Our toddler program has spearheaded a shoe drive for children in Guatemala and asked other programs to get involved through discussion and activities with the children and families. School-age 1 decided to take inspiration from Pete the Cat's "I Love My White Shoes" and made a walking mural. We rolled out large brown paper, taped it to the floor, and set up a painting station using colours that represented the items stepped in the story (blue for blueberries, red for strawberries, brown for mud, and white for rain).
Kary helped to paint the children's feet, which was very cold and "tickled a lot" according to Parker and Teagan. Eventually they wanted to join in on the fun and Olivia and Daniel painted each other's feet before walking across our mural. We let it dry and cut it out in the shape of a shoe, matching our second activity. Our second activity played on the concept of "walking in another person's shoes" and empathy, both crucial when discussing and processing our role to a wider/global community. We asked each child to colour their shoe in a way that best showcased who they were and how they felt about themselves - you won't be surprised by Lila's shoe incorporating so much purple because, "I LOVE PURPLE!"
While engaging School-age 1 in fun but rich learning activities is important, we wanted to make sure that we could combine it with a deeper understanding of why we were doing this. We talked about the importance of shoes and how not everyone has the same access to resources, so it's important for us to be kind and help others when we are able.
Coming up: This month is National Child Day on November 20, 2024; a day that celebrates Canada adopting The UN Declaration of the Rights of the Child and the United Nation's Convention on the Rights of the Child. We would love to know what topics are important to your family and ways that you incorporate global citizenship, children's rights, and advocacy into discussions or experiences at home!
