End of Spring Term 2012 : 30 Mar

Shean Wenn's kindergarten held an Easter Day event on their last day of the term it was the usual - circle time, songs singing, meals around the table with home-cooked pastries and fruits & water. The top photo shows Shean Wenn holding the hand-puppet she made during King's Children time. She now also learns sewing (yes, with a real needle) and has sewn a felt daffodil. Will show photo another time.

The highlight of the day was of course the Easter Egg Hunt when, for about 20 mins, the kids ran about in the garden, bathed in warm sunlight (but yet not so hot that it melted the chocolate Easter eggs) searching under bushes, trees and hidden nooks for the hidden eggs.
(Shean Wenn with her basketful of Easter Eggs she found around the garden! Her teacher says she's the "Queen" of Eggs-finder which made her very happy and she has thence repeated the story many times the whole of that day)
After the Easter Day event, I brought the girls home and had lunch. It was such a sunny day that I thought it would be a waste if we stayed in - so I brought them out to the park about 5 mins drive away. I actually meant to bring them further to Canary Wharf but halfway there, I realised I left my mobile phone home and had to make a u-turn to get it. So I wasted about 15minutes doing that and decided to just go nearer home.
The girls get to run about, scoot around and played in the playground for a bit before I told them to head to the cafe. On our way there, I could hear them already hinting me for some ice-cream. Oh, talk about plotting their way!

Their conversation goes like this :

"Oh, it's such a hot and warm day today."
"Yes it is!"
"Do you know what will be good for such a HOOOOT day?"
"I know! Maybe some ice-cream?!"
"Yes, Ice cream is a good idea"

It goes on repeat. I pretended to ignore them and answered with "You can have water" or "We'll see"

So they walked into the cafe, and headed straight to the two ice-cream chillers. Kaye : "Can I have one scoop of chocolate ice-cream and one mint please?"
Shean Wenn : "Can I have one chocolate and one vanilla?"
Me : "NO. You both share. So choose one flavour ONLY"
SW & Kaye : "That's not fair!.... " and starts to protest.
Me : "Then you shall have none!"
SW & Kaye : "Ok then! We'll have chocolate!"

Kids, they do know how to bargain!

The most interesting conversation that day however, was while driving to the park. I overhead the two of them chatting behind.

SW : Kaye, I wonder who laid all the Easter Eggs around the kindergarten just now?
Kaye : I know, it must be my sister!
SW : Your sister?
Kaye : Yes, she's a rooster (born in the year of the Rooster)!
SW : Joyee can't lay eggs?!
Kaye : Yes, she can! She's a rooster. Chickens lay eggs.

I almost laughed out loud when I heard it. They are really an interesting bunch of little people!

Celebrating May Pole

They made some head-decoration and a small version of the May Pole for this year's May Pole celebration. (I wrote once about it 3 years ago)

(You like the jumpsuit I just got for her? I thought it looks so cute on her!)

Waldorf Steiner Play

Shean Wenn with a paintbrush!

Little Miss Picasso

I love bringing Shean Wenn to the Steiner playgroup based inside the kindergarten near our place. The class is cozy, clean, structured but yet allows the child to play using his/her imagination in a safe environment thereby making it a meaningful context of play. All the toys and furniture in a Steiner school is organic - made out of wood, aluminium, and all things natural. Every week, we (the group) will make handicrafts from scratch (combing the wool, putting a few felt pieces together, sew it and stuff it with wool to make a ball?) and I even learnt how to make bread once!

"The integrated development of the physical, psychological and spiritual qualities of each child is fundamental to this educational approach. The central task of Steiner Education is to nurture this development, ultimately allowing each individual to realise his or her full potential." *

The Steiner education believes that during Early Education (0-7 years old) learning is "caught" rather than taught - ie through implicit (vs explicit) teaching methods. So far, Shean Wenn really benefits from the class because she can play indepently without crying out for me, and she also imitates a few times, things she has seen done in the class (putting things away when told).

* Source : The Greenwich Steiner School.

Playgroup - Summer break

The Steiner Playgroup that I bring Shean Wenn to every Wednesdays had their last day of session last week. I now have to find alternative to bring her to to vent out her energy, socialise with other kids and also for her to participate in structured group activities.

Anyway, last month on the 19th, the Kindergarten had a Summer Fest (June 20/21st is Summer Solstice).

(With grandma at the kindergarten)

That Thursday was a sunny day! Perfect weather for an outdoor fest. Mother-in-law flew in from Bangkok the night before and she came along for the fest - when we arrived, we saw there were some booths selling mainly secondhand stuff such as clothes, baby toys, books, and some handmade dolls. There was also one booth where they had information on Steiner Education. The babies and kids roam freely in the garden within the compound.

(The lavendars grown here - some were used to make the porpourri in the doll I made for her)

The manager (also the playgroup co-ordinator) made some flower garlands for every kid! Pretty. We spent our time just letting SW "go wild"!

(She actually loves the slides!)

There was also face-painting and balloon-man (man making balloons for kids). We didn't bring SW for face-painting but I queued up patiently amongst the kindy kids who were "demanding" their balloons to be shaped by the sweaty balloon man. Funnily, ALL the kids wanted DOG. One boy asked for a sword and the balloon man made a pink bunny for a girl. Right before my turn, he got a call on his mobile saying that his house got burgled into. Just my LUCK! Hmmmmfft! No balloons for Shean Wenn.

This is her outfit during "normal" outdoor time in the steiner playgroup. I bought this puddle-suit online and chose a "all-in-one" RED one for her. It is very good because during outdoor time, the kids get to play come rain or shine. On good-weather days, they still don the suit as they love playing with water and sand, the suit will protect them with all the mess. Anyway, the puddle-suit arrived after 3 days and I am SO happy with this purchase! It looks lovely on her too.

