Soccer, T-ball or maybe an Art Class?

So I know a lot of my singelton mom friends are beginning to start their 3-year-olds in a dance class or on a soccer team. Well then there is me, the mom of twins, who not only has to pay double for everything we do...but also is concerned about having her "twinados" in the same room with any one else other than mom to control the constant fighting and arguing! My concern is that the instructers will not be able to control the boys or that they will not get the full effect of the class. For example... if I read to them one on one or do a puzzle, they do so well.... together... well it is kinda a disaster. So my question for all of you.......... at what age and what types of activities do we begin "paying" to do? Is it to early to join a soccer team? Have any of you signed your twins up for the same thing, but seperate classes?

 

I signed my older DD up at 3 for soccer and it was a total waste. She was not interested in it at all. And she was in pre-school already 2 days a week. That was going fine, but organized sports was a waste for her. We signed up up a year later (this past Fall) for soccer and she loved it. What a difference a year made for her. The boys are eligible for soccer in the Spring. I will see how they are come Feb. I think they are going to be borderline at best.

 

I signed my son up for soccer as well as a 4 year old and he hated it, but he also had severe allergies and the heat and outdoors just messed with him. On the other hand, we waited until 5 for T-ball and he did fairly well, but it wasn't uncommon to see him sitting in the dirt playing through the majority of the game. This is the first year for ballet for my girls, and honestly, if it wasn't for their instructor they probably would not be doing very well. She is very organized and structured and keeps the class on track. I tried them out during the summer because the classes only ran for a few weeks, that way I could gage how they would do and decide if it was something I wanted to continue throughout the fall and spring. Had they not done well enough, I would have pulled them and had them wait another year or two. The big thing we learned with my son was not to rush into organized sports. My girls will not be playing organized sports for a while until we know for sure they want to and will enjoy it. It's miserable to pay a lot of money to see them misbehave and not follow instructions.

 

Marcus did soccer at almost 4, the spring of his 3 year old preschool year. He did OK. Only he did it because Jon was in preschool 5 days a week, while Marcus was only in school 2 days a week, so he needed something else to do while his brother was in school. He didn't do it the next year, because the classes conflicted with his preschool. We did soccer through the USA Soccer Acadamy and the coaches were great with the kids. At 3 and 4, is is an instructional program where they learn ball handling through games, and the kids really had fun.

We went back to soccer with both boys in K through the town rec. department. That is also when we started t-ball. Neither boy would have done well with a "regular" soccer ore t-ball program at 3. Instructional is OK, but I would stay away from anything that has actual games.

Are they going to preschool? If so, they will get lots of arts and crafts there, and they will also learn how to listen to the teacher with someone who is used to teaching them that skill.

 

My mom paid for the kids to do soccer this fall right before they turned 4. They loved it. We did it through the YMCA and there were tons of kids their age signed up. Their whole team (except the coach's kid) did great! Ours was also an instructional league, so their was no pressure to win, only to try hard. Ian was a great goalie!

Anna also started dance this past summer. I can't comment on the twin-effect since Ian isn't in the class with her. But, she does great! The way they teach them at this age is so cute. Things like teaching them to follow one foot behind the other across the floor by making one foot the kitty and the other foot the doggy and the doggy always follows the kitty. I don't remember my teachers doing that when I was her age. I'm not sure if I just don't remember or if they are just really good with little ones. I'd recommend asking to sit in on a class at different schools if you have a choice of schools and get the chance.

 

I did soccer with my older DS at age 3 1/2 and wish I would have waited until the following year. He really was not all that into it and it was more work for me to motivate him to play. I would bet it will only be harder with two, so I say hold off another year. Plus I really hated having a required event to attend EVERY saturday for several months straight. I would have much preferred an impromtu trip to the zoo, museum or park on some of those weekends.

 

I agree that soccer at 3 and probably 4 y/o for most kids is a waste. My dd started at 5 y/o and loved it and plays competitively now. I am glad we waited.

We have always taken the stance that there will be so many years to do the group lessons etc that there isn o need to rush into them.
We did basic swimming lessons at 3 y/o because we spend a lot of time at the beach in the summer. I think that was important.

 

My DDs started ballet at about 2.5 and gymnastics and swimming at 3. (They've done different things at different times, but so far have only been in one class at a time, per kid.) We've done them both separately (Amy in swimming, Sarah in gymnastics) and together, and it works fine either way. But we didn't do any classes until they were old enough to attend without a parent.

Maybe it helps that they've been in daycare/preschool practically since birth, so they are used to being in a group with other kids. They don't cause any more trouble than any other two kids in the class. :ibiggrin:

They've loved all the things they've done so far. (In fact they keep begging to do more and more, and we have to explain that there just aren't that many available hours in the day.)

I'd like to wait on the team sports for at least another year, although our local indoor soccer place actually starts "classes" at age 2! Our neighbors' kids both started at 2 or 2.5 and really liked it, but I'm sure it's mostly just running around.