Since moving to Maryland my family and I have had many new adventures and opportunities; the new journey has become such an eye opener of the little time we have while our children are young and the moments that we need to hold on to. This is one of them…
An early morning for the girls and I as I awake before the sun, tip-toeing to the bathroom to begin my routine before the girls sleepy eyes arise; using my phone’s video camera for lighting to look through the closet for a suitable and comfortable outfit… I’m oblivious to what is to come today but eager to see what Disney Junior has for the children. Is it a show? Is it games? All dressed up we jump in the van six girls in total to begin our day, motivated adults and sleepy children we head out to The Yards Park.
Three GPS’s it took to be a few minutes behind schedule due to our detour to another part of the city we finally meet up with some neighborhood friends. The kids joy lights up their eyes as they see pictures of Jake from the Never Land Pirates and Princess Sofia from Sofia the First. Activities all around as we walk through the line and the Princesses were given their crowns we set forth for some treasure hunting in National Wildlife Federation’s Jake’s Beach Treasures. Digging through “the sand” (recycled rubber) the Princesses find treasure coins, juice cartons and milk cartons, shells and many other items to determine whether they are treasure or recycling. Which can we blame the girls for putting milk and juice in for treasure? It is a treat to them.
Next helpful activity was to build the castle for YSA’s Enchancia Castle; which each child would pick from a wall of magnets whether they were going to help the earth, help feed their pets, help their friends and many more good deeds. After placing their “block” on the castle were off again this time to help feed Princess Sofia’s animals such as Clover and Minimus at the ASPCA’s Sofia’s Animal Friends. The girls had fun feeding the animals, as they picked up a color plastic ball such as orange (carrots for Clover) to place at the top of the wall and watch as it made its way down the maze and into a small pit of identical balls. Their helpfulness of providing breakfast for the animal friends.
The girls eyes were lite with excitement as they furthered into the activities, they helped cuddle, feed, groom and put Minimus to sleep. Picked a helpful task to write their name on again such as helping keep the earth clean and place it upon the Forever Tree. The girls were given re-usable water bottles and bracelets before entering the maze.As they entered the First Book’s Jake and Sofia Storytelling maze they were given the option Jake or Sofia and given a paper “book” based on that character to make their own story. As Isabella ran in anxious to spin the “wheel” which only reminded me of a jackpot… Naughty mommy. Building her own story with Princess Sofia, as she stamped the pages with the item she spun. Finally ending the Power of Doing Good event with an appearance from Jake and Princess Sofia while they sung the Power of Doing Good song.
This event amazed me as we became engaged into the activities we not only were having fun, making memories and helping one another but we were all being educated from adults and children alike. I saw the good the children could do, and what we as adults could do. If we do these simple things like recycling to keep our earth clean for ourselves and children they will do the same. I know my oldest daughter likes to do what others are doing. Isabella watches Disney anytime we do have the television on or a movie, now obsessed with the movie Frozen she has become even more of a big sister wanting to care for her sister. After watching many of the shows on Disney Junior channel I find my daughter singing the Power of me song, along with trying to do many of the good tasks each Disney character shows our children. Thank you Disney Junior for this opportunity.
What Power of Good can you do? Will it be helping a friend or family member or maybe make sure you are recycling a bit more? This is a thought that my girls and I shall ponder or maybe even do a few different ones. Ever think about making someone’s day maybe make a new friend while at the park?
Melissas-Miles 