Learning Activities

It was fun to mingle with the kids when we got a chance. We were mostly observers but we got a few chances to talk with the kids and teach them a few things. Although some of them taught us. Jocelyn taught Jess how to make laminate string key chains and Christopher taught me how to play "Make 7" which I stink at. We helped the younger children with learning activities they were given by Miss Nancy which included counting, vocabulary, puzzles, science, and virtually everything in between. We helped them only when they asked, or when they were making a big mess. A.J., brother to Anthony upstairs, made a mess of the worms which I wasn't really willing to clean up but helped him anyway. Along with helping the babies downstairs Jess and I helped collaborate the Easter project upstairs. We took foam pieces and created shapes on them for the children to cut out to put on their Easter bags for the hunt the YWCA was going to put on for them. We sat at the round table off the kitchen and talked with the staff member we admired so much and made the shapes big enough for the kids to cut out. We helped the littler kids with actual learning activities downstairs and did more conversing with the older children upstairs and helped them put together and play games. I think it was more about learning about the kids upstairs and talking to them than teaching them anything like we had earlier downstairs with the children who were much smaller. It was nice getting to know the children upstairs; how many siblings they had, what their favorite food was, what they like to do in their spare time and the like. I liked that they took time to share things with us and talk to us even though they had no idea who we were. We had to introduce ourselves a couple times but I think they finally caught out "Miss Jess" and "Miss Julie" after about the second or third visit.
We had a blast getting to know the kids and play with them and it was neat how they just jumped right in when we came to visit with them or watch a movie or even eat lunch. Some of them took our hands and we even got a few hugs out of  the whole deal. We helped the smaller children with learning activities and the older children we primarily talked with. It was a great time playing with and helping these children.