Playing in the snow

[Scottietottie]

Hi

I had a lovely day at work today and recently work hasn't been much fun. We had snow overnight and the UK isn't very good at dealing with snow. Several young people didn't turn up. Their buses had not come. (They probably just didn't wait long enough but they weren't missed)

My group only had five in it today. Three suffer from ADHD (one has ODD as well and he confessed he hadn't taken his meds this morning) There was obvious excitement around after the first significant snowfall of the year. Some years we don't get any at all.

Hmmm.. my colleague and I looked at each other. We knew we'd be on a loser with maths or English today so we just sent them out tp play in the snow. They built an igloo. They spent all morning doing it and they worked better as a team today than they have ever done before. I kept popping out and taking photographs and checking they were OK.  I didn't get one snowball thrown at me and they weren't throwing them at each other either. Their igloo took them the whole morning. Although they are 15 or 16 they were frolicking around like little kids. One of them (usually a cool, moody teenager, was wearing my gloves with bows on the back of them!)

After they'd had some lunch our boss said to send them home because there was more snow on the way. My colleague and I went to inspect their handywork. She stuck a notice on the igloo which said "This is the chill out room" I took a photo of her sitting in the igloo. Then she took a photo of me from behaind trying to crawl into it. I'm going to doctor it in photoshop and write on it "Does my bum look big in this?" As we turned to go back to the building we realised an elderly gentleman and the local librarian were standing looking at us confusedly. (The local library is held inside the community centre 2 days a week) "I thought I was seeing things!" the elderly gentleman laughed. "I went to get Frieda here to see if you really were doing what I thought you were." Anyway - it was a fun day.

Take care - Scottie

[Bucky]

Scottie -

When Mother Nature hands you snow . . make an igloo!!     The teamwork the kids had is probably just as important as anything they could have learned book wise in class today.

Would have loved to have been there to see the look on the gentlemen and librarian's face watching too grown women playing around in the igloo!!      

What a fun day and not so stressful for you either.   

Bucky

[genko_b]

What fun! I can really relate to the satisfaction and joy of seeing that group work together as a group - I have a similar sense when "my boys" at the prison work together on something.

Take care,

Genko

[Katybarstool]

Scottie, sounds like a fab day. WIll we be able to see links to the photos? No snow for us in West Yorkshire last night, hoping non tonight either.

Kathyx

[eyeamdry]

We are supposed to get snow tonight in the Great Lakes area......Detroit,,Chicago.........

[harrigan]

What a lovely day Scottie!  Some nice memories to keep you going when the weather is just cold and wet!  Anything that builds up social skills and breaks down 'us' and 'them' barriers is well worth it.  I'd love to see the igloo photos too!  XX Ailsa

[Shani]

Sounds like you had a lot of fun Scottie!
We had some snow her but it was very light so it melted immediately when it dropped.
It's already cold enough in Belgium.
Snow is pretty but I'd rather not end up slipping and fall on my bum, when going outside. 

[Patze]

Hi Scottie,

An igloo?  Sounds like a lot of fun, and who knows, that little project just might be the glue that will pull them together (keeping my fingers crossed)!  Not to mention the smiles that you gave to the "library guy" is classic!


Patze

[lynnmarie219]

Hey Scottie,

Sounds like a fun day and working together to build an igloo is definatley an achievment for your kids so it was still a valuable learning experience! Some of the best ways to learn are the non traditional ways....and you proved this today when you sent the kids outside to play in the snow.

It was also wonderful that you and your coworker got to go enjoy the igloo afterward as well...I think we are never too old to play once in a while and when we feel we are....it's very sad!

Glad you enjoyed the day!

[Scottietottie]

Photos of part of me - my colleague chilling out and the kids work. Can't really post pics of the kids. 

   

[Shani]

Loving the pictures! 

[lynnmarie219]

They are great pics!

[Blue Kat]

I'm actually kind of jealous since I live in Florida where we don't get snow.   

[Katybarstool]

Brilliant phots Scottie.

Kathyx

[Pisces24]

I have a cat that I adopted as a 5 week old kitten. He had never been outside but is fascinate with snow.

When we get snow, I will got scoop a pan full of it and bring it in and he meows like it is treat time. He had a grand old time playing in it and like chasing little snowballs across the floor. Just durn, he doesn't understand why it melts.