tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1109681525590028536.post3220352704464275725..comments2024-02-17T01:11:34.207+08:00Comments on Of Kids and Education: Oh, to be boredmonlimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17397210688200284987noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1109681525590028536.post-41629115090306480512013-05-03T10:45:47.508+08:002013-05-03T10:45:47.508+08:00Dear Monica,
Nice piece as usual. =)
Yes, schools...Dear Monica,<br />Nice piece as usual. =)<br /><br />Yes, schools are get so angsty when it comes to SYF and all those COMPETITIONS. I wonder if the SYF has lost its original intent. It stems from our KPI-obsessed system. It's not good enuff to just participate and have fun. We must execl and do well and win medals leh. There is only 1 winner. Is the winner really happy? Really? It's just an accolade the school can throw about.<br /><br />Yes, I agree that things must be done in moderation. I agree that kids must be given time to just idle and just do nothing. <br /><br />GraceAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1109681525590028536.post-39919388245847139812013-04-30T23:11:44.443+08:002013-04-30T23:11:44.443+08:00At work, in school, we are always so busy. But so ...At work, in school, we are always so busy. But so unfulfilled. A quote attributed to Socrates rings true: "Beware the barrenness of a busy life."Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1109681525590028536.post-51670885278384523522013-04-29T19:08:52.106+08:002013-04-29T19:08:52.106+08:00Thanks Mon. If all things within my control, I wo...Thanks Mon. If all things within my control, I would encourage her not to give up on it. :) It would be like giving up on her sense of humour.<br /><br />qxAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1109681525590028536.post-69853118813854064122013-04-29T17:06:53.823+08:002013-04-29T17:06:53.823+08:00QX: Play play Friday sounds fantastic! Every kid s...QX: Play play Friday sounds fantastic! Every kid should have that. It's true, your dd probably draws comic strips cos she has time to create and amuse herself. Don't let her give that up :)monlimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17397210688200284987noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1109681525590028536.post-25490404692276290832013-04-29T17:00:59.956+08:002013-04-29T17:00:59.956+08:00Both of you are so cute. Actually I have not many...Both of you are so cute. Actually I have not many playdates for my dd when in preschool, I agree I had nothing much to talk about.<br /><br />However, now she has a more regular playdate. Why? Because we dislike so much work and no play so every Friday is TGIF and we never talk about work...it's always play, play...play...<br /><br />My dd has no stress on her face until now and I think that is a bonus in a place like SG.<br /><br />I agree her best days are the days she has nothing to do and draws many comic strips to entertain herself. She believes she can draw but whether she can is another matter.. LOL My evaluation is she can draw humourous things to make me laugh and that is enough for me.<br />Some of the best jokes I have ever heard in my life came from her original ones. An idle mind indeed spurs creativity. She has enlightened me.<br /><br />qxAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1109681525590028536.post-74613709847604979242013-04-29T12:38:38.440+08:002013-04-29T12:38:38.440+08:00I'm with you. I don't understand the need ...I'm with you. I don't understand the need for organising regular playdates for their own sake. Isn't that what preschool is for, anyway?monlimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17397210688200284987noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1109681525590028536.post-59756872447993521242013-04-29T12:35:45.796+08:002013-04-29T12:35:45.796+08:00Yes, Brian enjoyed playing with LA a lot. She was...Yes, Brian enjoyed playing with LA a lot. She was always the teacher and she was a very kind friend to him in school and in the bus :D <br /><br />When kids meet up cos parents meet up, that kind of playdates is still okay, not that bad (comparing is still bad, always is). But there are parents who plan regular playdates on a weekly, twice weekly, even more basis when maybe what their tiny ones need is just to play on their own at home. I used to worry when Brian was young that he had no friends (being an only child and all), but he's perfectly sociable now. With Sean, I never bothered with playdates lah, cos he had his korkor at home anyway. Lilianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10157427086383621265noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1109681525590028536.post-75334311788657303642013-04-29T12:28:05.628+08:002013-04-29T12:28:05.628+08:00Yes, yes. Got 90 for maths, not good enough, go tu...Yes, yes. Got 90 for maths, not good enough, go tuition maybe can get 100. Somebody needs to shake some sense into these parents. And we wonder why the kids become so rebellious, jaded and angry when they're older. Not to mention self-absorbed cos their whole world was defined so narrowly.