ABOUT

Social and Cultural Worker & Teaching Assistant at heart

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It started early; when as a little girl of about 7 years old I entertained the children of the campsite. The first days it was the children of our field, but soon I could hear whole groups of children carefully scurrying around my dome tent, softly discussing with each other and wondering if I was awake yet, at 7 o'clock. 
I am now... ☺

 

I came up with all kinds of craft activities, games, and performances.
So it wasn't much of a surprise that I later became an official team member of the Animation Team of Camping Het Grote Bos in Doorn. Much to my mother's delight, because when you came home in the intervening days the household chores suddenly went through at a remarkably fast pace.

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At community center 't Wijkhuis in beautiful Wijk bij Duurstede, where I grew up, at age 14 I ran the weekly children's club and managed a small group of volunteers. Every Wednesday afternoon about 20 boys and girls aged 4 to 13 came for an hour of crafts and, after a short break, to enjoy an hour of exercise games together. 
It was always a pleasantly busy affair.
I enjoyed doing this too for several years. 
Many of these children came from the adjacent SBO de Driehoek,
where I also regularly came, because my little brother there after school
always enjoyed playing the piano there after school.

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Actually, I knew since I was 4 that I wanted to be a “teacher” (and a singer),
and that surprised no one. But, the moment I ended up at a Preschool (Peuterspeelzaal) for my MBO Social Cultural Worker internship I knew: this is it! 
I liked it even more than my elementary school internships in different classes for my MBO Teaching Assistant course.

In addition, in order to get my required internship hours, I also did an internship at an Extracurricular Care at the same welfare organization. 

Eventually I worked with a lot of love at the BSO for 4 years, 5 years at a pre-school (Voorschool) and about 11 years as a pre-school leader (Peuterspeelzaal). 
Here too, devising activities, working on projects and themes were the order of the day. Wonderful!

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Of course I did many child-oriented courses during that period,
such as my annual first aid and first aid courses, the Gordon Method and de Vreedzame Wijk (roughly translated: The Peaceable Neighbourhood is a Dutch approach that teaches children to solve conflicts together, take care of each other, and feel part of a community).

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At that time I already noticed that the children in the neighborhood were gradually
playing outside less and less. Computer games, the online social life,
the few opportunities to play in the bushes and run carefree down the street.
to run, play Curb Ball (A Dutch street game where two players stand on opposite curbs and try to bounce a ball off the edge so it flies back. Catch it and score!), or play Stand in de Mand (a classic Dutch playground game where players try to get close to the ball while the thrower has their back turned. Whoever catches it shouts ‘Stand in the Mand!’ and becomes the new thrower.) keep children indoors. 
As a result, kids don't know each other as well in the neighborhood, unfortunately.
But let connection be my passion!

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When children get to know each other, they can also pick each other up more easily to do something together or address each other about behavior.
This makes it more fun and nicer for them in the neighborhood.

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As a facilitator, I find it important that children feel seen and heard. The activities I offer through Fraai Workshops are low-threshold,
for different ages and above all (almost) all free of charge.
So everyone can participate!

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Please note that all activities are subject to change.

Since October 2020, I’ve been living with LongCovid, which brings fatigue, physical discomfort, and sensitivity to stimuli, and sometimes a bit of brainfog too.

Something I truly regret.
This summer is the second time I’ve cautiously started picking things up again, to see what’s possible. That means not everything may go ahead as planned,
but I’ll keep you posted via the 'Activiteiten Tolsteeg' group on WhatsApp and Signal, including any updates or alternative activities. 

(I’m currently not hosting children’s parties or baby showers — that’s still too much.
I do sometimes build websites together with, and for, (starting) female entrepreneurs, through {Curly Brackets}.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Feel free to forward this link to other parents.
The more the merrier!

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Take a quick look at 'Calender' to see if it includes something for you/your child(ren)!
And if not; send in your suggestions, they are always welcome!

 

Hope to see you soon.

Warm regards,
Viola​

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