I created a Facebook group called - "KIND CLASSES" - to take positive action against school bullying and to promote kinder classes everywhere! I also suggest we add a new word to our vocabulary - kindclasses: referring to bully - free schools
And "KIND CLASSES" has its very own...
"IMPERFECT GINGERBREAD PROJECT" FOR FAMILIES WITH PRESCHOOLERS
At this time of year year our thoughts turn to the Christmas season.
My thoughts tend to focus on the sweet subject of Christmas as well as the "far from sweet "subject of school bullying. Today my thoughts turned to gingerbread men.(or ladies) I remembered how it is easy to break one while frosting it or to make a frosting "oops!" Then I thought that maybe the bakers of "gingerbread people" for young children should maybe intentionally make a few mistakes. Maybe strive for a gingerbread person with a bad haircut, a crooked smile, or that missing shirt button! Make some gingerbread people who are really like all your other gingerbread people - not really perfect - but just with more pronounced imperfections! In other words, much like real people, don't you think! So all your gingerbread people won't be perfect but you can use that opportunity to teach a young child that differences are good! And imperfections in gingerbread men taste just as good! If you participate in this project with your family "KIND CLASSES" would appreciate it if you uploaded your photos of your imperfect(but just as special!) gingerbread people and their creators!We have a graphic at our group of an Imperfect Gingerbread Person! Post it to your profile, website, or blog and include a commentary to explain our "Imperfect Gingerbread Person" project or you can consider making gingerbread people and passing them out wrapped and containing a bullying awareness message! An excellent and tasty class or group project! Or any of you crafty individuals can create a model gingerbread school(wooden,etc.) - filled with happiness - maybe even named "KIND CLASSES" - just kidding but I am certain there are many great names to call a school of happiness! and don't forget that in the UK there is an actual "GINGERBREAD" organization which works with lone parent families
and does workshops on bullying throughout London! http://www.gingerbread.org.uk/
We hope for kinder classes!
I was also inspired to write this poem by another's act of kindness.
"The Forgotten Candy Canes" is about kindness, kindness forgotten, loss of childhood innocence, loss of Christmas spirit, but ultimately the enduring legacy of kindness and a message and hope for the future.
"The Forgotten Candy Canes"
Candy canes being so sweet
A young man thought it would be a treat
To give them out to every child
Not just the meek and mild
But then one Christmas season came
And he had not one candy cane to his name
And none he could buy
Or should he really even try
As he had children of his own
And charity should begin at home
But what could benefit children more
Than to see charity given from the poor
So he thought and found a way
So that every child on that day
Would have the candy canes so sweet
For their expected Christmas treat
His own kids thought their Dad was grand
To spread Christmas cheer throughout the land
To give the sweet candy canes
To each and every single name
And excited they were too
As they always got one or maybe even two
What a message they did learn
That charity can exist whatever you earn
Years pass and time flies
And the candy cane children
Became teenage girls and boys
And they put away their Christmas toys
The candy cane man they no longer cared for
They considered him too serious, old, and poor
They laughed at him each and every day
And tormented him in every possible way
So Christmas time came once more
And candy canes were in every store
But the candy cane man didn't feel the joy
And Christmas just seemed to make him sigh
I don't think I'll do it this year
He said to all whom he held dear
No, don't bother, they all cried
And so the candy cane tradition died.
Candy canes are so sweet
And they are a Christmas treat
But Christmas spirit can sometimes die
So we must really try
To keep and spread our Christmas joy
Remember there's sweetness in every heart
And hope that Christmas candy canes
Will never again change from sweet to tart.
~ Mary Teresa Fowler
And "KIND CLASSES" has its very own...
"IMPERFECT GINGERBREAD PROJECT" FOR FAMILIES WITH PRESCHOOLERS
At this time of year year our thoughts turn to the Christmas season.
My thoughts tend to focus on the sweet subject of Christmas as well as the "far from sweet "subject of school bullying. Today my thoughts turned to gingerbread men.(or ladies) I remembered how it is easy to break one while frosting it or to make a frosting "oops!" Then I thought that maybe the bakers of "gingerbread people" for young children should maybe intentionally make a few mistakes. Maybe strive for a gingerbread person with a bad haircut, a crooked smile, or that missing shirt button! Make some gingerbread people who are really like all your other gingerbread people - not really perfect - but just with more pronounced imperfections! In other words, much like real people, don't you think! So all your gingerbread people won't be perfect but you can use that opportunity to teach a young child that differences are good! And imperfections in gingerbread men taste just as good! If you participate in this project with your family "KIND CLASSES" would appreciate it if you uploaded your photos of your imperfect(but just as special!) gingerbread people and their creators!We have a graphic at our group of an Imperfect Gingerbread Person! Post it to your profile, website, or blog and include a commentary to explain our "Imperfect Gingerbread Person" project or you can consider making gingerbread people and passing them out wrapped and containing a bullying awareness message! An excellent and tasty class or group project! Or any of you crafty individuals can create a model gingerbread school(wooden,etc.) - filled with happiness - maybe even named "KIND CLASSES" - just kidding but I am certain there are many great names to call a school of happiness! and don't forget that in the UK there is an actual "GINGERBREAD" organization which works with lone parent families
and does workshops on bullying throughout London! http://www.gingerbread.org.uk/
We hope for kinder classes!
I was also inspired to write this poem by another's act of kindness.
"The Forgotten Candy Canes" is about kindness, kindness forgotten, loss of childhood innocence, loss of Christmas spirit, but ultimately the enduring legacy of kindness and a message and hope for the future.
"The Forgotten Candy Canes"
Candy canes being so sweet
A young man thought it would be a treat
To give them out to every child
Not just the meek and mild
But then one Christmas season came
And he had not one candy cane to his name
And none he could buy
Or should he really even try
As he had children of his own
And charity should begin at home
But what could benefit children more
Than to see charity given from the poor
So he thought and found a way
So that every child on that day
Would have the candy canes so sweet
For their expected Christmas treat
His own kids thought their Dad was grand
To spread Christmas cheer throughout the land
To give the sweet candy canes
To each and every single name
And excited they were too
As they always got one or maybe even two
What a message they did learn
That charity can exist whatever you earn
Years pass and time flies
And the candy cane children
Became teenage girls and boys
And they put away their Christmas toys
The candy cane man they no longer cared for
They considered him too serious, old, and poor
They laughed at him each and every day
And tormented him in every possible way
So Christmas time came once more
And candy canes were in every store
But the candy cane man didn't feel the joy
And Christmas just seemed to make him sigh
I don't think I'll do it this year
He said to all whom he held dear
No, don't bother, they all cried
And so the candy cane tradition died.
Candy canes are so sweet
And they are a Christmas treat
But Christmas spirit can sometimes die
So we must really try
To keep and spread our Christmas joy
Remember there's sweetness in every heart
And hope that Christmas candy canes
Will never again change from sweet to tart.
~ Mary Teresa Fowler
