September 2009
Once a teacher, always a teacher and, as always, my year starts in September, ends in July and August is a ‘self’ month (one hopes!)
So, it’s September again and we at Little Dragons enter our 4th year. It hardly seems a minute since we, with trepidation, waited in the quietness of the church, wondering whether we would have any small customers. Since then we have welcomed more than 100 children through the doors and we know that, for most, it has been a good experience.
Today, our first day back, we entertained 31 Little Dragons along with their Carers. All bar two were ‘returnees’ so they were very quickly absorbed in rediscovering the excitements on offer. The art table was particularly busy with little sticky fingers constructing sunflowers from paper plates and lots of yellow paper petals. Large sunflowers were being painted bright yellow – hopefully, to be used for the Scarecrow Exhibition. (Why is it that leaders who help with this activity always take home several fluid ounces of paint on their trousers?)
Story Time was all about 2 birds who cared for sunflowers in a garden and who lived ‘happily ever after!’ – cue for a song – with lots of enjoyment as we clapped hands, nodded heads, stamped feet and assured everyone present the answer to the question of whether or not we are happy – ‘We are!’ Of course, after a 7 week break we had to revisit the Grand Old Duke of York – several times in fact.
All in all, a good start back for the new term. Whatever shocking or depressing happenings there may be in the world, the joy that Little Dragons brings to each of us makes life very special.
Val Butterworth