Is it all too much?

[Sum1Ls]

So agree with all of you. I don't know if any of you have watched The Secret Life of Five Year olds? It's brilliant and if it tells us one thing, it's that learning how to form and build relationships is the most important part of school. This is what they need to be doing, cooperating, learning how to work together, being kind to one another, sharing, taking turns and above all PLAYING. Children's play is their work and that's how they learn.

Five year olds should be cooking, engaging in imaginative play, woodwork, painting, crafts, building dens and damming streams, dancing, singing and acting. And listening to stories to understand the reason for learning to read. This constant diet of phonics and drilling and skilling is going to ruin our young ones.

[Daisy]

Yes, I've been watching The Secret Lives... It's totally fascinating (although I as always I have a bit of a problem with children being put into a situation for the benefit of the viewer).

Our children are missing out on vital life and social skills, then getting home too tired to do anything other than sit in front of the tv! What in the name of God are we doing to them!

[Gemini]

As a playgroup leader for many years, I truly believe that children learn by play, and that we enforce 'lessons ' and full school days on them far too early.

My GD is an early October baby, and she has coped well with all the challenges of school, although she was visibly tired and flagging after her drama group Christmas performance last night. For the later born children, such as Daisys and Qwertys, it is too much.