Last week I got an email from my son’s preschool titled – ‘Valentine’s Day List’, and the content of that email contained the list of names of my preschooler’s 18 classmates, and that’s it – no explanation whatsoever.
I was at a loss, as to what this meant, mostly because, this is the first year my son is in a school setting – so this is all very new for me. At any rate, I couldn’t fathom why they would want to celebrate Valentine’s day at preschool.
Now I understand that the school authorities are possibly extending the meaning of Valentine’s day to encompass – friendship, which is okay, I guess. And eventually, I even figured out that they wanted us to make hand-made cards for the other kids; hence the list of names.
But these are toddlers that we are speaking about. It is hard enough to get them to do regular things like – eat, sleep, or stop talking. I can only imagine how much fun it would be dealing with cardboard, and glue, and scissors, around these little ones; especially, MY little one, who pretty much uses most things available to him as weapons to attack me (don’t ask!). Just thinking of it makes me want to take a tranquilizer!
Anyway, after that initial email, I negotiated with the school authorities, to accept ready-made cards, and they agreed, so long as the child personally wrote the names of his/her friends on them. Fair enough, I think. Certainly not an easy task (what’s easy with a toddler, anyway?) with a kid that cannot sit at one place for more than 3 minutes, but so much better than all that crafting, that I am not going to complain.
But I am curious. Have you guys experienced anything like this? Does your child’s school celebrate Valentine’s Day too? I would love to hear your thoughts/experiences.
Of everything, I actually loved the sentence where you said that everything is a weapon to attack you 🙂 I know it will be tough but the sentence you wrote attracted me
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Hehehe..well, what can I say to that? 😛
Shanaya Tales recently posted…Ganesha’s Sweet Tooth by Emily Haynes & Sanjay Patel | Children’s Book Review (Ages 3 – 8)
My niece comes loaded with holiday homework and over the top summer projects. My SIL tries her best to make her do things on her own without helping her much, but the moment she sees the work in school that gets selected and displayed at exhibitions, clearly shows it’s not even the work or mommies, but have been paid to be done from the market! I mean what sense does it make? Fist you pay over the top fee of the child and then pay for the craft work just so it makes it in room for a couple of hours! I don’t understand why does this happens? And my poor niece, is never able to make it there, all because she does things by herself (which turns out pretty good as for her level), but that doesn’t matters after all!
Glad that you discussed with school authorities.. And they agreed as well..
I don’t know what is happening with the system
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Oh yeah, the expectations and pressures of schooling in India are much higher. I am just thankful that I do not have to deal with that. This is easier to deal with, but still pointless.
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I read the whole post and am left wondering about where this could have been offensive to anyone in the first place. It is simply an expression of a mother who is trying to make sense of the whole thing. If I would have been in your place I would have been through the same tumult. Currently, my son goes to a normal school, not the type considered to be one of the good or fancy schools of Bangalore, but the one thing I like most about his school is the teachers themselves work hard with the kids whether it is crafts, dancing or studies seldom requiring parental involvement except for regular homework.
Anamika Agnihotri recently posted…A Liberating Conversation – #Monday Musings
As far as the offence part goes, I think many people these days, are just trying to find reasons to get offended. Sad, but true state of affairs. :/
Shanaya Tales recently posted…Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen | Reviewing Classic Literature
I have no experience but I am aware that all the project work is done by parents instead of the child. I always wonder why should that be given to the child. Also, I have heard if interviews when school open for admissions. Schools demand hefty fees, working parents and then they keep the parent teacher meetings on a working day. What does all that mean? It’s a business Shantala. There is no noble deed in opening and running schools.
And yes – your post is very genuine. Not at all the way you thought it was. It’s pretty simple, clearly articulated opinion and if it can resonate with me, parents would agree for sure.
Parul recently posted…#MicroblogMondays â If we never had to go back
Thank you, Parul. This V-day thing is so unnecessary in the first place, but taking offence on a post like this, is something else altogether!
Shanaya Tales recently posted…Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen | Reviewing Classic Literature
I see it with my young niece all the time how much adult stuff is included in even nursery and pre-school. Boggles the mind what on earth they expected to achieve. I think this is all more for the parents than the children, especially something like Valentine’s Day. It was Independence Day here in Sri Lanka recently and they seriously tried to teach my 4-year-old grand niece about it. Hey, she can barely tell the colours of the flag, how is she supposed to understand this?!
Hehehe..yeah..but you see Independence Day is at-least relevant eventually. This is just so needless as a subject in school!
Shanaya Tales recently posted…Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen | Reviewing Classic Literature
I don’t have a kid so can’t really say, but I guess the is a nice way to have some fun!
Fun for whom is the question! 😛
Shanaya Tales recently posted…Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen | Reviewing Classic Literature
The schools these days celebrate anything and everything. It is one thing to educate children about these things..but the bottom line is – are they really necessary? It is more unnecessary work for the parents. I am glad that I am through that stage.
Yes, this was completely needless!
Shanaya Tales recently posted…Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen | Reviewing Classic Literature
I would have negotiated for ready made cards too, great minds think alike 🙂 I quite like Amanda’s idea of sweets day instead of Valentine’s day for toddlers, each one brings a special treat for his/her friend.
Yeah, and sweets/candies etc are what they essentially care about, so everyone would have been happy! 😛
Shanaya Tales recently posted…Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen | Reviewing Classic Literature