Education

First of all I'd like to say that the Canadian educational system is not the same as in Ukraine. It has some common features but more differences at the same time.

I want to start with the most important thing - kids start attending a kindergarten at the age of 4. What is more, Canadian kindergartens are situated in the same building as schools. Students have almost similar routines as the elder kids have. It was weird for me and my Ukrainian friends because Ukrainian kindergartens are separated from school and have absolutely different schedules and routines. The most valuable and important for me was kindergarten's kitchen. Cooks cook only healthy food for kids three times a day. Besides, parents don't need to prepare lunchboxes and even think about meals for the child. In addition, my daughter hadn't tasted junk food before she started attending Canadian kindergarten because she hadn't seen it at home and in the kindergarten before.

Second, kids of all ages have the same duration of staying at school or kindergarten. On one hand, it is so hard for four year old kids to be active for so long. On the other hand, it is impossible to work full time for parents when their kids are staying at the kindergarten only until 3 o'clock. I think that the Ukrainian schedule is more appropriate because children can stay there from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Moreover, the kindergartens have bedrooms and 3 hours of silent time. It means that kids can just take a rest or to sleep during this time. Furthermore, kids can't choose to take a rest or not, it is mandatory.

So, it is the next difference which a lot of people think is a bad side of the Ukrainian educational system. Ukrainian kids don't have as much freedom as Canadian children have. I see that kids are free to do whatever they want and teachers don't stop them. I agree that less borders make a person more creative, independent and happy. Finally, Canada is one of the most successful countries in the world and I guess Canadians are good at rising successful kids. However, we are not used to such freedom for small kids. I will never forget our first Canadian snow. It was a real shock for me that day. My daughter's classmates were eating that snow in the school yard, wet snow pants were lying everywhere. At the same time teachers didn't pay any attention to these crazy activities. But the most wonderful thing was that really happy kids were sitting on that fist snow. Would they remember this first snow like one of the happiest memories of their childhood. Probably, it is the most important secret to make children happy to build a happy nation.

In conclusion I want to mention that step by step all Ukrainians I know get used to kindergarten and school rules. We must start thinking like Canadians to understand reasons and consequents. I hope our kids will grow up independent, healthy and thankful for such an exciting childhood.