It has been a while since I updated this blog so I just wanted to let you all know my thoughts on how the playgroups have been going. Basically I'm very pleased as they seem to have been a success both for me and for others so I feel some ground has been broken and Babies in Bologna has begun to make its mark. In fact I am now full of new ideas and enthusiasm for how to expand. More about that later...
For now I would like to make a couple of suggestions about taking Babies in Bologna outdoors. I have already discussed with the Little Bo-Peep mothers about meeting at the Giardini Margherita another morning a week, ie maintaining our Wednesday meeting at the Sala Borsa while also taking the babies out to the park for some fresh air, free play and mutual support one other morning a week for those of us who can make it. Mondays would be good for me but by doing some juggling I could make other days too if necessary. I could be there by 9.30 onwards. Let me know your thoughts.
As for Ready, Steady, Bo!, I thought it might be an idea to move it outside so the kids have a chance to run around and play outside rather than being cooped up indoors since the weather is now good and the evenings are light. I would propose the Giardini Margherita for this too, on a Friday afternoon from say 17.00 onwards (even earlier if you can make it?) The Sala Borsa has been great but it is more of a winter pursuit to be sitting indoors singing songs and reading books when one could be outside playing. Besides, we can always move back indoors in the autumn...Again, let me know what you think on this one too.
Looking forward to hearing from you
Bye for now and Happy Easter!
15 comments:
Hi! I was so glad to see your blog on the Net, mirroring my own wishes for an English environment for my child. He turned two in January, so I am wondering if that is too young for your activities? Friday afternoons would be a good possibility. I am Italian/Argentine, but was brought up in England for a good part of my life, and now I am keen to have my son Brando learn English as early as possible. Moira
Hello Moira,
Thanks for the comment. I would love to meet you and your son, and no he is not too young! Why don't you come along to the Giardini Margherita on a Friday afternoon as you suggest? Then we can meet and your son can meet my daughters.
I'll let you know the details nearer the time if you are keen.
Thanks again!
Hi Sangeetha (is that your name?). Thanks for your welcome!
Will you be there this Friday 10th or are you away for Easter? Otherwise I'll look out for details for the next one, the 17th...
Hi Moira,
Yes I'll be there this Friday from about 17.00. We'll be at the swings etc near Porta Castiglione, on the right of the kiosk.
Hope to see you there!
Hi Moira,
I don't know if you were there or not but if you were you may have seen the swings etc were closed for repair/refurbishment at the Giardini today. We went along anyway for a while but the weather wasn't great so we headed home by six. Apparently the play area should reopen soon after Easter...hopefully in time for next Fri pm. We'll see...Sorry about that if you did come (I tried to look out for people but it's not easy if there's no play area!) Hope to see you next time.
hi, yes I ws there looking for "foreign-looking" people and little people, but could not find you either, you had probably left, since I was late anyhow. Never mind, we took several turns on the merry-go-round then headed back home. How about a second location in case the swings are closed this Friday?
Hi
I think the swings will probably still be closed but you never know.
Rain is forecast but in case it is dry and the swings are closed I will be on a picnic blanket on the grass near the pond, just beyond the kiosk so still near the Porta Castiglione entrance.
If not, we'll try again next week!
Hope to see you then.
well, looks like i've misplaced my keys, or rather, my son has. So if I don't find them before this afternoon that means no car and no house keys either... I was wondering, could we meet at any other time, even without children, just so I know what you look like and can exchange phone numbers or emails? Like for a coffee (or tea, though I've still to find a palce in Italy that knows what that means...)
Hi Moira,
Why don't you come along to Little Bo-Peep next Wednesday morning? With or without your son? We start the group at 10 but I'm usually there early (ie about 9.50) with my daughter of 16 months so we could grab a coffee etc then if you like.
Let me know if this is good for you.
That sounds great, I think I should be able to make it this Wed. Is it in Sala Borsa then?
Hi Moira,
It is in the Sala Borsa, in the covered piazza. Actually the meeting is in the Sala Bebè which opens at 10. I should be there by about ten to. I'll be with my 16 month old Livia, we're both dark-haired. We'll look out for you!
See you then
Sangeetha
great sangeetha, see you then! I can only stay a half hour but enough to meet and have a small chat.
a mercoledì!
HI, my name is Mike, and I have a 3 year old son, named Macallum. My wife and I live in Calderara, near Bologna, and are looking for english playgroups in the area for Mac.
Is there a ongoing playgroup now on friday afternoons?
You can reach us at mtylerjr@hotmail.com (My email) or gpomare@gail.com (My wife's email)
Hi Mike,
The playgroup at the Sala Borsa on a Friday afternoon has now been suspended due to the fine weather. Meanwhile we have been trying to meet at the Giardini Margherita on a Friday afternoon at around 17.00 onwards at the swings near Porta Castiglione. It's not an organised playgroup as such but free play for the children. If all goes well we might resume the playgroup in the Sala Borsa in the autumn, which was an organised song and story playgroup.
However please watch this space for more news!
Thanks
Sangeetha
Hi Sangeetha and all,
that's really good to see that you are organizing Playgroups, it is so important to associate the minority language to a social context. http://blog.bilingualforfun.com/2009/04/29/the-importance-of-a-social-context-think-playgroup-for-bilingual-children/
I am also organizing playgroups and i have a blog on Bilingualism, actually two blogs, Bilingue Per Gioco in Italian and Bilingual For Fun English (see URL below).
On the blogs I try to give a voice to the doubts, successes and frustrations of bilingual families, so I'd love to hear about your experiences too.
L.
BILINGUE PER GIOCO on the Web:
Email: bilinguepergioco@yahoo.com
Blog IT: http://blog.bilinguepergioco.com/
Blog EN: http://blog.bilingualforfun.com/
Check our Playlists on Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/BilinguePerGioco
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