Today, I was enjoying a well needed post lunch-duty sit down, and found myself smiling at the memory of the busy, noisy hour I had just spent with the 70 or so 4-11 year olds who attend my youngest children's school.
Some of my friends think I am quite mad to voluntarily look after other people's children, especially as there are a few who are, shall we say, "difficult"! (I say voluntarily, although I do get paid, but it's very minimum and certainly doesn't cover the cost of fuel to get me there and back in the middle of the day!)
I offered my services last year when the school was desperately asking if there were any parents who could help out at lunchtime, as, being such a small school, they were relying on the current teachers which meant they never had a break in the school day. The school secretary couldn't have been more grateful when I offered my services, practically weeping with joy (well, perhaps that's a little exaggerated), so I signed up for two days with possibly a third when I could manage it (i.e. no coffee mornings, lunches out or shopping trips already arranged).
As I have mentioned before, I really do love children, and as my oldest two had already left this wonderfully unique and beautifully located small village school I realised this was an ideal way to be a fly on the wall and see how my youngest two interacted in their school environment and with their friends.
My first few months were in the winter period so I spent quite a few days standing in the windy playground, wrapped up in numerous layers, gloves, scarves and hats, wondering to myself what on earth had I been thinking and longing for my open fire, blanket, and a warm beverage of choice!
However, I loved seeing my kids playing with their friends, I felt comfortable in this very familiar environment from many previous years of school runs and events, the familiar faces of all the teachers who had taught my older two, and getting to know their teachers on a different level than that of just parent and teacher.
When winter turned into spring, it was lovely being outside watching the children running about, playing football, making up games and using their imagination. Some days everyone seemed to be falling out with their friends, coming to tell tales on someone else, complaining about name-calling or that they were being left out, so I spent the whole time trying to reason with each party. Other days, everyone would be injuring themselves and I would spend the whole time patching up grazed knees and elbows or applying face packs to various bruised areas! One of my friends who volunteered to help at the same time found my type of first-aid highly amusing when she overhead me saying to a child "Just give it a rub, it'll be fine", but in my defence I was merely treating them as I would one of my own, and unless it was broken or bleeding then there wasn't much else you could do! I also learnt through my own children how to judge if an injury was serious - if the screaming hasn't stopped after five minutes or the child still seems in pain then they may need more attention! Usually the promise of a plaster, a wet paper towel or an ice-pack did the trick. It also seemed the minute I was dealing with someone's quarrel or injury, then something was kicking-off elsewhere! These days were exhausting and I counted the minutes until we could ring the bell and get everyone in!
However, some days were very enjoyable, especially when the weather warmed up in the summer term. We were able to take the children onto the field which meant less chance of injury as they fell on
soft grass instead of hard concrete. Everyone seemed to be in a better mood as the sun shone and it was lovely seeing all the different groups of friends making daisy chains or collecting treasures or just running around in the open space. Of course, this was England so we had our fair share of showers too, but even that wasn't so bad in summer.
The new school year brought new faces to the school in reception, and I had fun learning all the new children's names. Last year was easier though, as most of the children starting were younger siblings of children I already knew and had seen them coming up to the playground with Mum to pick up their older brother or sister. This year, a greater number of school age children in the area meant an overflow from nearby villages coming to our school so I didn't recognise any of them and had a lovely challenge on my hands of getting to know their names!
On the first week back I noticed one new starter was having a really tough time with his new routine. He was clinging to his teacher not letting her go as she tried to have her lunch and cried when she attempted to leave him to play in the playground. He looked so lost and alone, my heart went out to him, and I could see his teacher was struggling as she desperately needed a break to prepare for the afternoon. So I gently approached him with a sympathetic pat on the shoulder, introduced myself and reassured him that it was all right, Miss would be back after lunch. I took his hand and said he could stay with me, answering his numerous questions through his sobbing about when Miss would be back, when playtime would be over and when it was home time.
I learnt he was half Swedish and that English was his second language, which must have made it even harder for him, so I patiently repeated the answers to the same questions, pointing to the clock and using it to confirm the times. I didn't let go of his hand even when other children needed me so he wouldn't feel abandoned again, and I chatted about my being a mum to two of my own children in the school and pointing them out, asking if he had any brothers or sisters, and eventually he calmed down and stopped crying. He still asked the same questions but I simply repeated the answers until he could trust me. It was a long half an hour but I was pleased for him when the bell finally went and I could show him that I was telling the truth about when the end of playtime was.
