Kindermusik: Awesome or Waste of $$$?

[katieb4tom]

This is specifically for my 10 month old daughter--should I pony up the money for this or should we do mommy & me swim instead?

[ijack]

I think it's pretty fun, it's pricey though and there may be cheaper options in your area. I think swim lessons at that age are a waste.

[Deleted]

They're both just kind of play time. If you enjoy it and like having someone entertain you both, then it's worth it. If you're happy to entertain yourselves - like, go to the pool and play - then lessons and classes aren't really needed.

I just looked at it and Kindermusik is $60/month here. That seems like a lot for what my toddler will really get out of it, plus it would be tough to feel like I HAD to attend the class to get my money's worth.

[minzy]

My daughter didn't start quite that young, but we are doing a music class and she really seems to like it.

We do swimming on our own, other playdates and free storytimes too, but the music class is as much about me getting out of the house on a schedule and making friends myself as it is about her "music development."

[Tea-rific]

I use the kindermusik curriculum in my at-risk pre-k classroom. My students love it, but they are 4 years old. It is well thought out and designed curriculum for older kiddos, not sure about infant/toddlers.

[DarcyLongfellow]

I think Kindermusik would be fine. Definitely not a waste of money.

I will do my plug, though, for an alternate class. My DD takes Music Together, and I think it is such a wonderful program. I chose it based on the recommendation of a friend of mine who was a music major in college and now teaches Music Together. She loves how Music Together really teaches children musical concepts. I love that it's not the same old kiddie songs over and over :-)

[tardyfortheparty]

I did Music Together with DS when he was 2...it was great & I highly recommend it.

[spankswife]

We love Kindermusik!!! Did it 10 mos to 2 + yrs. Although, I m a sucker for early swim lessons so they aren't afraid. Whatever you pick will be a great choice!

[ilikedonuts]

Aug 13, 2012 15:56:26 GMT -5 DarcyLongfellow said:

I think Kindermusik would be fine. Definitely not a waste of money.

I will do my plug, though, for an alternate class. My DD takes Music Together, and I think it is such a wonderful program. I chose it based on the recommendation of a friend of mine who was a music major in college and now teaches Music Together. She loves how Music Together really teaches children musical concepts. I love that it's not the same old kiddie songs over and over :-)

I like Music Together better too. We're probably signing up for that in the spring.

OP, you can go to a trial class for Kindermusik (and Music Together). I took a trial class when DD was 5 months old and she was just too young for it. We did music together at 7 months and it was much more interactive IMO.

Over the next 3 weeks, I'm going to 3 more different Kindermusik classes for free. They do them occasionally at the local libraries and they just trained a bunch of new teachers so they are doing a lot of free classes for them to practice. So definitely check out the website for your local Kindermusik and see.

[whitepicketfence]

DD1 loves her Kindermusik classes but she's 2.5. DD2 is just starting to get something out of them now although she's still more interesting in walking around than in the music most of the time.

At 10 months, it was somewhat of a waste of money for us.

[Shreddingbetty]

We started Kindermusik at 17 months and DD really did like it a lot. We finished in May when she was almost 2. She goes to daycare 3 mornings a week but I still liked the interaction with other kids as she is pretty shy. I think at 10 months it would not have been a waste per se but she wouldn't have gotten as much out if it. For one they dance and run around a lot and DD didn't walk until almost 14 months old. It is also rather pricey. The materials are $60 and the 12 week session including materials is $200. You can't do the class without getting the materials.

I have now switched to Music Lingua because I am working on teaching DD French. We listen to French music in the car and have for a long time. She loves their music and I actually use their material and listen to the CD a lot. The Kindermusik materials I haven't done anything with (other than one book that she really likes) because I prefer to focus on French music whenever we can since she gets English exposure everywhere else. That class is a bit cheaper as well.

So we did like the class and I don't regret doing it at all but I think they get more out of it when they are a little bit older and mobile. If I had not found the Music lingua class I would've considered going back in the fall since she loves music but doing both would be a little excessive on the $$$ front.