It’s such a temptation. Already, we’re looking towards the fall and to kindergarten. Despite the fact that we’re just going to attend half a day of kindergarten, I feel like life is fairly busy. After all, there are the occasional – all right, frequent – social events and birthday parties. There’s the volunteering we do once a month in a community garden. And then there’s church, which we attend less than we could.
With all of this, we have a fairly busy life. Yet there are so many classes we could pursue. I value languages and my daughter seems to enjoy them. She loves music and we could attend umpteen music classes and play music all day. Oh yes, and then there’s the Girl Scout type of program for younger children, and there’s the possibility of piano lessons because we have a piano, and there’s sports. What about sports? We like swimming, she would adore soccer, and…you see what I mean?
I was a way, way over-programmed kid. I believe in free play. I believe that children should spend most of their time playing, outdoors and in, and creating imaginary worlds. After all, when do we get to do this in our adult lives? I am completely sold on my daughter having a rich, free childhood with few deadlines and have-tos, since they come so quickly upon us. I believe that this will lead to an adult who is well-balanced, who can think for an entertain herself, and who has a rich life.
But there is still the temptation. So many classes, so little time. Should I or shouldn’t I? Will my daughter become an antisocial social pariah because she doesn’t do soccer, the sport of choice in our town?
Since we’ll be going to public school, I’ve decided on one class per term. That’s enough. I wish we could do more, but until we homeschool, time is pressing, and life and play need to be on the schedule more than classes do.