School Year Kids/Teens 09-10 - Session 2

We had a total of nine kids tonight. The numbers were a little smaller because we had to move the meeting night and also because a couple kids were sick. The group really is settling in very nicely and very quickly. For today’s project, they met in small groups with the counselors and practiced joke telling with one another. They then came into the larger room, and, two at a time, had an opportunity to tell me what the joke was. The joke was then transferred into a comic strip, and at the next meeting, everyone will have a chance to narrate it.

One of the things that is really nice to see is how the kids are really beginning to talk with one another, and some of the kids who were quieter at the first session are now starting to be more outgoing. We are also starting to see a little bit more misbehavior such as kids slumping or sitting sideways in chairs, but that is at a very manageable level.

One of the things that is coming up for many of the kids is manners, such as using their forks properly, knowing how to cut with a knife and trying new foods. Tonight’s foods to try were raw mushrooms and raw broccoli. The kids were told that they could earn a hero ticket for any child who tried these for the first time. Several of them partook in trying out the new foods.

Overall, the tone of the group was relaxed and organized. They crossed the street safely and stayed together as a group. No serious misbehaviors were noted.

There will be a parent teleconference (which will probably have already occurred by the time you read this) tonight; mostly for new parents. Our first parent dinner for both teen and kid parents will be the first Tuesday in December (December 1). The location will be announced in the next week.

The dinner ended uneventfully. However one thing that was interesting to note was the some of the kids became a little bit restless, while other kids were getting a second wind and finishing more of their meals, with many of them continuing to try new vegetables such as broccoli, mushrooms and spinach. They crossed safely but became a little bit restless as they were coming back. We had a chance to implement some of our safety procedures, such as staying away from the curb while walking, standing six feet away while standing at a corner, So, all in all, an enjoyable, uneventful evening. -- Bruce