Too much pressure.

So i have had my first week in my new job. You know what? I love it! It's relaxed, it's not run with a military precision with all the expectations of children achieving because the paper work says they have to. It's FUN. We don't expect, we don't push to achieve..we PLAY, a lot!
So i got to thinking (seriously dangerous for me!) about all the pressure put on child care workers and preschool teachers to make sure these little children achieve set goals before or at a certain age. It infuriates me so much.
Example -

1. A Mother keeps her child at home for the first 5 years of life. No expectations from Ofsted or anyone else. They child is loved, happy and confident and can DO lots of things.

2. A child goes to nursery at 3 years of age, they are assigned a "key worker" who is their primary carer in the setting and who watches said child like a hawk, logging all the things the child can do and encouraging the things that the child is not ready to do, so that they are eventually all done before the child starts school. All ticks in boxes. Ofsted happy.

3. Full day care children are like the nursery children but they are watched from approx 4 months until 5 years. With expectations to achieve everything in the the boxes before they leave. It's the same within the setting of a child minder. All ticks in boxes again Ofsted happy.

Now i have NO problem with any of the settings above, be the children at nursery, full day care or with a child minder but why oh why are we putting so much on these little people to be able to do so much before they begin school.
Surely the joys of being a child are just that? Being a child.

Did it not occur to anyone that each child IS an INDIVIDUAL and WILL progress at an individual pace? They wont all walk at the same time, or talk in sentences or write their names so why are they all being "assessed" from the same criteria?

I really feel that children who stay home, who play with Mummy, bake with and watch Mummy do chores and play with their toys as and how they like probably learn more, are probably happier and from my experience get on better when they begin school.
Sure as parents we like to see how the children are progressing but I'd rather hear the words polite, happy, helpful, fun than be told..has learned to..can now....should now be...

Maybe i am just really old fashioned? What do you guys think?
For the record mine all went to nursery...all 3 of them....but not till they were 31/2 years and I never expected of them. I sent them there to be social and to give them a break from me!!
Is this the same in your country? I think the UK are doing paper work for paper works sake!

(ofsted is our child setting / schools governing body in the UK)

Awards, Sleepovers and last swims!

Awards
Yup a totally random post title really but it does cover everything i think!
Well i received another award this morning! This came from Deb @ From Stilettos to Sneakers
I am new to her site but its such a fun read! Go check it out! So here it is..my prestigious award!

Apparently a 'brilliante weblog' nomination comes with a few rules, which are:
1) Put the logo on your blog.
2) Add a link to the person who awarded you.
3) Nominate at least 7 other blogs.
4) Add links to those blogs on yours.
5) Leave a message for your nominees on their blogs.

So it is quite likely i will be passing this on but not at this moment, it's too early and my brain will hurt! So just a plain and simple thank you to Deb and to everyone else who stops by to read my blog and leaves comments! Makes blogging so much more fun :). Keep an eye out for the links!

Sleepovers
Becky's BFF came home from America this week so she went off for the day to their house. Until i get a call at about 3pm requesting the pleasure of her company for a sleepover!! So that was her taken care of!
Rachel had two of her BFF's over for a sleepover last night! I love her friends they are pleasant, polite and really make me laugh! She has chosen her mates wisely, after lessons learned in recent years she has finally got mates that like her for who she is and that do not compete with her!
So that left David and myself to our own devices! Poor guy was a bit like a spare part bless him! Must be tough being the only guy! Only one or two of his mates are allowed sleepovers so he doesn't have much nocturnal fun, like the girlies!

Last Swims
The kids and i have been swimming A LOT this summer. It has been real fun. Since their lessons began last year and they now "really swim" up and down the pool i get a lot more pleasure out of taking them. We dive and mess about, we race and do lots of underwater play! Normally spending anything from 2 -4 hours at the pool. (They get in for free since i pay for their lessons there!) Well i think today is our penultimate swim before school is back in :(
I will have to take them on Saturday or Sunday mornings again now which is ok but busy!
So today they have asked that i help them master the things they need to move up to the next level in their lessons!! It does help that i bribed them!! "The next one to move up a group wins £5.00" It's a good incentive and the money will be spent on swim things - new goggles or sinkers so its all in a good cause! LOL And i know they are putting a lot of effort in! hehe, bad Mum!
As you can tell i am not of the politically correct brigade and see absolutely nothing wrong with a little friendly competition. They have to learn that sometimes they will win and sometimes they will lose. And life is not always about just taking part. There will always be someone who can do something better than them...and perhaps even someone who they are better than at some things. But that is probably a whole other topic!! LOL

Have a good day all... I know i will!