Activities for a 3.3yo with parent out of the room

[Butterpie]

DD1 doesn't go to nursery (no local ones will take gov. funded children for less than 5 sessions a week, and that's not for us) but I would like her to have a go at an activity without me there. Once she is 5 there is rainbows, sports clubs etc, but I think it could be good for her to have an activity that she does by herself. She does dancing, but mums stay, and of course toddler groups and surestart all have mums there too.

Tbh she does pretty much ignore me anyway at these groups, just checking in every now and again, but I'm curious to see how she would do without me.

Any ideas? I'm in Washington, Tyne and Wear.

[Butterpie]

Or is there even such a thing as swimming classes for three year olds without the parent in the pool? I can't swim, and I don't want to pass on my nerves, but I suppose a three year old needs too much help to be in a class.

[bruffin]

At our pool swimming lessons start from 3 without parents. They are groups of about 6 in the shallow end with the teacher in the water.

[caykon]

My dd started both ballet and gymnastics at this age without me being in the room, is there anything like that local to you?

[compo]

Or a creche at your local gym/ leisure centre? You don't need to exercise you could just go and have a cuppa and read a magazine while she plays for a couple of hours

[plonker]

Dd3 is just turned 3 and has started ballet classes. Mums aren't allowed in the room.

There's also a pre-school gym down the road which takes children from 3. Mums can stay and watch if they want to, but they don't have to.

Have you enquired at the Private Day Nurserys to see if they will allow your dd to attend funded sessions only?

[islandofsodor]

At dd's ballet school the parents are out of the room.

She also does Stagecoach which you can start at age 4 and parents are out of the room for that too.

[SandyChick]

Hi butterpie, I live in Ouston!

In looking for the same thing for my ds. He's 3 on Monday. He's been going to a playschool in chester le street for a 2 hour session twice a week (it's £3 per session). He loves it but only has 1 day left then he leaves to start nursey.

Chester swimming baths run lessons from 3 years old without parent being in pool.

Someone I know had a similar problem with nursery places. The nursey said (unofficially) that she could take the full 15 hours but it was her choice to not send dc on particular days as they would still get their full 15 hours from govt.