Daycare friends travelled to Massey Recreation Complex on February 12 for a morning of skating with family/caregivers and Early Childhood Education staff.
The little school bus arrived at Shki Waase-Aaban Binoojiinh Gamik around 9:30am. Once the children were dressed in their winter wear, Cassandra Toulouse (RECE and organizer of the outing) did a quick head count of the students in Anishinaabemowin, and the children counted along with her out loud! It was so lovely to see the young members of Sagamok learning to speak and hear Anishinaabemowin at the daycare and the language revitalization efforts of daycare staff by incorporating Anishinaabemowin into everyday life and learning.
Parents and caregivers travelled directly to the arena to support their child by helping them get their skates on. There were excited exclamations from children about how they wanted to put on their new 'Frozen' themed skates or their skates with brightly coloured laces; others were a bit more hesitant about the whole process but happy to see mom, dad or caregivers at the rink, and exploring a new environment.
It may have seemed odd for some little toddlers to walk on skates based on their facial expressions! Still, they didn't shy away -supported by encouragement from staff and family. After 'penguin walking' out of the dressing rooms, they found themselves by the ice surface, making the big step to go from the solid concrete path over the boards and onto the slippery ice. Many parents chose the assistive devices that the arena has on hand, which helps support new skaters as they learn to stride and maneuver themselves on skates and on ice. It gives children something to hold onto, supports their upper body, offers more stability and less falling, and saves the parents' backs big time!
The activity was scheduled for the entire hour of ice time rental. It was well attended by parents and caregivers who joined the children and each other on the ice for some social skating fun.