In the last few months I’ve been approached by many ex-pat moms who are moving to Modena. Many of them are married to engineers who will be working with Ferrari or Maserati for the next few years and they are excited to move to Modena,Italy.
On that same note I sense a little bit of fear about having little ones, not being able to work (because they don’t speak Italian) and not knowing where to socialize.
Let me tell you….if there was ever a perfect city to STAY HOME WITH YOUR KIDS….IT IS MODENA!
I was intent on working from home so that I could speak in English with my son. It has not been easy, but it is SO WORTH IT!
Staying at home with your child in Modena means living a wonderful childhood experience, every single day.
There are many Ludoteche in Modena, which are playgroups with organized events. These city-run Ludoteche (places of play) are run just like pre-schools with daily activities, puppet shows, snack time rituals, arts and crafts and best of all OUTINGS!
Every week we take the kids to explore this magnificent territory. Just this month alone we’ve been grape picking and made real grape juice, apple picking, chestnut picking in the mountains, to a Renaissance Palace and tomorrow we’re going to an art exhibit together!
If you are a foreigner in Modena with young kids this is an excellent way to socialize with other moms (Italian and non), learn about Modena and it is a non-stressful way to socialize your non-Italian speaking children.
La Raccolta delle Mele – Apple Picking in Montale
Last week we went to a small local farm (Azienda Seguimi Il Casale) in Montale with a stunning apple orchard. All of the kids, in their rubber boots trotted out along the damp grass and mud tire tracks to the orchard and picked their own apples.
Afterwards we sang their favorite songs together as a group, bought some fresh produce from the farmer and “rode” a tractor.
My son and I stayed on and asked the farmer if we could picnic in the the fields for lunch since it was over 27 degrees in October and we didn’t feel like going back home.
It was, and will remain one of the most beautiful memories of this Autumn, all thanks to our Ludoteca.
These are my pictures of this day. If you would like more information on CITY RUN Ludoteche in Modena, please feel free to visit this complete list on the City of Modena’s website.