A slight change in my teaching schedule has meant that I have been the one to take Sterling to päiväkoti more often than Jeremy in recent weeks. All of the below is probably old news to Jeremy since he is the usual drop-off/pick-up parent, but I've noticed a few things.
1. It seems to be common practice for the päiväkoti workers to bundle up the smallest children (like up to age one-ish) in their strollers, park them outside where they can observe all the other kids at play in the yard, and wait for them to fall asleep for their morning nap. This was the case even when it was very cold outside. If I were an 8-month-old, I seriously think that would be my idea of a good time: get all cosy and snug and warm, watch some big kids playing outside, and drift off to sleep. Brilliant.
2. These päiväkoti workers' main job must sometimes seem to them to be dressing and undressing children, especially during the wintertime. They dress them up in layers to go outside, then undress them to sit on the potty, then dress them back up in inside clothes, then undress them again to sit on the potty, etc. BLESS THEM. Dressing and undressing small children is hard work.
3. But maybe they also get massages twice a month? We only know this from an off-hand comments one of the teachers made one time, but the way she said it made it sound like päiväkoti workers get massages twice a month. I hope this is true, because they deserve it.
4. The kids still play outside in almost all weather. It's all about having the proper clothing.
5. Mealtimes at that place still amaze me. They eat the same food at päiväkoti as my girls do at their school. The kids sit nicely at their places and wear bibs and use utensils. I pick up Sterling during afternoon snack time and it is always so delightful to see the children sitting so quietly, looking at books or whatever while they wait for food.
In case you're curious, here's this week's menu for all three of my kids. Wish I could join them!
