So that’s what Reid does all day

On Tuesday night, there was a parent-teacher night at Reid’s daycare. Unfortunately, Ken had to go back to the office and so he again wasn’t able to attend. Last year, he had to stay home with Reid. Amanda was nice enough to watch Reid, “princess sitting,” we call it. All this to say, that I was able to spend about an hour and a half in Reid’s classroom with her four teachers: Karen (from Ruthven), AnneMarie (the first one I ever heard Reid name), Tammy (who puts stamps on Reid’s body) and Raechel (who works a split shift and so always misses out on nap time).

I managed to get a seat on the couch – the other parents maybe hadn’t attended the meeting last year and didn’t realize how uncomfortable the tiny chairs are after a bit. I had decided it would be better to sit on the floor if I couldn’t get a adult-sized chair. Karen started by telling us that two year-olds are terrific (which I knew, of course) and that biting and hitting are the way that they communicate sometimes. She didn’t say why Reid has been the object of “communications” of three biters (or maybe it has been the same one each time). Then, we watched a little video that they had put together to show us the different things that they do each day. They start with “morning snack” (I’m not sure why they don’t call it breakfast) about 7:45 and the kids were all eating cereal with lots of concentration and enthusiasm. Afterwards, they do art or sensory activities (like playing at the water or sand table) and play at the dramatic play (mini kitchen or dress up, etc.), building blocks or dolls/trucks centres and then they go outside to play and for a walk. They seem to be all pretty good at holding on to the yellow rope while they walk. The teachers were saying how lucky that they feel to be able to walk through the farm that the centre sits on and how they point out each of the teachers’ cars and the truck for sale and other details each time as well as looking for bugs and pine cones, etc. to keep the kids enagaged. It is true that you have to keep a sharp eye out to notice things to talk about with Reid; she definitely is examining everything within her eye range. After the walk, it is time for lunch and yet again, the kids all looked to be quite competently feeding themselves, sitting at the little tables with four friends and a teacher. It’s surprising that Reid agrees to stay in her high chair at home but not that she loves her little table. The naptime section was perhaps the most interesting to watch. I had learned last week or so that Reid’s cot (about 6 inches off the ground) was placed in a line of seven or so because she is a good sleeper. The teachers turn off the lights, put on soft music and the kids all snuggled down with a blanket and most went to sleep quickly. The kids who are more distracted are separated a bit from the others and the teachers station themselves around the room to keep every laying down. Reid covered herself with the blanket they gave her even though she refuses all blankets, even the corner of blankets, at home. Peer pressure, I guess. There was a shot of Reid playing with her friend, Lexsie, and the teachers said that they do everything together. Unfortunately, Lexsie is leaving the centre at the end of December. They also had a clip where the kids were sitting in their groups of five for circle time to listen to stories. And then, they said that they have another snack and play outside again. There are a couple of times when the kids can play with whatever they want as well.

After the video, we got to ask some questions and then the teachers taught us how to make goop (1:1 ratio of water and corn starch with a bit of food colouring added to the water, who knew it was so simple ;+) and Kool-Aid playdough.

So, now we know a bit more about what Reid does all day.

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