The next time I was on duty, I made a bee-line for him to say hello. He was still very upset and crying but I assured him that I would stay with him and, although he still cried and asked the same questions, he calmed down a lot quicker this time.
After that, he began to improve over the next few weeks when I saw him, with not so many tears, and then last week I noticed there were no tears, result! He still needed reassurance that I would stay with him and that he would see his teacher after playtime, but at least he let her go and seemed happy to stay with me instead.
Even though I hadn't volunteered for playground duty particularly to help settle in new children, it was an unexpected bonus to know I had helped a child get through their first few difficult weeks of school and that they had emerged more confident and reassured. I hope when he is older he will have good memories of those first few weeks instead of feeling traumatised.
Now my next challenge is to encourage him to play with some of his classmates and make friends, but I am sure he'll get there eventually!
I offered my services last year when the school was desperately asking if there were any parents who could help out at lunchtime, as, being such a small school, they were relying on the current teachers which meant they never had a break in the school day. The school secretary couldn't have been more grateful when I offered my services, practically weeping with joy (well, perhaps that's a little exaggerated), so I signed up for two days with possibly a third when I could manage it (i.e. no coffee mornings, lunches out or shopping trips already arranged).
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| DD's first day of school |
As I have mentioned before, I really do love children, and as my oldest two had already left this wonderfully unique and beautifully located small village school I realised this was an ideal way to be a fly on the wall and see how my youngest two interacted in their school environment and with their friends.
My first few months were in the winter period so I spent quite a few days standing in the windy playground, wrapped up in numerous layers, gloves, scarves and hats, wondering to myself what on earth had I been thinking and longing for my open fire, blanket, and a warm beverage of choice!
However, I loved seeing my kids playing with their friends, I felt comfortable in this very familiar environment from many previous years of school runs and events, the familiar faces of all the teachers who had taught my older two, and getting to know their teachers on a different level than that of just parent and teacher.
 |
| Showing off their hats in the playground |
However, some days were very enjoyable, especially when the weather warmed up in the summer term. We were able to take the children onto the field which meant less chance of injury as they fell on
soft grass instead of hard concrete. Everyone seemed to be in a better mood as the sun shone and it was lovely seeing all the different groups of friends making daisy chains or collecting treasures or just running around in the open space. Of course, this was England so we had our fair share of showers too, but even that wasn't so bad in summer.
The new school year brought new faces to the school in reception, and I had fun learning all the new children's names. Last year was easier though, as most of the children starting were younger siblings of children I already knew and had seen them coming up to the playground with Mum to pick up their older brother or sister. This year, a greater number of school age children in the area meant an overflow from nearby villages coming to our school so I didn't recognise any of them and had a lovely challenge on my hands of getting to know their names!
On the first week back I noticed one new starter was having a really tough time with his new routine. He was clinging to his teacher not letting her go as she tried to have her lunch and cried when she attempted to leave him to play in the playground. He looked so lost and alone, my heart went out to him, and I could see his teacher was struggling as she desperately needed a break to prepare for the afternoon. So I gently approached him with a sympathetic pat on the shoulder, introduced myself and reassured him that it was all right, Miss would be back after lunch. I took his hand and said he could stay with me, answering his numerous questions through his sobbing about when Miss would be back, when playtime would be over and when it was home time.
I learnt he was half Swedish and that English was his second language, which must have made it even harder for him, so I patiently repeated the answers to the same questions, pointing to the clock and using it to confirm the times. I didn't let go of his hand even when other children needed me so he wouldn't feel abandoned again, and I chatted about my being a mum to two of my own children in the school and pointing them out, asking if he had any brothers or sisters, and eventually he calmed down and stopped crying. He still asked the same questions but I simply repeated the answers until he could trust me. It was a long half an hour but I was pleased for him when the bell finally went and I could show him that I was telling the truth about when the end of playtime was.
The next time I was on duty, I made a bee-line for him to say hello. He was still very upset and crying but I assured him that I would stay with him and, although he still cried and asked the same questions, he calmed down a lot quicker this time.
After that, he began to improve over the next few weeks when I saw him, with not so many tears, and then last week I noticed there were no tears, result! He still needed reassurance that I would stay with him and that he would see his teacher after playtime, but at least he let her go and seemed happy to stay with me instead.
Even though I hadn't volunteered for playground duty particularly to help settle in new children, it was an unexpected bonus to know I had helped a child get through their first few difficult weeks of school and that they had emerged more confident and reassured. I hope when he is older he will have good memories of those first few weeks instead of feeling traumatised.
Now my next challenge is to encourage him to play with some of his classmates and make friends, but I am sure he'll get there eventually!
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