<br /><br />As for playdates, yeah, when my kids were younger, it was natural with friends cos we want to meet up, so we also let our kids meet up. But it's a fallacy to think that because we are friends with the parents, our kids will be friends too. In fact, sometimes they may hate each other, due to the comparing, as you pointed out. Having said that, I think L-A did enjoy her playdates with Brian, haha. Similar interests, maybe? And perhaps cos I never said, "Brian can play chess, how come you can't?" Lolmonlimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17397210688200284987noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1109681525590028536.post-28087804317389464092013-04-29T12:08:47.193+08:002013-04-29T12:08:47.193+08:00I think if a kid has piano lessons, then the least...I think if a kid has piano lessons, then the least he should do is practise a bit lah. haha. Same with schoolwork revision, since we're in this system where there's homework and exams, still must do what's required. It's when the parents pile kids with one enrichment after another, or sign up for branded tuition even when their kids are already doing well in school, then I say Good Luck to you. You will soon see the sparkle in these kids' eyes dim, so if these parents say school killed their kids' love for learning, I'll say, "No, you did!". Yes, school has a part to play in some cases, eg LA's, but for many kids, their parents need to take responsibility too for cramming their days with activities. Even from young, playdates lah, this lah that lah. <br /><br />You know, I find preschool playdates the most artificial things ever. For the most part, the parents are friends who think their kids need some socialising, so they arrange all these playdates when for the most part, the kids will just not like each other. Then there's the comparing, ohhh, is he walking yet? Your kid is reading already, oh no, should I send mine for phonics class? Gosh, kids will find their friends, their real friends, when they are older, and chances are, their friends will not be their parents' friends' kids lol!Lilianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10157427086383621265noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1109681525590028536.post-38664149695920474712013-04-29T11:47:47.385+08:002013-04-29T11:47:47.385+08:00Lilian: That's the key, isn't it? Everythi...Lilian: That's the key, isn't it? Everything has become a competition so that whatever we do, it has to be at level 10 and better than somebody else, no matter whether it's studies or sports or arts. If there's something that's really purely for fun, then it's considered unimportant and not worth doing at all.<br /><br />Actually, not just teachers, we parents are guilty too lah. How many times have we said, "you so free, go read!" or "practise the piano!" or "revise your work!" lol <br /><br />I loved Andre's post-PSLE days but to be honest, it's not just cos he was so carefree, it's cos I didn't have to nag him to study and do revision papers or MARK those darn papers! PSLE prep has to be one of the most detestable tasks in the history of the universe.<br /><br />You're absolutely right, when there's no pressure and kids have the time to discover their own passions and talents, the outcome can be pretty amazing and definitely longer lasting.<br /><br />I have no memory of the play you're talking about leh... I think my brain does its own housekeeping, haha. monlimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17397210688200284987noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1109681525590028536.post-68697534816678001292013-04-29T11:32:11.131+08:002013-04-29T11:32:11.131+08:00I couldn't agree with this more. I can't ...I couldn't agree with this more. I can't tell you how important it is for kids to have time to do nothing or something, whatever. I love seeing my kids lounge about reading for pleasure, or drawing, or cutting paper, making paper aeroplanes, and if I had a more outdoorsy kid like Andre, to see him come home all sweaty after hanging out with the neighbourhood kids. Love it when you told me how Andre spent all his post-PSLE days just having fun fun fun. I'm sure you were your happiest then too :D<br /><br />That is how it is overseas too. The kids spend lots of after-school time socialising, hanging out, playing, and I believe that improves social skills too, and the ability to communicate well, work with others. When they do explore further, eg in dance, the arts etc, there is no pressure, it truly comes from within, and I believe that is why they excel. During summer hols, some of these girls, barely into high school, would arrange photoshoots with friends as models, and you can see their skills progress over time as they move into still life and play with light etc. It is pretty amazing. <br /> <br />It is sad to see LA's enthusiasm die down cos of excessive time spent on it. I still remember the Eusoff Hall play that Guan was in, remember, eat Ikan Kurau everyday also jelak. No matter how much you like something, if you have to do it too often, you'll still get sick of it. Not sure if this applies to Candy Crush though lol! So everything in moderation, let our kids have more free time to explore what they really like. Not everything has to be a competition! Lilianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10157427086383621265noreply@blogger.com