There is much debate about "overscheduling" your children, whether it be for playdates, classes, etc... but what is your opinion on the appropriate number of class(es) for your child to participate in? (Given that it depends on your child's temperament, your time and financial situation, your child's interests, etc.).
There are so many classes to choose from, and being well-intentioned and wanting good balance for my toddler (he gets plenty of alone time/free play, as well as structured play), I was thinking about joining a swimming class. His grandparents have a pool, so there is the added benefit of him learning pool safety as well.
His aunt and uncle are heavily into music, so I feel that he gets that exposure when he's at their home and does his "toddler dance" when they play drums and guitar. Then again, when he was given a maraca to play, he just banged it against his head...so lessons may be helpful (ha ha).
I've taken him to a gymnastics class once, and he loved it! However, it's really expensive. I have no gymnastics talent (read: I'm clumsy, which made for great entertainment on the softball field!), and I would like him to develop his physical skills. I figure him playing on a playground is good enough for now (sports will come soon enough, as we're already playing a version of "catch" in the backyard).
Then, of course, there are other areas of development, including language and millions of others...are there classes for every developmental milestone?
What other classes do you think are important to develop your child's skills or interests? How many classes are too many? Are there other ways for children to learn skills without a specific class?
I look forward to your feedback!