Vio has introduced Alex into the world of gaming. They have started playing FIFA together, and they are both loving it. It’s great that they can share a hobby. Both of them love football of course, but this is just a little more accessible at 8pm on an almost-winter-evening in Melbourne! It’s only been a week or so and Alex has picked it up quite well, able to complete training tasks and challenge Vio in a game. He’s also super enthusiastic. I’m sure this will lead to more gaming, and I think we’ll have to get our own console in the near future as this is a loaner from Vio’s sister.
Alex plays football with kids his own age every Saturday morning. This week they had a gala. Alex loves gala’s especially, but he just loves to play games (not so keen on the drills!) It’s interesting to watch him, he seems to have quite an eye for the overall game and is so persistent and determined! Mostly I’m impressed by Alex’s interactions with other kids. He is encouraging; he is funny; he guides them; he congratulates them; he stands up for himself. At the end of the game yesterday, it was Alex that suggested to the coach that he wanted to shake his opponent’s hands (Vio was not present as he had to work). He’s 5! The other team were older too. Even at karate/ju-jitsu I hear Alex congratulate his peers when they earn a belt or merit. It’s quite probable he’s the only homeschooled child in either of these scenarios. So what does that say for the socialisation argument? It is partly personality too, Alex is keen to be around others but also know his limit and will find his own space or seek sanctuary with me if he feels he’s had enough. Something he’d not be able to do at school and would probably overwhelm his to the point of ‘misbehaviour’. How fortunate for him to be able to trust himself and have his needs fulfilled.
We’ve had lots of playdates with a long-time friend this week. The kid share lots of interests – most notably, trains and cars! This friend is only a year younger than Alex, since they met they’ve played well together (with the exception of an aggressive phase that Alex went through). The friend also has siblings that adore Alex! It’s quite cute. Fortunately for us this friend is also planning on unschooling 🙂 Alex asked not to go to our park day this week. Usually I like to go and he rarely resists, but this week I honoured his wish and we stayed home and played with friends.
Yet another trip to the zoo! We love it there and this time we got to see the baby gorilla! It was so beautiful. Alex loved it, as did Daniel. Alex enjoys seeing mammal babies. We spent most of the day at the zoo and saw lots, though Alex doesn’t like the Australian animals for some reason. Maybe it’s because Healesville is much better from that perspective and Alex loves going there.
I think for the rest of the year I’m going to be taking the kids to new experiences and really consciously trying to tune into the interests and needs. I feel that Alex’s enjoyment of snakes has run its course. He still likes them, but is quite specifically targeting the reticulated python (because it’s the longest). I’ve tried extending the ideas and whilst he finds interest in them the ideas rarely go far. So I feel this is my aim for the next while, that and more reading! I’ve done a bit of strewing lately and it’s not taking off. Though it’s been mostly with items that I’ve rediscovered in cupboards, or library books. Alex has no interest in reading much at the moment but is quite keen on his iPad. He was always a booklover as a young child, unlike Daniel who won’t sit still for a single page before trying to destroy the book! I found an Iron man game for him, for which he was really thankful and we’ve both played it a little these past few days. So I’m thinking about the iPad as a tool a lot, and got him another physics/problem type app that he has been enjoying as well as an email account so that he will share pictures and drawing with my brother. I’d like to keep them connected, Alex asks a lot about Craig and Nanny and is quite powerless in choosing to see them.