Classes for 2 Year Old (boy question)

Now that I have a car and we're in a big town, I want to get my kids enrolled in some fun classes. Neither has been in daycare, so it's important for them to be around other kids and do things.

There are tons of things for my 3 year old daughter, but there is very little for my 2 year old son. The "boy" things mostly don't start until 3 (the sports) except for ice hockey, which I don't think he's ready for. I am putting them both into ice skating lessons instead, and then after a set of that we can see about ice hockey for him..

So, the only thing he is really old enough for is tumbling teddies (gymnastics). I thought he'd have a lot of fun doing that, and it says it's a co-ed class. I am not a gender pusher AT ALL, but as soon as I mentioned it to my family they all thought I was nuts for considering putting him in a gymnastics class.

But, it's TOTALLY unfair for him to get to do nothing while his sister can do baseball and soccer and karate. I thought it might be fun for him to get to do the tumbling with me Saturday mornings, just he and I.

So, yeah. Would you put your toddler boy in a typically "girl" class, especially if there were almost no other options?

I feel stupid even asking, because I'm the type that lets him paint his nails and wear tutus, but all the family acted like I was insane to consider putting him into that.

I totally would. Plus tumbling is fantastic for their coordination, motor skills, etc. I know a few little dudes that have been in gymnastics. Plus, I mean, he's 2. Kids at that age aren't really "boys" or "girls" yet, they're just squishy little buddies that like to do fun stuff, ya know?

I got the same grief from SO. I think they should change the name of that class, its not even gymnastics, its a bunch of tiny ones rolling around.

You can also look at library groups for his age, and here we have a childrens museum and its tons of fun, on wednesdays they have a toddler group I always took my son there before he was old enough for day care and this one will go with me all the time too!

Quoting Dr. Paradigm Shift:" I totally would. Plus tumbling is fantastic for their coordination, motor skills, etc. I know a few little ... [snip!] ... Kids at that age aren't really "boys" or "girls" yet, they're just squishy little buddies that like to do fun stuff, ya know?"

That's what I figured. And he LOVES jumping around and climbing and leaping off things. I thought tumbling would be so much fun for him. I think they are all up in arms because she is doing sports (soccer, baseball, and Karate) and he'll be doing tumbling. They're all mad that he's only doing girl stuff and she's doing boy stuff  

But, like you said, he's 2. He actually won't be 2 until next month. He's still almost a baby, haha. If he has fun, who cares?

oh....and swimming, you two could do swimming together

Quoting A Beautiful Disaster:" I got the same grief from SO. I think they should change the name of that class, its not even gymnastics, ... [snip!] ... a toddler group I always took my son there before he was old enough for day care and this one will go with me all the time too!"

Since I have them BOTH I was trying to find something just for him, you know? Since she'll be doing a few things he can't do because he's too little, I wanted something that was for him to do this year. We're going to hit up some story times and stuff, and he'll get to do the ice skating also.

Quoting she nan igans:" Since I have them BOTH I was trying to find something just for him, you know? Since she'll be doing ... [snip!] ... that was for him to do this year. We're going to hit up some story times and stuff, and he'll get to do the ice skating also."

you could do all of the things I mentioned without your daughter.

But I also wouldnt worry too much about him doing his own thing, hes still so young he wont even know.

Quoting she nan igans:" That's what I figured. And he LOVES jumping around and climbing and leaping off things. I thought tumbling ... [snip!] ... But, like you said, he's 2. He actually won't be 2 until next month. He's still almost a baby, haha. If he has fun, who cares?"

Yeah, for sure. They're kids. And sports are great for girls, too. I agree with you-the boy/girl stuff is just dumb. I wouldn't sweat it. They're having fun which means you're doing it right.

And seriously show me a 2 year old that wouldn't love to go hogwild on a trampoline or jump onto a fluffy pillow or whatever.

Quoting A Beautiful Disaster:" you could do all of the things I mentioned without your daughter. But I also wouldnt worry too much about him doing his own thing, hes still so young he wont even know. "

I was the younger kid, and I remember my sister getting to do girl scouts and stuff when I was too little. It really sucked, haha. She did softball too. By the time I was old enough to do those things my parents were sort of "done" with it, so I didn't get to do any of that. My two are close enough in age I think he will notice if he's always having to sit on the sidelines while his sister gets to do everything fun.

They'll be able to practice stuff together, but he'll still notice that he never gets to play in the games or the actual practice, you know?

Quoting Dr. Paradigm Shift:" Yeah, for sure. They're kids. And sports are great for girls, too. I agree with you-the boy/girl stuff ... [snip!] ... And seriously show me a 2 year old that wouldn't love to go hogwild on a trampoline or jump onto a fluffy pillow or whatever. "

Exactly! And he's a little hellion when it comes to jumping and rolling. The funny thing is that my daughter is very hesitant about things like that, so it's WAY more his thing. Would he want to do ballet? No, it's too slow. But tumbling? Heck yeah! haha