I’m volunteering at Beacon House for six weeks
this summer, and I just want to update you on the going-ons for the month that
I have been here thus far. It is “rainy season” right now but that doesn’t
affect the amount of time we try to spend with the kids outside. Within the
first week you learn that the kids have a solid routine for the day. Everyone
knows their job, and it is a well-oiled machine. I arrive about 8am when the
kids have just finished breakfast. They are high energy and ready to go, more
energy than I have this early in the morning!
Usually we read or play until 9:30. The kids really like you to read to them as they look at the pictures in the book. 9:30 sharp is snack time for the kids. This gives us about 20-30 minutes to work with the long term volunteers, like Anna, who teaches preschool, to plan out how class will go for the day. We have eight kids in prekindergarten and kindergarten, and four kids in first grade at Beacon House right now. (Six kids leave every day to go to various private schools in the area). After schooling there is lunch time and nap time from 12-3pm. I’m always so amazed how quiet the house is during those hours. The kids are such good nappers!
The volunteers that come to Beacon House in the afternoons try to plan group activities for the kids once they get up. We do things like creating stations for the kids to go to. We have make shift volleyball games. We play with bubbles and color and take turns riding bikes. One of the most memorable activities we did was play with a giant parachute. It has the handles on the outside for the kids to hold on too. We would play games like taking turns running through it while it was up in the air or giving the kids instructions on how to sit inside it and make the parachute look like a giant mushroom. I saw a lot of smiles that day. Another fun one that they seem to like is water balloons. We partner the kids up and have them toss it back and forth counting each time they catch it and taking a step back. It is hilarious to watch some of the kids’ expressions as the balloon pops on them. There were no tears just shocked looks!
This is just a typical day at the Beacon House. The kids are good and well. It is an adventure every day! More soon on upcoming projects! Thanks for reading!
Beacon House Volunteer
Usually we read or play until 9:30. The kids really like you to read to them as they look at the pictures in the book. 9:30 sharp is snack time for the kids. This gives us about 20-30 minutes to work with the long term volunteers, like Anna, who teaches preschool, to plan out how class will go for the day. We have eight kids in prekindergarten and kindergarten, and four kids in first grade at Beacon House right now. (Six kids leave every day to go to various private schools in the area). After schooling there is lunch time and nap time from 12-3pm. I’m always so amazed how quiet the house is during those hours. The kids are such good nappers!
The volunteers that come to Beacon House in the afternoons try to plan group activities for the kids once they get up. We do things like creating stations for the kids to go to. We have make shift volleyball games. We play with bubbles and color and take turns riding bikes. One of the most memorable activities we did was play with a giant parachute. It has the handles on the outside for the kids to hold on too. We would play games like taking turns running through it while it was up in the air or giving the kids instructions on how to sit inside it and make the parachute look like a giant mushroom. I saw a lot of smiles that day. Another fun one that they seem to like is water balloons. We partner the kids up and have them toss it back and forth counting each time they catch it and taking a step back. It is hilarious to watch some of the kids’ expressions as the balloon pops on them. There were no tears just shocked looks!
This is just a typical day at the Beacon House. The kids are good and well. It is an adventure every day! More soon on upcoming projects! Thanks for reading!
