Baby Chicks Go To School

I mentioned in my project 366 post today that Poppy has had some baby chicks in her classroom this week and has been learning all about them. They were only born on Monday so as you can imagine all the children have been very excited and very keen to learn all about them.

Today we were invited to the School to meet them officially and see for ourselves what the children have learnt:

It was very cute, I even got to hold one myself...Butterfly, the most nervous of them all. Rosie has seem them every day but was fascinated when they got them out on the carpet. She kept trying to grab them.

The children told us all about what they had learnt, they had even made special chick masks and wings. Then they did a special song. It was all very cute. Here are a few pictures I took:

It was lovely to see them all so keen and excited.

The chicks go back home tomorrow and are going to live happily ever after in their owners garden.

Karen x

Separation Anxiety?

Poppy has always been a happy, confident little girl. We have never had any problems with separation anxiety and up until now she has loved her Preschool, often asking if she could go more often.

Why then over the past few days has she been hysterical when I leave?

Its horrible. I now understand how other Mums feel when their little ones start new Nurseries and schools and get upset...we have never had it before.

She starts off saying "Mummy, Mummy, Mummy" then it gets worse and she begs me not to leave, clinging on and crying. Its awful!

I have asked her what the problem is and been through obvious things like Teachers and other children, has anyone upset her? She tells me no but did tell me she doesn't want milk any more as she doesn't like it cold. Fair enough..she does like milk warmed a little so I asked  her Teacher today if she could just have water instead.  She agreed and I thought that would help...but it didn't! As I was leaving Poppy became hysterical.

I left School with tears pouring down my face, worried sick about what was wrong.  The receptionist was lovely and agreed to ring me shortly with an update on Poppy. She kindly rang about 30 minutes later telling me she was happily playing and not upset at all. This did make me feel a little better.

So what could it be?

Her teacher and I  discussed possible reasons and came up with:

• Quite a few children have just joined the class since Christmas...there were two more yesterday and the unfamiliar faces might be unsettling her
• The milk thing is a big thing to her
• I am pregnant and she might be feeling a little unsettled/ craving attention

Any tips would be welcomed as I really do not know how to respond. She is only there for half a day today and I will be talking to her Teacher again.  I really hope it is nothing serious and sorts itself out soon...seeing your little one that upset is just awful and leaves you feeling helpless.

Karen x

Diwali - The Festival Of Light

This half term Poppy is learning all about celebrations and festivals at Preschool. For the past week she has been learning all about Diwali - The Festival of light, celebrated by Hindus. I must admit this is all new to me and until now I never knew such a festival existed.

I am told that the children have been read the story of Rama and Sita, made Diva Lamps out of clay, listened and danced to traditional Indian music and enjoyed dressing up in traditional Indian clothes. I do know Poppy has really enjoyed herself and has come home each day excited to tell me what she has been up to and learnt.

Today we were invited along to a party to mark the end of the week and first celebration. I wanted to share with you a few photos:

The children had their hands painted and told it was henna.

They had Bindis placed on their foreheads and enjoyed eating traditional foods.  They tried onion bhaji, vegetable samosa, a traditional curry (they had made the day before). Which they then followed with some traditional sweets:

They also lit tea lights in the little Diva lamps they had made:

As you can see they all had great fun and enjoyed showing us parents what they have learnt

Now I must admit when I first heard about this Celebration, I had mixed feelings about it. Poppy attends a Preschool set within a small rural village School. It is so small that the Preschool and reception children are all in one class.  So I must admit I did wonder why such a detailed project? Ok a little naive and probably not the most politically correct thing I could say but I did wonder.

Then it got me thinking that actually our children are growing up in a multicultural society so perhaps they should learn all about different customs and cultures.

I guess understanding prevents ignorance and therefore being educated in a multicultural way has got to be good for this Country.

I am now really interested to find out what the next Celebration/ Festival is.

What do you think?

Karen x