Conference moira::parenting

    Guess that my entry was unclear..looking for regular sctivity on
    Saturdays......not diff things to do.
    

I don't know Stow, but ideas:

	- YMCA classes.  I know the swimming doesn't require 4 year olds.
	My 1 year old has been (with parent).  Also various physical ed
	type courses.

	- Gymboree, etc.

	- Various Gymnastics.  This is more a girl activity than boy.
	My 4 year old loved the activities, but refused to wait his turn
	during a class setup.  A friend with a boy pointed out to me how
	there really weren't boys in the class, that this just wasn't	
	something boys liked.

Charlie

Re: gymnastics

There is the Gym Nest in Stow.  My daughter goes there and loves it.  They do
very well with little kids.

						Brian

    
    My almost 4 y.o. son took gymnastics lessons at Gymnastics Academy of
    Boston in Acton for the last 2 fall/winter seasons.  We stopped in April 
    before another session started because he didn't like it any more.  As 
    someone else said there are few boys and this became a problem for him.  
    We had to go on Saturday's and almost all the kids were girls.  The girls 
    we know from day care love going there though.
    
                               

>>    As 
>>    someone else said there are few boys and this became a problem for him.  
>>    We had to go on Saturday's and almost all the kids were girls.

FYI, typically beyond kindergarten the classes for boys are separate from the
classes for girls.  This doesn't help the problems of the four- or
five-year-olds, but it's worth keeping in mind.

						Brian

    
    Sterling Gymnastics in Sterling seems to have a good amount of 
    boys.  Girls outnumber them but in the all day summer program there
    were a lot of boys six and up. 
    
    Teri

    I was going to reply about gymnastics but thought of the problems with
    young children and ratio with boys to girls.  Being in gymnastics and
    teaching myself, I found it discriminating to the boys because there
    wasn't enough of their equipment.  What boy wants to learn the uneven
    bars or the balance beam?
    
    Of course, this was 10 years and things have changed from what I know
    now.  Summertime camps will, as someone already pointed out, probably
    have a boys group and a girls group.  
    
    It certainly is worth looking into though.  If your child likes it,
    then its time around 4 years of age to get them into it.  Any later and
    you risk not having an olympic champ (course I'm kidding here)...
    
    On another note, there are alot of libraries that have storytime once
    morning a week which is geared to children 3-5 years of age.  I know
    that there are several activities at the Acton Children's Museum that
    seem fun for young children also.  They have different activities going
    on all month.  You just have to call them and see whats available and
    still has openings.  
    
    Good luck!
    
    cj

    
    My children attend YMCA/YWCA swimming classes.  Most of the weekly
    classes are help Saturday AM.  There a parent/child class for 6 to 36
    months, a 36 months/3 years to 5 year old class called PERS (kids only
    in water), Skippers classes (kids only) are for 5&6 year olds and then 
    the "regular" swim classes for 6 and up.  
    
    My two older children hold pre-school memberships.  I pay $40.00 a year
    for each child and 8 week sessions of class are then aprox.$40.00 for
    each child.  Although I was not a member, there was no problem with me
    in the water with my under 3 child in the Baby & me class.  With a
    family membership (aprox. 500.00 a year or $40.00 a month) the classes
    are 22.00 for the eight week session and classes for the over 6 tear
    old are free.  There is also free babysitting with a family membership,
    and my Y has a "kid's gym" that is set up with toys/exercise stuff,
    climbing stuff, ball pit, ait mattress etc. where you purchase coupons
    for a book of 10 for 15.00 for family members, 20.00 for other members. 
    Each coupon (max of 2 per family at a time) is used for your kids to
    use the kids gym.  Although there's a Y assistant present at all times,
    the kid's gym requires a parent's presence.    
    
    There are also TONS of sports instruction classes, creative classes,
    art & crafts classes, etc at the Y on Saturdays and other times as
    well.  There's alos the "open swim" time that is at different times
    during the week.  My kids like that too becasue it fun with Mom and
    siblings, which is different from swimming classes.  I assume 
    some Y's are better than others, but it's something to check out.  
    Once my children get to be over 6, I will get the family
    memberships as then it will be worth it cost wise for me.  Now the
    pre-school memberships and the classes my children have time for this
    is the best bet, but I really can't wait for the free babysitting with
    me being able to take a excercise class.
    
    

    There is no YMCA/YWCA in the Stow area.  But, there is Harvard Ridge
    Pool club in Boxboro.  I grew up in Stow, and the only thing we ever
    got to do in the summer was spend our days at the private beach at Lake
    Boone (owned by the Rooney's).  We also had our swimming lessons there.
    Stow is a pretty boring summer town!
    

    
    The Stow paper recently did an article on the town beach
    in Stow. They said it had been redone with picnic benches
    and such and that the Lions were going to start summer
    swim lessons there. We went there a few times last summer
    but my son was a little too young to really enjoy it yet.
    
    My son's favorite thing in Stow was going to Honeypot
    farm and visiting the animals. He also likes going
    to pick (and eat and eat) blueberries, strawberries etc.
    
    Also, there is a Stow Area Parents group that I've
    been told has some activities.  I'm looking into
    that and will post what I find.
    
    -Beth

    Gee, it's be nice if they'd move the restrooms down closer to the beach
    too.... :>)  invariably, no sooner do you get all the way down than
    someone says "mommy..."  They're finally old enough to let them go by
    themselves.  The ice cream truck's another story tho -- usually mom
    wants something too!
    
    We only got there a few times last year, haven't decided what we'll do
    this year.  We can only go on weekends, and last year there was just
    too much to do then.
    
    sandy