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I posted on here a while ago and got some really helpful advice on a similar issue, so I'm trying what worked before

I need to replace a programme we've been going to 1-2 times/week that my kid has out-grown. I'm looking for suggestions for a structured programme for the two of us. (We live in a big city.)


DS9mos is precocious but asynchronous (already -- ummmmmm....). He does not suffer dissapointment or bordom gladly, and I can't keep him entertained at home. He is minimally creative (trailing end of age categories, sometimes well behind, with the odd time when he does a random thing waaay ahead of the curve & usually only once), but incredibly inquisitive, insanely sociable, has a crazy memory, likes numbers (a lot), and is very clingy. Noteably, he does not parallel play much -- he wants to play WITH other kids. He very much likes 30-90 min structured programmes, and seems to want one about every other day.

He doesn't fit into 0-12 mo programmes at all. He's better in 0-18 mo stuff, but not great. The parallel play thing is an issue, as he sometimes really scares other kids, and he spends almost the whole time trying to engage them. He's reaching enough in toddler programmes that I tend to get told he doesn't belong there, either (the average age is over 2 yrs, so I'm inclines to agree, even if it feels like the best fit to us) the putting stuff in his mouth issue is a big one there. He likes story tellers, concerts, & magicians, but in our area they all say 3yrs+ (except in one club we belong to, but that's irregular).

So, he's not quite a typical baby, but he's not a toddler yet.


He does really well in swimming (which is very individualized), and he likes my ren-dance class. He also likes the 30min planetarium show... but that's basically TV.

Thanks!

-Micheala
**All the standard disclaimers about him being really young apply

What about a family storytime at your local library? I'm not sure how a 9 month old could outgrow storytime. There's not much difference IME between the ones designed for babies vs. toddlers vs. preschoolers--I think the age grouping is the only really significant difference.

Park system, Zoo, Museums, Gymboree, Kindermusic have wonderful programs.

There aren't any stories in the baby story time! Just little rymes that he's kinda over. And it's the _same_ rymes all the time, even at swimming (but the swim people make up lots of extra verses ;)). It seems like it's every baby programme in the city.

And they try to keep it really, r e a l l y Q U I E T... so as not to "overstimulate" them. Frankly, it's kinda creepy; 30 moms in a room whispering "roly poly." Also, they have to stay in your lap, and DS wants to stand up, wander around a bit, etc.



I've been avoiding gymboree because of the cost. I'll look into it again. It'll be great in a couple of months when its warm enough for parks again!

I think partly there's just a wierd parenting vogue going on
-Michaela

Huh. Weird. Well, is there a family storytime (for kids/sibling groups of all ages)?

Nope.

-Michaela.
(of draconian libraryville)

Sounds kind of like my oldest DS (now 10 years old!). He used to love the mall and the mall play areas - just loved being around all of the other people and really liked the interaction. I did do some Gymboree - he loved it, but also found similar classes done through the local rec center that were active and engaging enough. He ended up liking music classes a fair amount also, but generally the ones that had lots of movement. Little Gym ended up being a big hit, but 9 months might still be a little young for that. He liked the toddler area in our local science center a lot - still loves science. My youngest son loved classes at the zoo and nature centers - not sure on what age those start though - I would look out for ones that say family though - probably not intended for 9 months, but could work. Good luck.

Hi -

Your post reminded me of mine the other day ("kinder-tweens")

These "in-between" developmental stages are tough.

Have you tried Music Together? The downsideis that it costs money. The upside is that a child can participate at what ever level they are at. And there is lots of movement!

good luck!

Hmmm, things are really different where I live. I take my youngest who will be two in March, to all sorts of storytimes at libraries and she LOVES to go to the middle of the cirlce and act out all the motions and mingle with the big kids. Most of the kids are preschoolers but she blends in and seems to love to be a part of the group. Since I have a three year old I can justify bringing her. I did sign up for a registered baby storytime and that one isn't quite right because it is so short and they set the bar so low and are worried they can only handle thirty minutes, but both of my girls can take and enjoy HOURS of stimulation. I also take her to a baby gym class and she loves the cirle time part where she can mimic the motions and sing the songs. This daughter of mine is a wild one though and is louder, more intense, more verbal, less on my lap, and I just let her be herself until someone kicks us out! She is like a little robot in terms of being able to do whatever hand or body motions a teacher does and has already memorized plenty of songs so in some ways she seems so "good" but she refuses to sit on my lap and not be in the center alone and I just let her. She also has a hard time not talking during activities so in those ways the whispering moms of delicate babies may think she is annoying.

I went to look at kinder-tweens, and first, I got excited -- "yeah, that's the kinda trouble I'm having" -- and then I thought, "oh, man, yeah, I said cusp period_s_ because there are gonna be more of these!" Why does our society do the age-group thing so much??? Grumble.

Anyway. I'm going to try and follow up on a bunch of this. Especially music classes. I hand't gone looking for that.

We had a cute experience tonight... DH has been reading Winnie the Pooh stories to me while I [desperately attempt to] nurse DS to sleep, and then "goodnight moon" to DS. DS has been clearly into goodnight moon for a long time, but durring Winnie the Pooh, he wanders up and down the hall, pops on and off, attempts to climb the bookcases, hang upside down from the mobile by his toenails, you know, that sort of thing. The calisthenics routine was the original reason I needed a story to keep me going -- he HATES falling asleep.

Anyway, today DH kept stopping durring the Winnie the Pooh story for various reasons, and DS glared at him, whined, and at one point picked up the book and chased him with it

So I guess it's *not* just wallpaper to keep mommy calm! He really is paying attention, on some level, to longish stuff, and it's not just my imagination that he finds the under-a-minute stuff too short.

-Michaela
(He also walked on purpose today. He's been accidentally walking for two months, but today he looked at his hand, looked at the bathtub, let go, and went -- I'm having a good day)