On Thursday, Stella’s school had an Open House.  The parents were allowed to come in the classroom and do three different educational activities with their child.

Stella’s chosen activities included:

1. Red-rods
2. Knobless Cylinders
3. Jewel Work

All three activities have some kind of educational element to them – whether it was math, critical thinking, etc.

Let’s just say that preschool is a lot harder than I remember.  I start off the evening by completely not following directions – the activities started with children all sitting in a circle, while the parents are supposed to wait and be told when to join their child.  Well, all the parents except me.  I go plop down next to Stella, get mobbed by a bunch of kids and get the stink-eye from a few parents.

I finally get the clue, stand with the other parents and wait for my cue to join my child.

The first up – this so-called Red-rods activity.  Apparently we are supposed to take a bunch of red wooden rods, in incremental sizes and make a maze.  What?!? After a little bit of confusion, Stella and I finally grabbed the teacher for instructions and did successfully make a maze.

Next activity is knobless cylinders.  Basically, you take these different size cylinders and put them into their appropriate sized slot.  This activity also sounds much easier than it actually is.  I think Stella actually had a much easier time matching cylinders to holes than I did – oh geez!

And finally, the Jewel work.  For this activity, there were different stones in various containers on a tray.  All we had to do was make patterns – finally something I like – bling!  Stella had caught on to my ineptness by now, and wanted to this on her own.  I watched as Stella put the jewels in various patterns, making “bracelets”.  Hmm…signs of the future for my pocket-book, I am afraid.

It is funny that as an adult, I do some pretty complicated things, but apparently can’t handle some seemingly simple tasks.  Maybe it is time for this Mama to get back to the basics, so I don’t get schooled at the next preschool open house!