About 3 weeks ago Lennox started playschool. In Holland they can start with something called 'peuterspeelzaal' (toddler playgroup) from 2 years old. It is 2 times a week, about 3 hours each time. Since Lennox is bilingual and speaks Malay at home, he can also go 4 times a week when he becomes 2.5 years old.
Although we have been going to playgroups in the past (since he was about 8 months old), i always had to stay with him for the duration. So for him and for me, it was a pretty big step to drop him off to the hands of the teachers (they call them 'jufs' here). The only other times Lennox has been on his own is with family and one other time with a babysitter (when the birth of Sterling impending and we wanted to be prepared).
His peuterspeelzaal has a pretty decent size, about 14 kids to 2 teachers. The kids range from 2-4 years old. From 4 years old the kids go to "Groep 1" which is like nursery (N1/N2) for us in Singapore.
The first weeks have gone pretty well. Lennox had a 'wenperiode' which is a 'getting-used-to' period. The parents could stay for half an hour on the first day, and Lennox only needed to stay for half the time. The duration would increase for the 2 weeks until he stays for the full 3 hours each time. He cried when we left (and my heart broke) but 10 seconds in, he stopped crying and played with some toys and stuck to his teacher Juf Carla the whole time.
He goes to 'school' on Monday afternoons and Thursday mornings... And he enjoys it! There has been some struggles with drop-off. But at pickup time, the juf always says he has been good and enjoyed the time there. For me, I've been enjoying this toddler-free time very much! It gives me one-on-one time with Sterling and honestly life with one kid is SO much easier than with 2.
I love to pick him up from playgroup! I'm one of those moms peeking through the window to see what they are up to. And i love the smile on his face once he spots me :) At this peuterspeelzaal, parents will come into the room at the end of the day and will join in the 'byebye song' and the jufs will give a short summary of what they did during the session.
My toddler is growing up!
Although we have been going to playgroups in the past (since he was about 8 months old), i always had to stay with him for the duration. So for him and for me, it was a pretty big step to drop him off to the hands of the teachers (they call them 'jufs' here). The only other times Lennox has been on his own is with family and one other time with a babysitter (when the birth of Sterling impending and we wanted to be prepared).
His peuterspeelzaal has a pretty decent size, about 14 kids to 2 teachers. The kids range from 2-4 years old. From 4 years old the kids go to "Groep 1" which is like nursery (N1/N2) for us in Singapore.
The first weeks have gone pretty well. Lennox had a 'wenperiode' which is a 'getting-used-to' period. The parents could stay for half an hour on the first day, and Lennox only needed to stay for half the time. The duration would increase for the 2 weeks until he stays for the full 3 hours each time. He cried when we left (and my heart broke) but 10 seconds in, he stopped crying and played with some toys and stuck to his teacher Juf Carla the whole time.
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| Sitting next to Juf Carla. You can't see from the pic, but she's a nice lady! |
He goes to 'school' on Monday afternoons and Thursday mornings... And he enjoys it! There has been some struggles with drop-off. But at pickup time, the juf always says he has been good and enjoyed the time there. For me, I've been enjoying this toddler-free time very much! It gives me one-on-one time with Sterling and honestly life with one kid is SO much easier than with 2.
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| If the weather is nice they play outside at the playground or with the bikes. |
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| Before they head back indoors they have to 'queue up' holding the colourful rope... Also, how cute is Lennox with his oversized neon vest?? Haha |
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| Singing the 'byebye song' in the circle before leaving for the day |
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| Also, Lennox absolutely LOVES his oversized Nijntje schoolbag (which contains almost nothing). Here he is wearing it all day at home :P |
My toddler is growing up!
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