We had constant, steady rain during the first morning with a group of 4-6 year olds, although the hours slipped by as fun was had in muddy puddles, creating water slides with pebbles and plastic sheeting and filling, emptying and pouring water in different containers. None of the children were bothered by the rain and had full splashsuits on over warm clothing. Once we got back inside, there was time to dry off with towels, snuggle under blankets for stories and enjoy a shared lunch of hummas, pita bread and vegetables. It made me think of how this was more like a home environment, whereby children’s curiosity and mood leads and shapes the play.
The other sessions were spent in slightly drier conditions and as well as great conversations with the children, their parents and the programme leaders, my overriding memories and reflections are of the ‘risky’ play children were allowed to explore. These children were confident, keen to try new things and the adult could support when needed, but it was the children who lead the learning, and by doing so were always engaged.
The rest of my week was spent being a tourist - exploring Mount Royal, the Port, Old Montreal and of course my daily visits to the markets! I loved the city - full of hustle and bustle, with such a range of architecture from 18th century buildings to shiny glass tower blocks. You never knew what you might find around the next corner. As it happens, I found a street fair, a free art exhibition and a cafe housed in a bank! It was the city that kept on surprising!
But, the main reason for visiting Montreal and THE weekend I had been looking forward to was of course to attend the Formula 1 Grand Prix. OK, so it wasn’t the Hamilton win I had hoped for, but I had a brilliant four days at a great circuit, with wonderful weather and shared conversations, food and drink with people from across the globe who have a shared passion for the sport. It was definitely worth the wait.
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