It's called Fun Friday. I have been teaching this class 17 years. Basically, it is a place to bring a child between the ages of 1-4 and they get to play! I offer free play with lots of toys, circle time with a few songs, a play dough table and a simple craft. I also send kids away with a parachute dance and a simple song with a puppet, sticker and 2 pretzels. Packed in an hour and it is just as much for the adults as the kids, everyone has a good time.
People bring their grandchildren, their own children, they sign up with their friends or neighbors, they bring children they care for and some bring more than one child. Dads come to play, siblings come to have fun, aunts bring their cameras and moms just come to chat. The class is designed for everyone to come and have a great time and they usually do! It's a good thing.
Many have tried to take my place at various times in my life but few have been able to. I designed this class around my strengths and what I wanted to share with my own child when he was so small. Mostly the same songs are sung each week because children like repetitive motions, they like to know what to count on. A simple craft is offered each class. I always tease and say the crafts are for the adults to relax with. It's really just there to expose kids to various stickers, markers, glue, tissue papers and construction papers. This class is meant to be fun and if the kids learn something while we're at it, more power to them!
It's designed to be an hour long class and it is meant to have an adult watch over the child to make sure they don't beat another child or take the toy he plays with. Kids learn how to share, pick up toys or sing songs. It is a good thing because most people figure out that the kids can play and the grownups can watch them but still chat with the other grownups. The adults direct the kids to the activity but it is ultimately up to the child, as to what he gets out of it, know it or not. The class meets for 4 hour long classes during a 4 week session. 4 weeks pass quickly and people usually come back, we have many alumni with adults bringing all their offspring through the program, it's a cool thing.
To be the class facilitator you need to be easy going. Mean, crybaby kids come out once in a blue moon, you need to be understanding. The job is to make them feel like it's the way everyone is at sometime and this too shall pass, that is the reality, it will pass! People come to class late but it's designed so they can pick it up and join in at anytime. The philosophy has to be, the more the merrier, because it is more fun with more kids present. A facilitator needs to be on time, everything needs to be ready to be messed up and don't be upset if things don't go the way they are planned. An instructor needs to be able to go by the seat of his pants. It's a time for children and grown ups to explore and use their imaginations.
If you set it up, they will come, and come they do. The people become your friends. You know what is happening with their lives. Hopefully, they will bring their additional kids to class, usually they do. Sometimes, we go to a place the kids can play in a playland and adults can eat lunch and continue to chat, it's a fun time to be had by all. Sometimes, I organize a Mom's Night Out so the moms can just go out to play, which is also fun to do. This class is designed by me, taught by me and looks easier to teach than it really is, which is also by careful design. That is my idea of a Fun Friday!
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