A Beautiful Mind

This is one of those days we would want to remember.

M and I went to see another daycare that I had decided to be a back-up. To me, it is conceptually weird because this daycare is a "national chain". In short, this daycare is in every way a corporation.

Having particular idea about education, I figured what the school probably will be like a long time ago. One daycare I knew in Taiwan using "imported special-made china" in every classroom. Yes, I am talking about dishes and plates kids use to eat. These dishes and plates are special-made to be unbreakable, yet, still of china, not plastic or glass. The idea is so kids can learn the high-end texture through daily life details.... I never understand why kids have to learn this. To me, I learn to appreciate the beauty of fine china through understanding the history of each era and the china manufacture.

Back to the daycare we viewed today, as I expected, it is a high-end facility with luxury login system. Nice and shiny toys and equipments are everywhere, and the programs are very fancy. For example, toddler rooms toys are mostly for kids to learn sorting/counting/and letters, rarely free-play items. The teachers prepared color papers, and wrote correspondent color on each paper. So, kids learn to put green blocks on green paper written GREEN. Very systematic. My feeling is the curriculum is simply one-step ahead. Another example: in preschool room, there are "science center" that has globe, map and a picture of stars of solar system that I expect to see in Pre-K room. And they also prepare kids for graduation to Pre-K by following the public school curriculum.

I honestly do not believe being one-step ahead will help children's development. I guess some parents would, especially those who likes to compare. Kids going to this daycare would look smarter than other kids until they graduate. This does not guarantee they will learn better when they enter official school system. To me, learning is a life-long project. The most important thing is to learn "how to learn" and enjoy learning.

Of course, this does not mean we do not have struggle. The reason I am writing the post is probably because we do. We want to provide the best to Leonard. However, what is the best? why not if we can help him one-step of everyone? There was one old say in Taiwan: don't let kids tumble at starting point. This is probably the psychology of many parents. I am sure this corporation knows how parents feel very well to sell the program......

After dinner, Leonard told us he wants to "watching leonard". He meant he wants to watch video. So M sat up the video after we did the dishes. M chose a clip Leonard eating lunch in highchair a week before we moved. Unexpected, Leonard became quiet and his eyes started to watering. Annie told me (leonard was sitting on my lap): he looks sad. I looked at him: he looked heartbroken... and then we realized: he missed our home in Erie!! At that moment, sadness is overwhelming to everyone. I got up to find Leonard's bunny to comfort him but couldn't help and sob with him. We really miss being in our own home. M then quietly hold my hand and promised to move to our own house as soon as we can.

Then the second video was me trying giving Leonard potty train. In the clip, Leonard negotiated with me by sitting on a small chair to see if I would let him play the "potty bag". While watching the video, we asked Leonard: do you want to go potty? Surprisingly, he said yes and hold my hand. And then he called out everyone: daddy and grandma. Everyone went to bathroom with him and he sat on the potty for the first time!! He sat there for almost 5 minutes playing with the potty bag. He got up several times but as soon as we asked he sat back again!! What a great progress!!

During our first house hunting trip, Leonard was sick and ill. That was only four months ago. Back then, he didn't have much vocabulary nor language skill. He was very quiet and the only way to express himself was crying. We did not expect by the time we moved he can grow into a chatty box. I am not sure I hope time fly or stop. He is so lively and full of surprise. I cannot picture how he will be like by the time we move to our new home!