Erskine pre-schoolers had a great time enjoying an hour of friendly competitive playtime with their classmates and friends as they filled up the Erskine School gym with various activities from figure skating to bowling on Friday, Feb. 12 as part of the Erskine Play School Olympics.
Being the fourth year of hosting it, Darlene Philpot, play school teacher and program facilitator at Erskine school said, "I started it because I wanted to have the kids to have a healthy way to celebrate the day."
"February is heart and stroke month and what better way to celebrate and make new friends and play with our friends than being active," added Philpot. "Involving the Grade 1s gives our little ones that will be going into kindergarten within the next year or two the opportunity to connect and make friends with the older Grade 1 kids so when they are out on the playground they will have older friends to show them the ropes."
Older kids from Grades 5 and 6 were also involved because Philpot wanted them to know how important it is for them to be in a mentoring role and guide the younger kids.
"The Grade 5s do the mentoring or buddying and Grade 6 students do the managing and organizing the individual events with my guidance and input," explained Philpot. "And each year it gets better and better, and to see the little ones having so much fun and burning off the 'spring fever' while making new friends is always heart warming."
There were five events – figure skating, triathlon, bob sled, five-pin bowling and hockey.
"These events have been decided from the first year and have remained the same throughout, but sometimes the older kids put their own spin on things," said Philpot. "I oversee what the older kids do but let them be as creative as they want to be."
After the events were done, all the kids were presented with a gold medal.
"Once everything is done the pre kindergarten and Grade 1 goes back for a heart-healthy snack and I'm sure a well-placed nap is also in order," said Philpot.