Chester's First Playgroup

Some time in August, I enrolled Chester to a church's playgroup at a really affordable price compared to those I researched outside. They accepted us and today is the first day. As I mentioned before about Chester's stranger anxiety, I was quite worried having to spend one and half hour with him together with other strangers. Turned out it went quite well. The curriculum suits him just fine. 

First it was free play. There are two rooms - one is sensory room and the other is playroom. Chester charged straight into the playroom after seeing the kitchen set. His inner chef couldn't wait and he started knocking himself out with everything. Nobody was there to fight with him for toys this morning. Lucky me. I was able to sit from a distance to just enjoy some time to myself. There were teachers chatting with him and he wasn't afraid. I guess he has gotten a lot better with this whole I-will-cry-if-I-don't-know-you phase. He didn't cry seeing all the kids in the room either.

Yes! Yes! Yes! My favourite Le Creuset! 

Hmmm....top quality cast iron. Wish mama can afford them at home

Everything was great until I noticed Chester not at his chef station while I was looking at some other kids playing. He pulled a Houdini stunt on me! I ran out to the auditorium and found him charging down the stairs towards the stage and was about to climb up the stage. His dad calls him a loose cannon, he sure is!!! I grabbed him and carried him back to the classroom. He yelled and screamed trying to wrestle with me. So here he is (photo below), sniffing carpet with his whining. He made me feel like the biggest bully in the world. 

Mama! I can't. I....just...can't

I just let him be for a little while and then he realized he was in the sensory room. The other room. A room filled with so many different objects of different materials and textures to allow the children explore their sense of touch. They even have sand and water station. My son's face lit up when I showed him the laddles and sift. Melt down over and he was back to whipping up some imaginary food before you know it.  

After free play, we all sat ourselves down at tables, sang a snack song praising God for all the yummy snacks He provides, and ate. Chester ate some biscuits, some apples and decided to escape from the table aiming for the auditorium stage again. I ran after him once more and carried him back into the room. He started crying again but when he saw everyone gathering into a circle and started singing, he stopped crying and joined in. I thank all the Youtube videos I let him watch during meals. All the songs we sang, he has heard before and he knows, which made him feel familiar and happy. 

The last part of the playgroup was getting the kids outdoor to play at the playground. I believe Chester had a blast but not me. This boy charged to the stairs fearlessly and even tried to jump down some flight of stairs. He went for all the slides and didn't like the swing much.

Charging to the playground LIKE A BOSS

Picked up some leaves and ran to me to show me

Found the little lonely hut 

We both had fun and we are looking forward to our next session. I don't know what other playgroups have to offer out there but paying HK$90 for a class like this at the church, I think it's the best deal I can ever find. It is true to me that God provides, and He provides the best for us. I also want to thank Eric, whom I have asked to pray for our first session. I am sure he did. 

I told Allan how much Chester loves to cook during the playgroup and he got him this cute little tiny kitchen set this afternoon. This boy is spoilt rotten. I won't deny that. I think we are on the verge of spoiling him too much.