A trip to Gulf View Rest home

 Last Friday some of our tamariki set off for a walk to the local rest home to see some of our friends. This time, we came laden with beautiful sniffing pillows. Our student Kate helped us to sew them and we drew on them  and coloured them all in so they looked delightful. What a special Christmas gift.

On arrival, we walked down a long hall and into the lounge. Our friends were waiting for us all lined around the room in their chairs. It was morning tea time. We went around in a circle, taking turns to hand out our presents. We felt like little elves helping Santa. We even spotted a Christmas tree in the rest home too! Our  tamariki practised their conversational skills, asking questions, talking about their sewing creations and what they had been up to. 

Once all the gifts were handed out, we went to the dining room and on the tables were beautiful colouring in pictures, pens and pencils. The children sat down and some of the residents from the rest home joined them as they practised their manners asking for colours and saying thank you as they went. 

We also learnt that we had to speak slower, and clearly to our elderly as some find it difficult to hear. The relationship we are building between Uxbridge and Gold Views Rest home is a special one that we will continue to nurture. 

We are building wider networks within our community, this can help to develop social and emotional skills, build a stronger sense of belonging and connects children as contributors to their world. Communication and Belonging Strand - Te Whaariki