Should 3-year-olds be taught how to model (catwalk), dine formally, watch late night ballets?

Question

Should 3-year-olds be taught how to model (catwalk), dine formally, watch late night ballets?

Answer 1

If she wants to model and dine formally, sure.  Personally, the late night ballet is a no-no for my parenting style.  The little one needs sleep, whether he/she admits it.  Bedtime is 8pm sharp!  Try a matanee if a ballet is really insisted upon.  

Most three year olds would really rather play in the sand and eat finger foods and watch Sesame Street in my dealings with them, though.

Answer 2

I have three children of my own. It is my opinion that a three-year-old should be allowed to be three-years-old. Yes - working on basic manners and setting appropriate behavior rules is important at this age - but too much can stifle a child's own personality and creativity.  They will only be a child once.  Parents should celebrate that time with them - not try to force them to grow up too quickly.  A child's brain is not prepared for an adult world.   I was raised in an environment like you are questioning.  It stole away my childhood. I was not allowed to make mistakes - in manners or otherwise.  Kids will be kids - and there is nothing wrong with them being just that.  We as parents and as a society should protect them as well as encourage them to enjoy their childhood.

Answer 3

Model- no. Unless you want your child to possibly grow up as an anorexic.

Dine formally- Manners yes. No need to go into details though.

Late night ballets- sure, sounds fun. Just not late enough to be past their bedtime.

Answer 4

If that's what THEY want...let them have their childhood. Then you can take control of them and mold them for what YOU want, not what they do.

Answer 5

All humans have a right to the experience a full childhood.  A three year old is not mentally developed enough to make a decision about what he or she wants when it comes to making life decisions.  There is a natural growth progression (stages)  that all humans must go through in order to develop into whole, healthy and normal adults. What right does anyone have to take away someone's childhood?

Answer 6

Model, not so much.  Dine formally...if their parents lifestyle requires it and they would rather have their child with them than at home with a nanny, that is great.  Ballet...Culture is always good, if it is really late, let her take a nap that day and sleep in tomorrow.

If it is not your child, leave it alone.  All families are different.  If they are not neglecting or abusing then it is ok..  Fix your family.  

Sorry if that sounds harsh, but I am a homeschooling church going parent, and there are endless people who believe I am royally s******g up my children because I homeschool, or because we care about church and God.  It is offensive to me to be critisized by someone who does things I don't agree with for their children or who doesn't have children.  We all have differences.  Do what you think is right for your kids.  

Here is what I tell my 8 son when he notices a friend of his gets things he doesn't.  I am not their mother, I am yours, I do what I think is right for you.  When you are an adult and have children you can do the same for your children.  I live my life by that.  Try it.

Good Luck

Answer 7

No, that's way too young. Kids should have unscheduled time to just be kids, especially at such a young age. It's good to teach them table manners and expose them to some culture, but I think age 3 is too young. I wasn't taken to the ballet until probably 2nd or 3rd grade, and even that may have been too young. You can take them to museums though, especially children's museums, also the public library, and concerts designed for small kids.

Answer 8

3 year olds should be taught to walk backwards. They should be taught to run and play in the rain. They should be taught to swing as high as they can and run as fast as they can. They should be taught to enjoy life because their youth is gone all to fast. I have raised 3 daughters and am currently raising 2 grandchildren. I want them to enjoy life and make friends their own age. I want them to play in the dirt and get filthy. Then at the end of the day they take a bath and pass out to dream about what they will do when the sun comes up again.

I am one who doesn't agree with taking a child's youth and to me, when you start teaching them those things, you are taking their fun years away.

Answer 9

If it can be an enjoyable activity and not too serious and conditonal, sure.

Answer 10

NO NO NO.. teach a three year old to not run around and yell in a restaurant.  That will serve humanity much more.

Answer 11

I can understand teaching them to dine formally. There is no reason they can't be taught something like that. It DOES come up for some people and others just want to take their kids somewhere nice, and KNOW the kid can behave. Now why is a 3 year-old being taught to model? Why can't we let kids be KIDS? Why do some parents have to force a certain life on their kids?

Answer 12

NO, NO, No, let her enjoy her childhood, Don't make her a grown up so fast.

Answer 13

No

Answer 14

Personally, I think not.  Childhood passes too quickly .... let children be children.

Answer 15

NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!...

Answer 16

No. They should be learning how to share and play nicely, colors, shapes, alphabet. The only lessons on dining they should be getting is how to use a fork and spoon and to not throw their food. Personally I think kiddie pageants are indecent. Kids grow up way too fast as it is, why push it?

Answer 17

no children are children wait til they can at least speak in sentences!

Answer 18

If they enjoy it.  If they are getting cranky and not enjoying, then get a sitter or playdate so the adults can enjoy if that's what they want to do.  Just don't abuse the nanny/sitter/playdates too often.  Enjoy your babies, they are only little once!