Sunday, November 05, 2006
Puzzling!
Ok. Just bear with me. This is Pavan and Medha in front of a puzzle. It's a 30 piece jig-saw which Pavan put together in around 15 minutes. I didn't think he'd be able to do it, but he seemed interested so I left him alone and went aside. I was doing something else and checked back in 5 mins and he was putting it together. And lo and behold 10 mins later, he was done! So I got him and Medha together for a picture. And what was Medha doing during this time? She was running up and down the house and jumping off the sofa. :-)
Friday, September 01, 2006
First Day of School - Lakshmi's Thoughts
Yes, you guessed it, it was the first day of preschool for my kids today. I had looked far and wide, and toured many facilities last year and decided upon the current one for very simple reasons. It was within walking distance from home, it's a parent participation school, and they use a developmental philosophy which agreed well with me. Our children are currently enrolled in one morning a week program and wait listed for the 2x/week. Our nanny will be the adult participant for them, but being the first day today I went along as well. It was 7 am, and Pavan announced repeatedly, "I am so X-CITED!", while Medha wondered, "When does kool start, Amma?" Medha ate her breakfast w/o any supervision and both dressed in clothes I chose for them with zero protest. We were eager beavers reaching the school 15 minutes early (8:30).
There is not much structure in the program. The indoor and outdoor areas are fluid and the children can choose to engage in any activity they choose and for the duration they want. They do have the routine of circle time in the beginning and at the end, snack time, and the parent discussion time. In the parent discussion time, half the parents go to a designated area with the teacher and have discussions on parenting. While the other half remain with the children.
The aide brings out the bubbles and the play dough at the discussion time. My Picassos loved painting at the easel; they chose to paint together :) They rang their bells, touched their toes, marched, shook their tushes, and listened to the story at circle time. They played with the water toys, sand toys, slides, ride-on toys outdoors; and blocks, art project, sorting games, and many other things set out on the indoors. They finished most of the snacks served to them, and they poured water for themselves.
They absolutely loved the sinks at their level and spent a considerable amount of time grooming themselves at the sink ;) My Medha decided it was so much fun to run her hands through the bubbles solution and she kept scrubbing her hands for 5-10 minutes, one of the parents observing commented that she will grow up to be a surgeon with that diligent scrubbing! In the end they gave a hug to the teacher and the aide and told them thank you (prompted by me!) Medha is already cozying up to the aide as she had done in gym class last year. And Pavan is a charmer once he is comfortable in a situation.
So my little babies are well on their way to independence! I knew they will adjust well but was a bit melancholic at the prospect of them going to school already. But once I observed them, I knew I can't and shouldn't hold them back! And for our family, having this specific set up works out well. Once they get into the 2x/week program, they will get to be by themselves on one of the days!
Then...
....and NOW.
There is not much structure in the program. The indoor and outdoor areas are fluid and the children can choose to engage in any activity they choose and for the duration they want. They do have the routine of circle time in the beginning and at the end, snack time, and the parent discussion time. In the parent discussion time, half the parents go to a designated area with the teacher and have discussions on parenting. While the other half remain with the children.
The aide brings out the bubbles and the play dough at the discussion time. My Picassos loved painting at the easel; they chose to paint together :) They rang their bells, touched their toes, marched, shook their tushes, and listened to the story at circle time. They played with the water toys, sand toys, slides, ride-on toys outdoors; and blocks, art project, sorting games, and many other things set out on the indoors. They finished most of the snacks served to them, and they poured water for themselves.
They absolutely loved the sinks at their level and spent a considerable amount of time grooming themselves at the sink ;) My Medha decided it was so much fun to run her hands through the bubbles solution and she kept scrubbing her hands for 5-10 minutes, one of the parents observing commented that she will grow up to be a surgeon with that diligent scrubbing! In the end they gave a hug to the teacher and the aide and told them thank you (prompted by me!) Medha is already cozying up to the aide as she had done in gym class last year. And Pavan is a charmer once he is comfortable in a situation.
So my little babies are well on their way to independence! I knew they will adjust well but was a bit melancholic at the prospect of them going to school already. But once I observed them, I knew I can't and shouldn't hold them back! And for our family, having this specific set up works out well. Once they get into the 2x/week program, they will get to be by themselves on one of the days!
Then...
....and NOW.
