Daddy can play an 
important role to assist mummy even when she is a full time homemaker by being resourceful and providing information that could make her life easier, more fun and interesting. One way is to find out information on playgroups and playcenters near home. This is especially important when one is living abroad. After ensuring the family has access to good food and is happy with the home, next on the agenda would be to think of activities for mummy and baby. By finding a playgroup or playcenter, mummy can find new friends living in the vicinity and baby can participate in interesting activities such as story telling and playing with other babies and kids. Its amazing how education and the power of the Internet has brought people together since mummies in any and every region are always looking to group together and combine their resources to organize interesting activities. In some cities, the government subsidizes a public place that has sufficient room for playing and is well stocked with childrens' books and toys. If that's not available, one can check out churches or simply use the internet to google for resources. You will be delighted to find many enthusiastic full time mothers who have a passion for their children and in making friends.
important role to assist mummy even when she is a full time homemaker by being resourceful and providing information that could make her life easier, more fun and interesting. One way is to find out information on playgroups and playcenters near home. This is especially important when one is living abroad. After ensuring the family has access to good food and is happy with the home, next on the agenda would be to think of activities for mummy and baby. By finding a playgroup or playcenter, mummy can find new friends living in the vicinity and baby can participate in interesting activities such as story telling and playing with other babies and kids. Its amazing how education and the power of the Internet has brought people together since mummies in any and every region are always looking to group together and combine their resources to organize interesting activities. In some cities, the government subsidizes a public place that has sufficient room for playing and is well stocked with childrens' books and toys. If that's not available, one can check out churches or simply use the internet to google for resources. You will be delighted to find many enthusiastic full time mothers who have a passion for their children and in making friends. 
In Tokyo, Haruka and Tomomi would go 4 days a week for 2-3 hours to play at a government playcenter that's just 5 minutes from our home. When I came to London, Tomomi read in her guidebook that the libraries in London host such activites and today we explored one such library and is pleased at the craft work and story telling they organize. I really hope Hong Kong would have such as well. But, as I mentioned above, one should not stop searching as one would definitely find
. All it takes is the initiative to search. Babies and children are generally happier at such playcenters compared to paid children nurseries where the kids there would see the same children, nannies and caretakers everyday. Also, with more hands involved in organizing the activities at playgroups, there is more room for creativity and fun. Playing for a baby is the key to learning. Playing with other kids is the key to developing social skills and learning to converse. Of course, the baby also learns other bad habits from other babies such as playing tantrums with the parents, but the pros outweighs the cons. Anything is better than having mummy locked up at home waiting for daddy to come home. A happy mummy and baby makes a happy home. And it can start by daddy having the initiative to search for a playcenter. Was that ever in daddy's job description? Why not.
. All it takes is the initiative to search. Babies and children are generally happier at such playcenters compared to paid children nurseries where the kids there would see the same children, nannies and caretakers everyday. Also, with more hands involved in organizing the activities at playgroups, there is more room for creativity and fun. Playing for a baby is the key to learning. Playing with other kids is the key to developing social skills and learning to converse. Of course, the baby also learns other bad habits from other babies such as playing tantrums with the parents, but the pros outweighs the cons. Anything is better than having mummy locked up at home waiting for daddy to come home. A happy mummy and baby makes a happy home. And it can start by daddy having the initiative to search for a playcenter. Was that ever in daddy's job description? Why not.
What's your experience with playgroups and playcenters? Do share.
(Photo shows our visits to Canary Wharf, Carnaby Street and the British Museum during the weekend and Haruka at the Tokyo Shinjuku Playcenter near our home at 10 months old)
No comments :
Post a Comment