Year-end Beginnings
Before you know it the year- end creeps up on you and it's time to reflect on how the year has been and how you can improve for next year. It is also the time for most of us here to 'evaluate' our children. Of course it is just a minor hassle compared to some other places and the issues that come up with public schooling.
Due to some changes in my various commitments, I have been doing more structured lessons. It is a hole all of us fall back into when time gets the better of us or maybe I'm just a product of the system that no matter how much I believe in alternative education when it comes to the crunch I am not able to put into practice what I believe as much as I should.
Right now we are very much in a holiday mood. Much helped by the extra dough that companies give out here at this time of the year, we've been going out since last Thursday. Sadly, although I must state that I enjoyed myself, those visits have been to the malls which did nothing for the kids.
So, today I took them to Choa Chu Kang Park to enjoy some roughing out time. Although they don't walk through forests like those pictures of Waldorf kids which I always envy, it was much better for me to see them playing in the sand pit and the playground amidst the lush greenery of the park than the concrete surroundings at home.
Besides the lack of nature, I find the children's enjoyment much reduced with the crowds that seem to be everywhere now, what more during school holidays. I feel that this totally reduces the quality of their play. Even at a young age they have to fight for space. While one can find spots like Upper Pierce reservoir or Macritchie reservoir such places are not accessible to heartland families like us who don't own a car.
There you have it, even for play our children don't get a level playing field. I am thankful that being HSed means I can take my kids out on weekdays. Probably why my inner clock wants to go out now. It'll be school holidays soon. I want space ... I need space.
Due to some changes in my various commitments, I have been doing more structured lessons. It is a hole all of us fall back into when time gets the better of us or maybe I'm just a product of the system that no matter how much I believe in alternative education when it comes to the crunch I am not able to put into practice what I believe as much as I should.
Right now we are very much in a holiday mood. Much helped by the extra dough that companies give out here at this time of the year, we've been going out since last Thursday. Sadly, although I must state that I enjoyed myself, those visits have been to the malls which did nothing for the kids.
So, today I took them to Choa Chu Kang Park to enjoy some roughing out time. Although they don't walk through forests like those pictures of Waldorf kids which I always envy, it was much better for me to see them playing in the sand pit and the playground amidst the lush greenery of the park than the concrete surroundings at home.
Besides the lack of nature, I find the children's enjoyment much reduced with the crowds that seem to be everywhere now, what more during school holidays. I feel that this totally reduces the quality of their play. Even at a young age they have to fight for space. While one can find spots like Upper Pierce reservoir or Macritchie reservoir such places are not accessible to heartland families like us who don't own a car.
There you have it, even for play our children don't get a level playing field. I am thankful that being HSed means I can take my kids out on weekdays. Probably why my inner clock wants to go out now. It'll be school holidays soon. I want space ... I need space.
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