Parenting Forums - View Single Post - My Wife Wants to Put My 4-yr-old Son in a Ballet Class

PaterFamilias · 02-08-2010, 09:55 AM

I'm uncomfortable with this idea, I must admit. I know the arguments that football players often take ballet to improve coordination, strength, etc., but I think there is a difference between a grown man who is secure in his male identity utilizing ballet to improve his game, and a young boy still growing, with his male identity still forming in crucial years. Also, I think there are other activities that develop the coordination, balance, strength and discipline that ballet does -- like gymnastics or karate -- that don't carry the feminine-overtones that ballet does.

I'm not even sure what my son thinks about this. My wife let me know only moments ago, but I haven't been home yet to hear from him on the matter. Certainly at 4 years old (almost 5), he doesn't really understand all the nuances of this.

What are people's thoughts?

02-08-2010, 09:55 AM
PaterFamilias PF Regular Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Philadelphia Posts: 20 Rep Power: 0 Reputation: 931 Children: I have three!...my son Robert, born in '05, and my daughters Sofia, b. '06, & Elizabeth, b. '08!	My Wife Wants to Put My 4-yr-old Son in a Ballet Class I'm uncomfortable with this idea, I must admit. I know the arguments that football players often take ballet to improve coordination, strength, etc., but I think there is a difference between a grown man who is secure in his male identity utilizing ballet to improve his game, and a young boy still growing, with his male identity still forming in crucial years. Also, I think there are other activities that develop the coordination, balance, strength and discipline that ballet does -- like gymnastics or karate -- that don't carry the feminine-overtones that ballet does. I'm not even sure what my son thinks about this. My wife let me know only moments ago, but I haven't been home yet to hear from him on the matter. Certainly at 4 years old (almost 5), he doesn't really understand all the nuances of this. What are people's thoughts? __________________ "...If a child lives with acceptance and friendship, he learns to find love in the world." -Dorothy Law Nolte