Francis Parker Middle School Playdate

On March 26, Francis Parker 7th graders joined refugee parents and their toddler children at Colina Park for a play date.  Before the play date, the students learned about refugees and the work of the IRC in San Diego.  Then they went to the park where they met the refugee mothers and children, all participants in IRC’s First Things First Family Learning Center.  The refugee mothers introduced themselves to the Francis Parker students -  shaking hands and saying  “my name is...” and “nice to meet you” – just as they practice in the First Things First class. 

The Francis Parker students then made homemade kites with the toddlers - which was a big hit with the kids, both big and little.   The 7th graders helped the preschoolers decorate their kites with crayons, drawing flowers, dinosaurs, and trees.  Then they assembled the kites and they all raced around the park laughing and shrieking with happiness.  The little kids quickly bonded with the 7th graders, giving the mothers a well-earned rest as their children played with their new kites and their new friends.

Then everyone (mothers, preschoolers, and 7th graders) played “red light, green light” and “duck, duck goose”.   It was a great morning.  7th Grader Haley Cloyd said, "It was a great experience for me to interact with the kids. It was special because it was something both the kids and I learned from!"

Thank you so much to the Francis Parker students for donating six bags of much-needed supplies to our preschool (the construction paper, glue, and bubbles will be especially popular)!

Back to the IRC in San Diego