As a parent, our love for basketball will naturally extend to our children. We want our children to love the sport as much as we do and to share in our joy and enjoyment of the game. And this enjoyment may begin at a young age. We want to encourage and foster the sport in our children and have them begin learning the fundamentals from a young age.
Below, we’re going to look at the top basketball classes for toddlers and also review what exactly a parent should look for in a basketball class for toddlers.
Naturally, a basketball class for toddlers will be differently structured and regulated than for one for children. Toddlers are still, many times, working on their core basketball and hand-eye coordination’s. It would, therefore, be ineffective and unrealistic to expect a toddler to complete certain drills.
Rather, when looking for a basketball class for toddlers, parents should pay special attention to ensure that the class is suited specifically to toddlers. Parents will neither want to demotivate nor discourage the love of basketball from their kids.
And, if you’re not careful, placing them in a rigorous basketball class too early can lead to a distrust for the sport and a general level of resentment towards the game.
What to Look for in a Basketball Class for Toddlers
Toddlers are, obviously, toddlers. And while that may sound obvious, there is truth to it. We as parents cannot expect the same level of play or competition from our toddlers as we may from our older, more developed children.
However, that is not to say that you cannot have certain levels of expectations. Basketball is a sport that requires many hours of practice to excel in. And placing your toddler in a basketball class may be one of the best ways to get them to love the game and excel in it in their older years.
However, when you are looking for the best and top basketball classes for toddlers, you should do so from the mindset of development and encouragement. The top basketball classes for toddlers should be geared towards toddlers specifically.
These classes should have an innate understanding of what is best for toddlers and should have many years of experience running classes specifically geared towards younger students. In addition, these classes should be built with safety in mind.
Lastly, when looking for a top basketball class for your toddler, you should look for classes which place the fundamentals of basketball at the utmost level of importance. Toddlers will typically still be learning the fundamentals of basketball at their age and a class for toddlers should focus on those basketball fundamentals.
What to Avoid in a Basketball Class for Toddlers?
As important as it is to look for a class which focuses on the fundamentals, safety, and development of your young star, there are also a few things you should look to avoid before enrolling your toddler in a class. Avoiding these issues before enrolling your toddler will not only help you to avoid any problems down the line but will also help your toddler enjoy their time at the class.
For starters, you should avoid any classes which are run like a basketball camp. This means that the classes, while structured, should not be strenuous or overbearing. As toddlers are still learning the fundamentals of basketball, you don’t want to place them in a class that pushes them too hard.
In addition, you should avoid classes which have older students. Although you may feel that your toddler is capable of keeping up with these older students, you will be placing them at a significant disadvantage in the class and they may feel bullied during their time there.
Lastly, you should avoid classes that run more than 90-minutes. As toddlers are more likely to get both bored and tired from an over strenuous class, you do not want to enroll them in a class which goes for more than 90-minutes for a single class.
Best Places to Find Basketball Classes for Toddlers
Our recommendation for finding the best basketball classes for toddlers will come from the site Activity Tree. While we do not have any affiliation with the site, we believe that it is the single best resource for parents looking to find basketball classes near you for your toddler.
Activity Tree not only shows you available basketball classes by age group, but also shows you classes available for your toddler for other sports. In addition, you can find the best basketball classes for toddlers based on distance. The site also has a quick blurb on each facility and class, allowing you to quickly narrow the selection list from within the homepage.
Lastly, if you are unable to find a suitable location on Activity Tree, then we would recommend checking Yelp. Yelp, famous for helping people find restaurants near them, also has a plethora of information about activities, classes, and sports centers near you.
What we especially like about Yelp is their review system. You can read verified reviews from parents about their experiences at a certain class or facility. This will help you to ensure that the class you do choose is appropriate for your toddler and will be a good experience for them.