Our elastic timetable

Last week, we headed to the playground at Cornelian Bay to meet up with some friends and check out the new play equipment. 

During our time there, three different school groups came and went (perhaps there's an official Go To The Playground Day that didn't exist when I was in school?). I watched one group as the children climbed out of the bus, stretched their legs and wandered into the playground. A few headed straight for the new climbing frame, others walked, stood around chatting or helped the teachers set out some food before starting to play. After 30 minutes or so, they were invited to eat, and about ten minutes later they were being shepherded back onto the bus, presumably to head back to school. Hopefully they enjoyed this brief interlude in a different environment, but I'm sure some of them would have been frustrated to be moved on to the next thing when they had barely got started with the playground.

Compare the experience of my kids and their non schooled friends. Anticipating that the snowflakes would probably want plenty of time to explore the upgraded play area, we had gone prepared with spare clothes, catering quantities of snacks, and no time limit. We ended up staying for around three hours, with the children variously playing, nibbling and interacting on their own schedules. #2 was extremely proud when she managed to climb to the top of the climbing frame, but it took her several attempts to get up the courage, so she would have missed out on that feeling of mastery has she only been allowed to play for half an hour.

Obviously, there are all kinds of limits - not just school imposed ones - on when children can do what. But this really brought home to me how lucky we are not to be tied to a school timetable.