Where to Start... 3 Year Old and Activities

Check your local parks and rec district.

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I think swimming lessons are the most important "activity" a 3 year old should be doing. Anything individual or done in a group, that is fun, loose, and not too regimented would be good. Maybe something creative like a music or dance class. I would not recommend soccer or a team type thing... too much inactivity, stagnant time, too much instruction, etc. for a 3 year old's attention span.

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At this age, our top 3 classes were: Gymnastics, Soccer and Swimming lessons!

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My 3 year old is in preschool gymnastics (which is not mommy n me, but I do sit and watch) and she loves it! She is begging to do soccer next so we are signing her up for Kinderkick in the spring through the YMCA. When her brother was this age he was in a jazz and tap class that he LOVED (lordy he was cute in the recitals!) and he was in a Kindermusic class that he LOVED. That one was a little expensive but he did it for 2 years and got a lot out of it - he was then and still is really into music! Swimming lessons (mommy and me) are also fun for this age - both our kids have loved them. Many of the classes where I live have an early evening option for the parents who work.

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i feel like you're overthinking this. activities starting 2 years ago, and she's only 3? just put her in one and call it good - if it was me i would do tumbling or maybe dance since she's familiar with that type of class. or heck, try soccer. at age 3 it's more about having fun and getting physical activity, than really "what" she's doing.

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In this town there is one activity that is offered for ages 3-4 through the rec program each season, that's what we do and it's honestly all they need. They also go to preschool 3 days/week. The rest of the time is filled with playdates, library story hour and just playing at home which they love. Don't run yourself ragged trying to get her to all these activities at such a young age, just wait til she's older!

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http://lilallstars.org/

They do no pressure toddler activities like sports and dance and even do family yoga and zumba classes in the Aurora and Littleton area. My kids have been doing activities with them for a year now and its a good atmosphere and I recommend it.

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I started at 6 months with music, mom and me classes, Gymboree, etc. By 3 we did everything under the sun and 4 hours of preschool 4 days a week. There is a lot out there!

For summer we tended to do a daily summer camp.

I found out that staying at home was awful! We loved activities at that age!

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If she loves dance, I would get her started in that now. Three is a good age because they are able to move beyond mommy and me and do the class themselves. Ditto for gymnastics. Many offer weekend time slots, so you can try to get her into something that works with your schedule.

Three is too young for being on a real soccer team - most have a minimum age of four. However, many community centers offer soccer classes that can be fun for younger kids. if she's interested in it, that would be a great thing to look into.

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I think swimming lessons are the most important activity for any child to start at a young age. If you have a YMCA in your area I would recommend just getting a membership there. You can put her in weekly swimming lessons, and then take advantage of the drop-in programs when you have the time/energy. Our Y offers soccer, floor hockey, gymnastics, arts and crafts, rock climbing, dodgeball and dance all as drop in programs. That way she gets to try lots of different activities, but you aren't obligated to go all the time.

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I thought three was a little early for team sports. Soccer starts at five by me and even then, some kids don't get the concept. So for three, individual things like dance or gymnastics are great. My daughter started dance at three and it has done so much for her coordination and self-confidence. She's a shy kid, but not when she's dancing!

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