I’m self-employed so I keep Bella home with me most days. We practice our letters, shapes, and numbers, but mostly I just let her play. My thinking is it’s obvious she is very bright, and I’m not worried she’ll “fall behind” even though she is almost to the ripe old age of four.

Her mother though is very big on appearances, and it’s important Bella goes to one of the “good” schools.

It’s too bad Homeland Security has never picked her up.

Daycare and it’s curriculum pushing have become a necessary evil. When did we stop recognising free play as an educational pathway for kids? They learn through play, imagination is the key to everything. All our advancements are due to some one indulging their imagination, asking what if, why not or I wonder…

Which makes me wonder, what damage are we doing by structuring their play?

Lostinsuburbia, maybe I’m nasty, but I think the whole “curriculum” thing is designed to make anxious parents feel less guilty about leaving their child in childcare. To wit, “You are leaving your precious baby all day with us, but it’s educational so it’s actually better than being at home with you.”

The childcare one is a hard one. What other option do parents have in this day and age? And if you’re not lucky enough to have grandparents living close by who are willing to care for the child, what else can you do? But I’d rather my child just be allowed to play than have a “curriculum”. Making your own fun is such an important part of growing up.

I had a friend enquire at our local Day care centre about having her daughter placed there part time and they started talking about curriculum. The child is 6months old! Provided a child’s natural curiosity is nurtured by parents who engage their children in conversations then chances are their intelligence quoatiants will be exactly what they should be.

All the DVD’s and CD’s in the world will do diddly squat without real conversations.

I hate those Fairies too.

I love the fact that all the kids don’t like the plans that their fathers have for them (Robin wants to be a vampire, Vlad wants to be a normal kid, Jonathan just doesn’t want to be a vampire slayer at all). I love the hammy Count Dracula too. He’s so camp. With bone structure like that he must always play Dracula…

Best kids’ show on telly at the moment, I reckon, is ‘Young Dracula’, on ABC Monday afternoons, a half-hour comedy about Dracula’s family. Dracula himself is hammed up by some hilarious British actor - he plays the part of a well-meaning vampire, who just wants his kids to grow up to nice and malicious like himself. Naturally, his kids have other ideas… It’s more of a show for the eights to twelves, though.

The Wiggles are interesting to watch, too, though more from an analytical perspective - you can look out for the children’s show conventions and techniques.

Engaging your child is what helps them, but people always are looking for a “Quick Fix.” Play a DVD and/or CD and it will turn my child into a “Genius.”

On a different note. LE You have been “Tagged”

Check the link for instructions.

Glad you’re back.