The trial class checklist

A trial class is the best way to find out whether an activity — and a particular program — suits your child before you commit to a term. It's also short, and it's easy to leave with a good feeling but no real answers. Use this checklist to ask the right things before, notice the right things during, and decide well afterwards.

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Before the trial

Ask the program when you book:

• Is the trial free or paid? If paid, is it credited toward the first term or month?
• Which class will my child join — the level they would actually be placed in, or a special trial group?
• How long is the trial class, and should we arrive early for an assessment or paperwork?
• What should my child wear or bring (shoes, instrument, swim cap, water bottle)?
• Can I stay and watch? Where do parents wait?
• If we sign up, when is the next start date, and is there room in that class?

During the trial

If you can watch, look for:

• Does the instructor learn and use your child’s name?
• How much of the class is your child actually doing the activity versus waiting?
• How does the instructor handle a child who is shy, distracted or struggling?
• Are instructions clear and suited to your child’s age?
• How many children are there per instructor, and does that match what you were told?
• Is the space clean, safe and suitable (floors, mats, pool deck, ventilation)?
• How do the other children seem — engaged, bored, anxious?

After the trial

• What does your child say about it — and what did they seem to feel during it?
• Did the instructor give you any feedback on level or next steps?
• What is the full cost for a term: fees, registration, materials, uniforms, exams?
• What is the policy for missed classes, makeups and withdrawals?
• Does the schedule fit your week for the whole term, not just this week?
• Would a second trial at another program help you compare?

Extra questions by activity

Swimming

• Is the instructor in the water with beginners, and who else is supervising the pool?
• How do you assess and place a new swimmer, and how often do children move up a level?

Music lessons

• Does my child need their own instrument to start, and can one be rented?
• How much home practice do you expect at this age, and are exams or recitals optional?

Sports and martial arts

• What equipment or uniform is required, and when?
• Is the program recreational or competitive, and are there tournaments, gradings or travel costs?

Tutoring and academics

• How do you assess a starting level, and how will you report progress to me?
• Is the class small-group or one-on-one, and will my child have the same tutor each time?

Arts and STEM

• Are materials or kits included in the price, and can children take their projects home?
• How do you handle children at different levels in the same class?

Reading your child's reaction

A first class is new people, a new place and new rules, so a quiet or clingy first session isn't necessarily a bad sign. Look for small signs of interest: did they want to show you something they learned, ask when they're going back, or copy a move at home? If they were unhappy, ask what specifically — the activity itself, the group, the instructor, or the time of day — because each has a different fix.

Comparing two trials

If you're choosing between programs, try to book trials in the same week and write down your answers straight after each one. Then compare on the things that matter over a whole term: your child's reaction, the instructor, the real cost per class, and whether the schedule works every week. The price guide helps put different billing units side by side.

Red flags worth noticing

One trial won't tell you everything, but some things are worth taking seriously:

• Pressure to pay for a full term or sign a long contract on the day of the trial.
• Vague answers about the total cost, cancellations or refunds.
• No clear answer about who supervises the children, or how many per adult.
• A class that looks very different from what was described (much bigger, a different age mix, a different level).
• Children who seem to spend most of the class waiting, or an instructor who doesn't notice when a child is lost.

None of these automatically rules a program out, but each is a good reason to ask more questions or to try another program before deciding.

After you sign up

Put the first few weeks on your calendar as a check-in, not a commitment. Ask the instructor for a quick word about how your child is settling in, and keep an eye on the signs you noted during the trial. Most programs are easier to adjust early — a different time, level or group — than halfway through a term.

Finding programs with a trial

On any LittleBase activity page, tick Trial class available to see only programs that mention a free or paid trial — for example swimming in Mississauga, martial arts in Brampton or piano in Mississauga. You can also ask a program about a trial straight from its LittleBase page, or call or visit their website.