We are slowly settling into our kindergarten routine. The program Immy attends operates five full days a fortnight, two days one week and then three days the next. A big change for us considering Immy did not attend child care or any 3 year old pre-kindy type program.
We are both really feeling the effects of the change to the rhythm of our week. All of a sudden we seem to have a lot less days to do the things that we used to do together. Things like playgroup and gym class and visiting the library, or play dates and catch ups with friends. Let alone time to just be home, to hang out together and see where our day takes us. Time for Immy to play.
In fact, when I asked Immy in the morning if she wanted to go to playgroup this week, her first response was, “I just want to stay home and play with my toys.”
We have dropped gym class for the time being and delayed enrolling in a dance class, despite Immy asking to do dance. Our only ongoing commitment, besides kindy, has been playgroup one morning a week. Apart from that we have enjoyed a few local play dates. We haven’t even been to the library since kindy started (and have the overdue notice to prove it!) But it seems we are still doing to much. My small girl is missing time to just play. And be.
It might be time to add ‘free play’ to the calendar.
I am curious. How did your child/ren manage when they first started preschool or kindy? Did you find you had to drop other activities to give your child time to be home and play? How many activities do your kindy aged children do?
What is Mum 2 Mum? Mum 2 Mum is a place where as online friends we can share a little of our own experiences, so why not pop in for a cuppa and join the conversation.
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