I work in a nature center. This means that I work with all sorts of groups, from tourists to toddlers, from families to school classes. It’s an appealing line of work because the diversity of groups is so great.
I’ve also been connected to the homeschooling community since my daughter was small. Through this connection, I’ve realized that public institutions have a long way to go in terms of family-friendly programming.
When you have a baby or a toddler, there’s no lack of programs to go to. Ironically, this is also the age when I was least likely to attend. Nap times, tired times, meal times all seemed to interfere with the many fun activities that we could do, and it was easier to do them on our own schedule.
When you move into the preschool realm, there are schooling options to explore and some of the children are busy during the day. Yet there are still many programs available for young children: dance classes, art workshops at the gallery, nature exploration groups.
But then magically, around age 5 to 6, school happens. The daytime opportunities begin to dry up. They’re there, but you need to make them happen. Something else happens around this time too. Institutions start to expect that children will attend programs without their parents.
For a long time, my nature centre has welcomed the presence of parents at programs. However, many other institutions do not. Older children are expected to separate from their parents.
But what if you don’t want to separate? If you have a child with anxiety about that, your options become more limited. Or perhaps you simply enjoy learning with your children. What then?
Public museums and educational centers still have a long way to go in integrating parents into programs. I’ve always thought of parents as a great help. I enjoy working with the adults and with the children, if the parents or grandparents decide to come along. Yes, it changes the flavor of an educational experience, but that is not necessarily a bad thing. It’s just different, and it’s a difference that I’d love to see our society embrace: people of all ages learning together, rather than in separate spaces.
Do you like to attend events with your kids? Have you been welcomed at your child’s educational activities?