Social competence

I have started to turn my mind to Christmas. Haven’t started making “to do” lists yet, but I’ve got everything more or less sorted in my mind. First up is the overseas Christmas cards (closing date this Saturday), followed closely by Christmas cake making and Christmas gift wish lists. Isabelle has been compiling her wish list since her last birthday, carefully circling items in the many toy and children’s clothing catalogues that make it through our letterbox.

I went to a Playcentre workshop last night on enhancing children’s social competence. It was quite good really, mainly about defining what social competence is and the learning processes (in an early childhood context) that assist it. At the same time I found myself enrolling for Course 4 of the Playcentre diploma (having completed Course 3 in term 1 this year). It will take me at least two years to complete (given the requirements and my current pregnant situation!). This isn’t so much because of the intensity of the course, but many of the workshops will only run twice a year (and are in Tawa, 20-30 minutes on the motorway away), and some of the modules take several weeks to complete. In addition you need to hold an officer position for twelve months (which can’t be backdated). So given that the AGM has just been, even if I completed all my course requirements this year, I would need to do another year being an “official” official (rather than an unofficial official!). That’s not really a problem though, as everyone in the Centre moreorless holds an office (as the Centre is small). After two years of being the librarian, this year I am co-special needs officer, and I’m on the finance and information teams too. And I’m in no particular hurry…

Rocky is growing fast – I feel as if I have increased in size significantly over the last few weeks. I’m getting lots of movement, which is positive, and I can definitely feel the changes in my centre of gravity!