Lydia's houdong (school activity day for parents to come)

It should be obvious from the title that my ability to speak Chinese is improving by leaps and bounds despite the fact that yesterday (Thursday was Juliana's houdong and I missed it- some parental units occasionally miss a note home from school or something).  Be that as it may, thankfully Lydia's did not involve parental participation.

The day began with parents observing the kids doing morning physical activity on the rooftop play area.  Play was organized and granddaughter was an enthuastiatic participant.  No surprises there.

Some of the play is quite intricate with detailed direction following requirements and dance like moves involved.  Lydia and the girls do well with this type activity.  The boys, well, they seem to prefer chasing one another.  I do not know how much is normal and how much is "for show".  It was a reported normal day according to reports of a parent who spoke English and so advised me.

The class room was full 35 kids on the houdong day and more parents than that.  Present and future big problem for China--  21 boys and 14 girls.  That is not an unusual observation.  Another observation is Lydia and perhaps only one or two other children had another sibling in the house.  Hence a room full of only children --that means the child has two parents and four grandparents.  Those children in China now have a name - Little Emperor -- and they act like it too-- if the 6 year olds are an indication, keep me away from a room of 13 year olds.

A few other notes.  One mother tried unsuccessfully to stop her son from picking boogers, another worked on keeping her son looking at the teacher, while two other parents ignored their sons kicking each other,(so did the teachers) (though the teachers did seem to keep distracted talking and other behaviors to a minimal level)

Taking deliberate time for healthful type activities was a big deal such as - drink water, (here we are taking our water break - with water cup - (girls first then boys) other health type activities were cool down after sports activities , stretch before the exercise, and the place was very very clean and it had lots of teaching aids.  I was impressed.

and below are part of the parents and the other sibling - or what I assumed was a sibling - (the ratio of cameras to students was decidedly fewer than for Isaac's houdong.)