summer, the class felt like chaos. But
now that she’s almost 3, it’s amazing how well she follows directions (from the
teacher, never from me. Go figure!). And I think she is really enjoying it. She talks about ballet all the time. For the fall, we decided to put her in a
ballet/tap program that comes to her preschool, Dancing Little Stars. I talked to another mom from her class whose
little girl is in it and she loves it!
Abby will have her first recital in full costume in May!
Gymnastics
 |
| Abby at gymnastics |
This is another parent participation class through the City
of Tallahassee. We just started this
summer. I wanted to start in the spring,
but the process to get registered is ridiculous. No offense to the Trousdell GymnasticsCenter, but, they need to get out of the dark ages with pen & ink
registration forms and a lot of sitting around and waiting type lottery
drawings. Invest in some software
people! Anyway, we really like the class
so far. The problem is, it is such a high-speed
environment, it goes by SO fast. I don’t think 30min is enough. They should extend it to 45min. Especially since 5-10min of the class is
wasted while people trickle in and they take attendance. But, Abby loves it. Her favorite (of course) is the trampoline
and also doing forward rolls down the “wedge.”
The classes are so cheap and are a great way to wear her out so we will definitely
keep her in it in the fall.
Swim Lessons
 |
| Baby Abby at her first swim lesson, at about 8mo |
This is Abby’s third summer taking swim lessons through the
city (a way easier registration process, and all online!). But, I will say, you get what you pay
for. The classes are not that fantastic,
although I hear that some pools have better instructors than others. We’ve had the same mediocre instructor for 3
years, but we keep returning because it’s cheap, and this is the closest pool
to our house that provides parent/child classes on a weekend. Also, this pool has a huge kiddie activity
pool. So after class we stay and play
for a little while. We enrolled Will
this summer too (ages start at 6mo) and he pretty much hates it. Abby is our little water-baby, not so much
Will it seems. At age three they start “solo”
classes, so next summer should be interesting!
A lot more activities will be open to her next summer when
she is actually 3 and close to 4. I can’t
wait to “test” some new things out on her, like T-ball or soccer.
What do your summer activities look like?
