Børnefestuge

To begin, let me explain a little bit about the kid's Education system here in Denmark.  Most children, starting at around 6mo to 1 year start going to Kindergarten.  In the US, we would call it DayCare. I would say probably 95% of mom's work here and if they don't they still send their kid to Kindergarten.  It's inexpensive and it's really good day care.  The kids will stay in Kindergarten until they are 6, then they will start Grade 0.  Which is what Myra is in.  Myra's class only goes from 8:20-11:40, so after that she goes to what they call SFO.  It's basically an afterschool Kindergarten, club, day care, whatever you want to call it.  Although I am home, we decided to have her attend SFO so that she could further her language skills and make some friends.  The Dane's believe strongly that children learn by doing and experiencing, so they have a ton of field trips and other activities.  I don't think a week has gone by the past 2 months that at least one of the girls has gone on some kind of outing.  For three days this week, the girls have gotten to participate in Børnefestuge or Children's Festival here in Albertslund.   Most of the Kindergarten's and SFO's in Albertslund are participating.  They've all set up tents, canopies and cooking stations. I take the girls there in the morning where they meet up with their classes and for the next 5-6 hours, they get to just go crazy!  A lot of the younger groups, like Lexi's class, seem to have structured days, but the many of the older kids get to do whatever they want.  They have a hill they get to climb, not very tall, but pretty steep.  And an Alpine Slide type thing they can go down.  There is face painting, bow and arrow shooting, fencing, Viking stories, goats to pet, rope bridges to cross and so much more.  They both seemed to have a wonderful time and were sad once it was over.  On the first morning there, as we walked up to the festival area, Noah excitedly exclaimed, "This is the best day ever."  He was so sad when he didn't get to stay and sang the words, "I hate home, I hate home," over and over again all the way home.  Maybe he'll be able to attend next year, who knows.  Myra and Lexi spent the majority of the time together.  I'm glad they are such good friends.  And on the last morning, we all climbed the "big" hill together.  Fun times!

The Pancake Shop, the kids could collect trash and turn it in for Pancakes to eat.  Here, pancakes are Crepes.

Myra loved hanging out with her Viking friends.

Sand Pile for the kids to play in and behind it, the wooden platform was filled with water and sand, for the kids to make a mess in.

Lexi with one of her leaders, Signe.

I thought this was so funny.  A tent, full of sleeping babies in strollers.  No moms.

Traveling accordion player.

Can you see all the Seagulls in the sky?

Carrot station.  These were all over the place, baskets filled with carrots with peeler's attached.  If the kids were hungry, they could just peel themselves a carrot.

Going up the hill, it's much steeper than it appears.  But not taller!

This is only about 1/4 of the camp.

Myra at "Shrekland."

Cute kids!