Arts for All

Since regular school started in August, Ackerman Elementary school has been sending "buddies" to respite care once or twice a month. Each child at respite care is matched up with two elementary school students and they do crafts, and activity and have a snack together. All the respite kids get buddies, regardless of abilities. And I love that.

This week, I had the chance to be part of something pretty awesome. On Wednesday afternoon the respite kids went out to Ackerman Elementary school for a special event, and I got to go along. We had the big Arts for All event there and had a great time. The kids all had the chance to do all sorts of activities with their buddies, with their teachers from respite, teachers from Ackerman, and volunteers and it was amazing. You knew there were going to be lots of pictures didn't you?! :)



Kierra, Parker, Payton and Owen sitting at the big kids table in the gym waiting to get started. I don't really know why Kierra wanted to touch Parker's hair. :)

 Our other firend Kierra, with her buddy and teacher Christy, being able to paint with the big rollers on the paper on the floor since they are adabtable to her wheelchair. She was smiles the whole time.

 Owen and his two buddies taking on of the rollers for a spin doing some yellow paint.

 Kierra and her buddies watching all the action as they started to add red to the mix.

 A group of our teachers, friends and nurses all gathered around and taking pictures, helping the kids and loving every second of it.

 Payton was a popular girl - she had her two buddies, Autumn and Sarah, plus another buddy who's respite care kid wasn't there, Taylor. They're working their way through one of the giant tubs of Play Doh that was there.

 Parker, and his buddies Ian and Josh, contemplating their next PlayDoh moves.

 Giant roll of paper on the floor and a couple tubs of PlayDoh means all the kids had an awesome time.

 Parker hooked up with one of the Ackerman teachers and got to do some artwork on the giant roll of paper that was all the way down one wall. He did awesome with the one-on-one time, as the big crowds and noise were a little much for him at times.

 Payton and her gang working on some wall art as well. We might have to do this at home sometime. I would love to have a piece of this that all the kids worked on.

 Outside, they got to go at a tub of sidewalk chalk and go to work on the parking lot, sidewalk and side of the building.

 We stopped outside to have a quick snack - crackers and juice boxes - since it was way past normal morning snack time. Most of the buddies stayed with the kids during that and helped pass out, control the juice box squeezing.

 

We even got to do bubbles outside. Owen and Parker hung out there for a long time. Who doesn't love bubbles?



It really was such a geat morning. All the respite kids did really well of a busy morning, being out of their routine, and in a new place with new faces. The painting that they did with the rollers all over the floor of the gym turned out to be amazing. At the end of the day, we all sat in a group and got our picture taken on it. i'm hoping to get my hands on a copy and will definitely share if I do.

Ackerman Buddies and Teachers - thanks for being so amazing with all the respite kids!