Ok..this is the situation...

My daughter is 4 years old (5 in Dec.) and she has been in dance for a year and started gymnastics this summer. Now I have to register for fall classes. BUT her gymnastic teacher also offers jazz and cheer. I have asked her but she wants to do them all. I don't really have a problem with that but I am just concerned that it might get to her after awhile. I really want her to have these opportunities since i never did but...how much do i allow her to do? And if i limit her how do i choose?

How long and how often are all the classes offered? Does she attend school or anything other than these activities?

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You don't have to sign her up for all of them-
maybe 1 extra class [ don't most dance classes meet 2x a week]

You have to remember you or another adult will have to take her to each class and sit there and the cost of recital costumes or Cheer competitions can add up quickly- 1 uniform w/ shoes-miditop- hair bow -and spankies[bloomers] was 250.00 for a 5 year old and that did not include Competition fees and extras like pictures

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sorry...got ahead of myself....
she is in preschool 4 days a week (half days)
each class is one hour/one day a week
except dance which is only half an hour/one day a week

it is not that bad...we are not allowed to sit there...until one day a month when we are "allowed" to watch and other than dance all the costumes are small rental fees

do you have to pay for the entire semester or can you just pay for one month for all? Some of the places here give you a discount if you pay for the entire semester - you shouldh't have additional registration fees if it's all at the same place. Will you have to buy a lot of different costumes/workout clothes? My DH wants to take ballet - it's all she talks about. She has been in gymnastics for a year and it's such great exercise. I really don't think she has the attention span for ballet, but we're going to do it. I can't decide whether or not to put her in gym. too - DH says that's too much in addition to preschool, but I may do it anyway....did your DD handle two activities ok while she was 3? Does she go to preschool too?

she handled both activites very well and unfortunately this summer is not going so well because she just didnt have ENOUGH to do. It was all she could talk about .."when do we get to..."
I forgot to mention..her dance is actually beginning ballet.

I'm a firm believer in not giving kids too much, and IMHO, I think preschool plus 4 after-school activities is too much for a 4-year-old, especially if she'd be taking them all every week. If this were my dd, I'd limit her to 1 or 2 extra activities per week, but that's it. As far as choosing, I'd help her pick the one or two she really wants to do now, and tell her she can try the other classes another time. Just my 2 cents.

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In this case, I would still limit to 1 or 2 extra activities. Just make sure she gets plenty of outdoor playtime too. My girls always do better when I can get them to the park or lake to wear them out a bit. Even just walking around the neighborhood or pulling out the t-ball set for awhile helps!

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How do I tell Minnie NO??