The Outdoor Explorers

Every morning, between 10:30 and 11:00 AM, the kids at our school get to go outside for some fresh air, exercise, and adventure! Some days, the teachers have a special game or program planned for them, which is always fun. But some of the most fun days involve free play. When our kiddos are let loose in the park, there's no end to the fun they can have…

Here is a sample of their fun outdoor activities:

Follow the leader

Wheelchairs don’t stop these kids!  They love to push and be pushed.  Their Follow the Leader game lasted from one end of the park to the other…

Jie says to Qiang: “Let’s play follow the leader!  You better hold on tight because I push fast!”

Ye says: “We’re coming next. Thanks for the pushing, Hui & Shuang."

And three more little “leaders” in the game bring up the rear.

Nature observers

After being in class indoors, the kids love to connect with nature. Let's see what they've discovered…

Shang shows off his latest find…a fragrant evergreen branch.

Ya's found a super long branch and tries to carry it along with much determination.

Balance beam

The balance beam is quite the hit.

Yang shows the younger ones how it is done.

Ya watches on with interest.

Ya replies, “I found a snack in my pocket! I think I’ll use the balance beam in a different way—for my snack bench!”

Impromptu Meetings 

The boys gather to discuss strategy. What should we do next?

Outdoor Cuddles

It can be chilly outside this time of year. Sometimes a little cuddle is all you need to keep you going. Ye gets a warm hug and is ready to go again.

She’s off!

The Little Bookworms

We have several Little Flower "libraries" filled with books. We have a library for the group homes, a collection of books at our Early Education Center, and even a whole shelf full at the Beijing Baby Home. Whenever a nanny or a volunteer finds time to sit down, the kids really enjoy the stories! Some of our little ones even have a look at the books by themselves. Yang especially seems to love reading (or at least looking at the pictures!)

Hua on the other hand, doesn’t seem to know yet what she’s supposed to do with a book. That doesn’t matter...it’s fun anyway!

At the Early Education Center, where some of our foster care children attend school, the kids can choose books from the shelf and sit down to read on their own.

With particularly thrilling and exciting reads, they'll just sit on the classroom floor, spellbound.

Some even choose to get some reading in during nap time, if they prefer reading over sleeping!

We love all of our little bookworms.

Yi's Transition

Little Flower Foster family #2 recently visited the Beijing Infant Care Home to meet Ambassador Gary Locke, and in the process, their newest little brother Yi was able to hang out for the afternoon in some very familiar surroundings.

Family #2's foster parents have been with Little Flower for almost 9 years, since the start of our Group Educational Foster Care Project in 2005, which provides a supportive family environment and schooling for older disabled orphans. These foster families all reside in the same area, forming a wonderful Little Flower community of kids and foster parents who live very normal family lives! They go to school, do chores, hang out with their siblings and friends, and go out on the weekends.

Yi's been the latest addition to their family, and he's fit right in since moving over to our Group Educational Foster Care project about three weeks ago. We often make the transition as children in our Infant Care projects still need further treatment, but require a more traditional family environment as they grow older.

Yi seems especially close to his foster mama and big sister Mao. He was excited for the chance to come back to the Baby Home to see old friends, including the big blue and red slide in the playroom. The first thing he did was lead his new big sister over to it.

It didn't take long for him to climb up on his own...

...and slide down!

...About 10 times!

His foster brother Gong cheered him on.

As did their parents and older sister.

It wasn't long before Yi's old buddy Jie had woken up from her afternoon nap and came out for some slide time of her own.

Soon, Yi was giving his foster mama a quick tour around the playroom.

Look! Here's my old kitchen!

But...it wasn't long before he went back for another go on the slide.

It was great to see that he's adjusted so well to his new family.