If you have babies, toddlers or primary school age children and enjoy podcasts I suggest you add Opgejaagd to your listening list.
Creativity and School
I recently wrote a post about what school does to a child’s creativity on the Happy Sensitive Kids blog and a reader recommended I listen to Jennifer Pettersson’s podcast.
I started listening to the first couple of episodes of Opgejaagd and quickly had that feeling of: it’s not just us!
Jennifer Pettersson
Originally from Sweden, Jennifer is a mother of two who has lived in the Netherlands for more than twenty years.
She has always felt at home here in the land of the Dutch. Until she became a mother.
She felt uncomfortable with the way child care, and then the primary school education system, is organised here in the Netherlands. It is very different to her personal experience in Sweden.
She threw her thoughts out into the world, and was amazed to find that she certainly wasn’t alone. It lead to two years of research, resulting in the popular Opgejaagd podcast.
What is Opgejaagd About?
What do our children actually do in school once we drop them off there? What does a school day look like for our kids in the Dutch education system?
Why are our children subjected to so many tests and exams, at such an early age?
Why is there such a rush to get our children reading and doing maths? Shouldn’t kids be playing at the age of five and six?
Why are so many of our children screened for ADHD, ADD, autism, dyslexia? (Please raise your hand if your child has NOT been screened for something.……)
Why do so many children suffer from a fear of failure?
What is the impact of CITO testing on children?
What do the teachers think about all this?
What role does the school inspection system play in the obsession with testing?
I’m currently listening to episode six so there are lots more questions to come, I am sure.
Essential Listening for Parents
The Opgejaagd podcast is essential listening for anyone who has children under the age of twelve.
It is essential listening if you have ever come out of a school meeting wondering: is it just me?
This is a must listen for anyone who has to have a pep talk with their kids every evening about going to school the next day.
It raises lots of questions. But you are left wondering as you listen, who has all the answers?
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