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We went to the Circus
A circus set up right beside our school, so, with a group of parents and their children, we chose an evening after school
to go and watch the show.
Before that, I was somewhat concerned that Léo would not really enjoy the event, because he was only 2 and I was not sure
he would understand what was going on.
A few days before the show, I collected some "circus material" on the Internet, and organized some Arts and
Crafts session around this theme.
You can find a list of helpful websites hereunder.
I also read a book called Circus Shapes from Harcourt. It presents shapes through a visit at the circus and small children
easily understand that elephants, clowns, tigers and lions are part of the fun things you can see at the circus.
Copy and paste the URL into your browser window:
http://www.preschooleducation.com/circus.shtml
http://www.preschoolcoloringbook.com/color/cpcircus.shtml
http://www.free-printables.com/archive/Animals/Circus/
http://www.birthdaypartyideas.com/html/circus_parties_22.html
And last but not least, a site giving you all the great ways to prepare a party:
http://www.drspock.com/article/0,1510,5851,00.html
Family and my Baby
It is not so easy for a small child to feel close to grand-parents, uncles, aunties and cousins they only see a few weeks
each year. We live abroad and Léo sees his French family for the Summer holidays, sometimes for Christmas.
When we get there, it is always late, we have traveled extensively and everyone is focused on little Léo, expecting him
to jump to their arms and cuddle... and I would love this too...
But, it is not so, when we reach the familial home, Léo hides behind my legs, refuses to look at anyone, cries if Granny
comes close, and fights if auntie wants to hold him.
It is all normal and even though Léo knows his people, they look strange to him.
It takes more or less one week before he is comfortable with all these new faces, and this is sometimes just the time
we need to go away again.
I have found that as he grows, he refers to things he did with his grand-mother or uncle and so on, before he can feel
comfortable with them. If they are willing to play along, and talk with him about the great time they had last time watering
the plants or riding the horse, then it is all great and the ice is broken in a jiffy.
Léo is now 3 and a half and he is comfortable with his French family. He likes to get back in his "old tracks"
when we get there, so I make sure Grand-Dad has charged the battery of his motorbike and that the garage is in the living
room.
He just likes when everything is "perfect": auntie and uncle are here, in grand-dad and grand-ma's house, and
the cousins are around to play with him.
Patience is a key word, and of course, when your time is limited, it is not so easy, but with a little bit of help from
everyone and bending the rules now and then (like letting Léo sleep a little later the day the cousins arrive, for example)
it goes smoothly.
At home, Léo has a photo album, giving him snapshots of his 3 and a half years, and he looks through it alone or with
me to recall Christmas in France and riding auntie's horse.
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