What an exciting day for the school age team. We did a great deed for our community and encouraged all of our parents and children to help out with the Kitchener food bank by donating items for people in our community.
The children worked hard over the last few weeks to put together some art work and Christmas cards for their parents. The children also created Christmas ornaments to hang on their trees at home or give as gifts to their families.
We set up our classroom and invited parents inside for this community event which was held in the school-age classrooms afterschool. The children were so excited singing and waiting for their parents to come to the food drive. Charlotte wondered what a food drive was, so we talked about what it is and I let the children know that the food we collect gets sent to the food bank and people that need food in their homes can go and get it for free. Anaya was happy that the cookies she loves so much are going to go to people that normally cannot afford cookies. Sophia was so happy that people are going to get cupcakes for Christmas. Ezra, Leo and Rian said they really like chili with beans in it and they are happy that some people can enjoy beans just like them.
“Having exposure to opportunities for children to help in their community can strongly impact a child’s social skills and emotional development. In raising children to be helpers, parents are supporting the benefit of their child being part of a functioning society”, a current 2024 research study finding by Early Childhood Research Quarterly.
The children learned a lot from the experience of being community helpers and shared a special day with their friends and educators. Hopefully we can do more to help our community in other ways in the future.