Steiner Waldorf Playgroup

Every Wednesdays, I bring her to the Steiner/ Waldorf Playgroup I found a month ago. We have been here 3 times so far. This week was our third time. Katie, the facilitator was on leave and another person was to take over. Somehow, she could not be contacted. So there was no facilitator around. The class was only me, Chloe and a new dad with our 4 kids! And since Katie was not around, I took out my cameraphone and snapped a few photos of SW in the class. I had to do it quick and fast as not to annoy the other parents. (I also try not to photograph the other kids incase their parents throw a hissy fit!)


(There were some "clothes" and pegs hanging around which piqued Shean Wenn's interests)

(Trying to reach for the scissors - the adults can do some handiwork while the kids play)

As usual, she really enjoyed herself here and it's a pity that she still couldn't join the rest during "outdoor" playtime as there wasn't an area suitable for non-walkers. I did however manage to entertain her by leading her by her hands to "walk around" (she does that pretty well now). She can hold on one of my hands and walk about. We walked on a plank a few times... she even sat on a slide - there was this sweet little girl (Charlotte) who simply adores SW! She kept her entertained and even volunteered to put SW on her lap sliding down the slides! What an adorable little girl.

Shean Wenn's first playgroup

After searching for many months for a suitable one, I finally stumbled upon this parent & child group. And what a delight when I found it!

This particular playgroup is part of the "Children's Garden Early Years Centre" and is located within a university campus. The centre based their teaching on Waldorf Education. After reading up on them, I thought Shean Wenn would really benefit from this so I went for the first time today.

(At the waterfront - we had some spare time before the "class" starts)

The facilitator/teacher is Katie and she greeted both me and Shean Wenn at the entrance to "Maple Hut" (one of the 3 rooms of this children's centre) before telling me that she is planning to bake a cake for our meals later on!

(Infront of the children's centre : The wooden structure on the left-back is the building of the centre)

What I liked about Steiner Education (which the centre based its teaching/playing methods) :

>> This is a child-led, but structured play - with activities for the child aged 0-3 years old, and even for the parent!

>> Is based on an understanding of the relevance of the different phases of child development, split into 3 phases :

• 1.1 Pre-school and kindergarten: birth to age 6 or 7
• 1.2 Elementary education: age 6/7 to 14
• 1.3 Secondary education

>> Sees artistic activity and the development of the imagination as integral to learning

>> Steiner Waldorf pedagogy believes that early childhood learning is largely experiential, imitative and sensory-based.The education emphasizes learning through practical activities.


The "structured play" programme mainly consists of the below :
"Free play" - kids play as they like, with the toys which are made of natural resources; ie made of wood, cloth or tins and they interact with kids around them if they so choose. The adults, in the meantime, contribute to the class by helping to "loose some wool" using two steel brushes putting the wool on one of them and brushing the two brushes against each other. It was fun, reminds me of "Kemahiran Hidup" (Living Skills - a subject taught in school) days. At one point during this time, Shean Wenn was chasing around (crawling) a boy who was pushing this wooden duck with flappy legs around the room. It was hilarious, she kept laughing because she is just so entertained by the duck.. and some of the moms were laughing at SW's antics saying she's just a cute baby.

(Riding on a wooden horse)

She was chasing a wooden duck similar to this one pulled along by a boy

Story time and "Circle time" - sit in a group while the teacher tells them a story while singing. We also did a dance around this pole (called "May Pole Dance" which is a traditional dance to celebrate the beginning of warmer weather or the arrival of summer) with ribbons. At around this time, the aroma of the yoghurt cake that is being baked in the oven filled the room. I was feeling hungry!

"Maypole"

Cleaning up time & washing hands- Instead of gathering the kids by giving "commands" which I expected from a "teacher", Katie's way of initiating an activity is by singing (as they believe in setting an example to the impressionable kids) what the class will be doing next; ie "Let's wash our hands, come come come. Wash away the dirt with soap... " (something like that).

Meal time - The table has been set and we each take a seat on the little baby chairs. I put SW on a chair as well. This is an important activity as well because it is teaching the kids socialising at the table. The kids got served rice crackers, raisins (SW was not given some due to her age), the freshly baked cake (Yoghurt cake) and some diluted apple juice. The adults got to eat cakes and spiced tea. Halfway enjoying her rice cracker, SW fell asleep on my arms (so cute).

Outdoor time - For kids to venture outside and just "go wild"! They were given a sun hat (hot hot day) and before long, they were running everywhere - jumping on the sandpit, carrying watering cans and filling them with water before pouring it on some poor plants! :) They really enjoyed themselves, I can see. I sat down on a bench with some of the other moms and talked.

*Ps : All the while, whenever there is a new activity going on, the facilitator/teacher will sing a song to prompt the kids (or the parents) to start this new activity.

(The class runs for 2 hours and costs £4)

After the class
Shean Wenn was still asleep in her stroller. It was a beautiful day so I went for a stroll along the waterfront and around the campus. The university was having a "Mayfest" Day - there's a stage with some bands playing, students milling everywhere and having their lunches on the grassy areas overlooking the waterfront, there were some food stalls, some art exhibition going on. The whole place was buzzing with activity!

(Further reading on the Waldorf Education : I did find some critics on the Waldorf education on the www, and although it might be a real concern, I believe at this age I can still "control" SW's cognitive development whether or not this method is "extremist". Giving this the benefit of the doubt, perhaps some Steiner Waldorf education centres has really overdone its teaching methods, by being extremist in its approach. We shall see. See here for context from one of its critics)