Dance/gymnastics

Don't feel bad. There is no right age to start a child in a particular activity. Every child is different in developing motor skills. I started my daughter last year at Arabesque in Richardson at the corner of Coit and Beltline. Miss Angela has been amazing! It is a mother-daughter company that has been around for many years. While my daughter is in class, my three year old son and I hang out together. Hope this helps! PM me if you would like any more information about Arabesque. L.

They're just kids - go ahead and put them both in dance and don't worry about being fair or guilty. If your 5 year old protests about being fair (which I'd be surprised), that's an opportunity for a little lesson about family finances.

I have my 2 1/2 year old in gymnastics at DSG in Arvada, it's the most reasonably priced gymnastics class I've found. It's on Wednesdays for 45 minutes....price is $80 for an 8 week session. I receive emails every Tuesday before class, explaining what the plan is for the kids. She LOVES IT!!!!

Definitely go with the rec center in Richardson. $38 a month for gymnastics and $104 for Jan-May for ballet. You can't beat that and you can afford to put both girls in. My daughter loves both but, likes gymnastics better. Don't beat yourself up over not getting your girls in classes. They have their entire lives to try different activities!

Hi C.,

I have 3 girls, 5 and under. My 5 year old did 1 season of soccer and that's it. My 4 year old is now in dance (way up in Allen though)...but only because we finally are at a point where we have all the resources available. (The 5 year old knows that it's her sister's turn to do something). Probably when they're 8, 7 and 5 I'll feel more like putting them all in stuff...but right now I think they're still a bit young!

We go to ASI gymnastics near firewheel and they have multiple classes at a time. My 4 (almost 5) year olds class is at the same time as my 2 year olds class, just different groups. They offer a free trial class so you can see if you like it.

I was the third of 3 children - my sisters were always doing something (dance, music lessons, etc). I didn't get to start gymnastics until I was 12. By then, it was too late to develop me into the gymnast I wanted to be, but I still loved it.

For the time-being, is it possible that you can enroll the 5 year-old in a class and use the time for the lessons to have special Mommy-time with your 3 year-old.

I've always heard good things about the City of Richardson rec center programs. They may very well have both dance and gymnastics available at little cost.

We went to Heights Rec Center when we were little!

Hey C.!

Don't feel bad! For some reason we are made to feel that our kids should be in activities as soon as they can walk, and that their schedule should be filled at all times! I have a 2.5 year old daughter and a 1.5 year old son. I put my daughter in the City of Plano's recreation center dance class. For $31 she has six 30 minute classes that she loves. We love the price and the teacher, she loves doing something fun! Definitely go with Richardson's rec center. Then once you see if she loves it (which she probably will) you can look at other dance centers.

Either way, have a great time and remember that you are a good parent!
H.

Hi. I have two kids. My daughter (8) is in her third year of dance and my son (7) started t-ball last fall and is having his second drum lesson today. There have been no problems with either of my kids. I felt guilty for a while & then a friend reminded me that in the big scheme of things when they are adults, they (especially the age they are now) will most likely not remember this time and hold it against you. Hang in there. L.

My daughter goes to Elite Championship Gymnastics at Jupiter and Summit (just north of Plano Pkwy) in Plano and loves it. She's only 2.5. It's $60/month.

Try the rec center classes - Richardson has an excellent gymnastics program, and it should be cheaper than a private studio.

Try looking at what your local YMCA has.
They often have lower cost classes for kids. At least in my state they do.
In my state they have kids dance classes/swimming etc.

Good morning, C.!

I'll give you my two choices!

For dance - Whistle Stop Dance Co. (southeast corner of Jupiter/Arapaho). Sandra Bell is the owner, and she is excellent with little bitties. (my daughter was one of her students). For two kids, I think the price is about $125 monthly.

For gymnastics - believe it or not - WOGA (World Olympics Gymnastics Academy) in Plano. My daughter goes to one class weekly on Saturdays, and we pay $76/monthly. I assumed it would be outrageous because of the name recognition, but for recreational classes, it's really quite reasonable!

Good luck!