“Is dropping Sophie off ever difficult? No,” Mariska says laughing. “Pick-up is more of a challenge.” Daughter Sophie is having such a good time at Wiedewei Dirksland that she prefers to stay a little longer at the end of the day. The cheerful and wise toddler has been coming there since she was three months old and feels completely at home there.
Getting dirty is part of it
For Mariska and her husband, the choice for Wiedewei was quickly made. “The green concept appealed to us immediately. Let her play outside and discover. Getting dirty is part of it.” At home, digging in the mud is a bit less obvious, Mariska explains: “Because of my severe hay fever, we have a tiled garden. Not ideal, but that's the way it is. That's why I'm extra happy that Sophie can fully enjoy herself in nature at the daycare. Hands in the sand, lying in the grass, climbing on tree trunks. I want that to be normal for her, not something special.”
Looking after the little ones
Sophie started in the baby group and is now in the toddler group. "She was an easy baby, both at home and at Wiedewei. Drinking, sleeping, eating: it all came naturally," says Mariska. "And even as a toddler, the childcare professionals say she's a wonderful child to have around. She enjoys her healthy hot meal at lunchtime, looks after the little ones at daycare, and helps with 'household' chores." Mariska has noticed that Sophie carries this social and helpful behavior home with her. "The other day, she picked up paper from the floor at home and threw it in the trash without me asking. She's also very good at waiting her turn. I'm very happy about that, because with a little brother on the way, that will come in handy later!"
Outside = inside
Mariska loves that being outside at Wiedewei goes beyond baking sand cakes. “They really do everything outside. Clay, painting, colouring: things that you would normally do inside, are done outside here. And even on days when the weather is not so nice, they go outside. I think that is so good.” She notices that Sophie has completely gone along with that. “For her, being outside is the norm. She is not afraid of a bit of cold or dirt. And that is exactly what I wanted for her.”
Goosebumps
Some moments stick with Mariska. Like during the theme 'Recognize Yourself', when there was a mirror in the garden. “The children learned to name their clothes, the colors, what they were wearing. I got nice pictures of Sophie pointing at her socks and shirt. And then suddenly you see a picture of her giving herself a kiss in the mirror. It just gave me goosebumps. So beautiful, pure and spontaneous. I will never forget that.”
The same recipe
For Mariska, it's clear: Sophie is completely in her element. "I've never seen a photo of her not smiling, happily playing, or with such a wonderfully mischievous face. But it's the childcare professionals who make the difference. What fantastic people! They're so sweet to Sophie. They truly connect with who Sophie is: energetic, curious, wise. They give her responsibility and challenge her. So when her little brother is born? He'll get the same treatment: boots on, mud in, and off he goes!"
