Thursday, 29 May 2008 01:52 pm
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deckardcanineHad my second occasion for Greater DC Cares-linked volunteer work yesterday. This time, instead of seniors, they were children at the Carpenter's Shelter in Alexandria. I was one of five adults watching nine kids on a playground for an hour while their parents attended a workshop. The coordinator tells us that the group fluctuates and has never had as low a median age as it did that evening: Few kids were over five, and some were not adept at walking yet.
Early in the hour, I was kinda keeping my distance, coming close only when someone was on the verge of falling off the equipment. There were a few falls, but no visible injuries. Might I say, it feels nice to lift a crying child and have him quickly stop crying in my arms.
But some of the extroverted children ensured that I would not remain just a spotter. One girl grinningly demanded that I follow her everywhere, including down slides too thin and/or short even for me. In a few minutes, I had to decide whether to keep following her or honor being tagged by the two oldest boys. I tried switching back and forth between the two until the girl was satisfied to relinquish me from her iron command.
Tag with kindergarteners is not as easy as it sounds when playground equipment is in the way. I could have run faster, but I wanted to maintain endurance for the rest of the hour and for the trip home. Besides, giving my all against someone that young would not have been cool. Perhaps the hardest part was tagging them in such a way that they could not tag back immediately. They frequently bent the rules, as by calling timeouts at crucial moments. But there are few ways I'd have more fun getting that much aerobic exercise.
It's a long commute, but I expect to return each week this summer. The kids appreciate familiar faces, and so do I.
Early in the hour, I was kinda keeping my distance, coming close only when someone was on the verge of falling off the equipment. There were a few falls, but no visible injuries. Might I say, it feels nice to lift a crying child and have him quickly stop crying in my arms.
But some of the extroverted children ensured that I would not remain just a spotter. One girl grinningly demanded that I follow her everywhere, including down slides too thin and/or short even for me. In a few minutes, I had to decide whether to keep following her or honor being tagged by the two oldest boys. I tried switching back and forth between the two until the girl was satisfied to relinquish me from her iron command.
Tag with kindergarteners is not as easy as it sounds when playground equipment is in the way. I could have run faster, but I wanted to maintain endurance for the rest of the hour and for the trip home. Besides, giving my all against someone that young would not have been cool. Perhaps the hardest part was tagging them in such a way that they could not tag back immediately. They frequently bent the rules, as by calling timeouts at crucial moments. But there are few ways I'd have more fun getting that much aerobic exercise.
It's a long commute, but I expect to return each week this summer. The kids appreciate familiar faces, and so do I.