When your child starts Gr 1 it’s a big deal. Actually it’s a huge deal.
It’s the end of an era. Your child is starting their 12 year school career. It’s the start of homework and school camps and tuck shop and projects.
I don’t remember projects in Gr 1. In fact I don’t remember them until like Gr 6 actually. So it was with great shock and horror that I opened my son’s homework book and saw the letter saying “PROJECT”! My mind immediately thought of something simple like “bake a cake” or find a nest! OH NO!
The project was BUILD A SHOE!
WHAT? The child is 7 and been in school for like 6 months. How the hell was he supposed to build a shoe? I am 31 and I have no idea how to build a shoe!
But what do you do? Your child needs to make a shoe, so make a shoe we 
must! And we did. With a little help from our friends. We made the shoe.
He was dead chuffed with it which really is all that matters. I will admit, I did at times, lots of times, have to stop myself from taking over. I forgot that he is only 7 and isn’t going to get it like I think it should be. While painting I kept taking the brush to make it “neater” but then realized it’s HIS project. HIS shoe. HE has to do it.
I have to say though; I am filled with fear for what the next project is going to be. Where do you go from building a shoe? I have no doubt that I will be letting you all know!
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4 Responses
Hi there, well I have 3 kids, grades 11, 9 and 8 (all high school) and what a dilemma. Every week we sit till the late hours of the night finishing projects and this is costing an arm and a leg – no I lie a whole body! My daughter had to make a house but a proper house with windows, doors seperate rooms etc! My son in grade 9 had to make a bridge with the designs as well as a tow truch complete with dimensions etc. This is so ridiculous as the kids don’t end up making the stuff the parents do as they loose interest cos it is just too complicated!
I love projects! My children always surprise me with their ingenuity and resourcefulness, and remind me not to put limits on their creativity. Unfortunately they do need guidance: the laws of physics are not breakable, and we do not have infinitely deep pockets. Yes, they take a lot of time. Yes, they are costly. And yes, it would be so much easier (and they would get better marks) if I did the projects for them. But over the years, I have learnt to hold back and let them discover, and fail sometimes, and have to redo parts, and ask for help when they need it. Now my son of 13 wants to build a go-kart – engine and all. I believe he will.
YOH really – a HOUSE! Something to look forward to then 🙂
Hi
Well both my children are grown up, now we onto the grandkids.
My grandson has to do a project for EB, it is Afrikaans, no idea what it means. All I understand is that he has to make goodies and sell them. Last year everyone did cakes and such. This year he has asked me to help him. I was thinking of pocket calendars poems and mini cook books. Any other ideas please?
Also I need to do all this in Afrikaans, and I am lost.
Help….
Thanks
Sharon