Buddies' Riddles

Last week the big buddies created an activity for their little buddies.

Each of them were given an egg, a little animal and a card.

Their task was to think of four clues to describe their animal.

They wrote them out and numbered their card to match the number on the egg.

Ms. Smith, their teacher, checked to see if the big buddies could guess the clues.

When done we were ready to get together.

We met in the gym and after singing a song to warm up the buddy pairs

settled in all around the gym.

Each pair had an egg and the matching clues.

The big buddies read the clues while the little buddy tried to guess what was in the egg.

The big buddies read the clues and helped the little buddy guess.

They didn't rush, they encouraged and they had fun.

Then after guessing and opening the egg they put it altogether and moved to a new egg.

The little buddies showed great patience waiting to open the egg.

They listened, they focused and they guessed.

They were rewarded by playing with the toy with their big buddy.

I was impressed, as I'm always am, with how the big buddies 

help the little buddies feel comfortable.

This is a drop in program and most visits the big buddies have a new

little buddy which makes it very difficult 

to build relationships.

But they have learned wonderful skills that allow them to relate

with each new buddy they meet.

The parents and grandparents have been very impressed.

A New Year with our Grandfriends

We have started a new school year and will once again visit 

our grandfriends each week.

This year our visits will be shorter.

I open the centre first for just over an hour then whoever wishes

follows me to the seniors home.

I love watching the connections that are being made between all the generations.

We play together for about a half an hour then we have music.

Julia is a music therapist that works at the Lodge.

She joins us every week for about a half an hour and leads us in song

with her guitar.

We are so lucky.

I've learned new songs from her that we sing 

back at our centre.

I look forward to the year to come and introducing

more families to this experience.

Day 3 Reading with our Big Buddies

Our grade 5 big buddies led us through StoryWalks today.  

They were set up throughout the hallways for the whole school to enjoy during

Literacy Week.

 One upstairs and one downstairs.

Having two stories helped us to spread the children out so waiting to read 

wasn't as long.

StrongStart is a drop in program so most buddy days we will have new little buddies.

It's wonderful to watch how welcoming the big buddies can be.

Do they remember being that young and attending StrongStart?

It warms a parent's, and an educator's, heart to see the trust that grows.

After the StoryWalk we had extra time so went to the library to read.

Reading together has become a familiar activity for young and older and they easily

and comfortably slip into the activity.

Little Moments

Yesterday a special moment happened that made many people smile.

We made greeting cards in the morning at school, then before lunch we delivered them to our grand friends at their home.

As the grand friends were getting ready for lunch we surprised them with our visit.

The children walked around handing out cards and wishing everyone 

a

Merry Christmas.

Some of the children are remembering the grand friends names and use it when they see them

 which makes each meeting extra special.

Our visit was only ten minutes long but as one of the grand friends was overheard saying,

"it made our day".

Fun with Our Grandfriends

During our visit with grandfriends this morning I heard these comments from the seniors. “This has been the most fun morning I’ve had.”  “I haven’t giggled this much in years.”
                                          
This morning we tried finger painting with our grand friends but we didn’t use paint.  We mixed up a box of caramel pudding and gave each person a big spoonful.  The grandfriends looked at it and said “what do we do with it?”
                             
It took a few minutes for them to touch it.  One little girl was enthusiastic and inspired the grandfriend beside her to try it.  That’s when the laughing started. 
                                  
The gentleman at the table, when asked if he wanted to finger paint, said he doesn’t like his hands being sticky.  When we checked back with him he had cleverly put a second piece of paper on top of his and was squishing it together. 

I brought some tools to the table to use instead of their hands.  I encouraged them to talk about what their painting looked like.  His looked like the sun or when I said it looked like a lion he was quite impressed and laughed.

From there the fun continued.
     
                                 
We brought over some play trays.  The seniors are very expressive with the children telling them what they see happening.  That motivates the children to show their grandfriend more.
           
This week we visited the extended care wing and met new grandfriends.  We sang songs and moved our bodies and we played with the parachute meant more laughter.
                
We showed them our song “Knife, Fork, Spoon, Spatula – Cha Cha Cha”  and some of the grandfriends really enjoyed to cha cha.
                  
It surprised all of us when this grandfriend sat down on the floor for story time but she was just that involved with the children that she followed what they were doing.
                    
Normally after songs and story we say bye and head back to the activity room for our snack but today these two grand friends didn’t want their time together to end and joined us.  As they sat and shared cookies and juice I heard one of them say “I’ve never had a friend this young.  It’s quite lovely.”
                                       
A fabulous morning sharing simple activities but bringing much joy and laughter
             among the generations.  We are so lucky to have special friends.

Grandfriends This Week

                       
During today’s visit to our grand friends’ home we made pumpkin pancakes. 
        I learned that baking together helps us all be more at ease.
          
 
While the children prepared the batter they shared the ingredients with the seniors.  The seniors asked them what they were doing and made comments about what they saw.

We practiced including everyone in the experience.  Taking turns and passing the bowl around the table.
               
                  
            After the pancakes were cooked we shared them together. 
Some of the grandfriends really want to care for the children and are extra attentive.
     
These pictures show the children’s level of comfort with the seniors.  After visiting for four weeks they eagerly come into the room, say hi to the grand friends, ask their name and take their hand to walk together.
      
             The grand friends are relaxing and enjoying the children. 
                They participate more during play and music time.