Christie’s Blog

August 2024

Letters to Augie

Saying Goodbye to Pre- School Friends

Earlier this month my son and his wife were told that my grandson Augie had been accepted to a cutting edge preschool run by the Colorado State University. They loved where Augie had been going to pre-school, but “The Early Childhood Experience Center” or ECC  where he would go is a unique childhood center for learning.  It serves children 6 weeks to 6 years old.

The school’s purpose is “service, teaching and research” . It combines the best of old and new successful ways of teaching. It addresses specific needs of the home and school for each child. To the benefit of Augi’s parents,  the ECC pre-school was not only closer to home, but less expensive. It was great opportunity!

When I heard this was happening, I first had to table my sad feeling that I wasn’t closer to them and couldn’t affirm him in person during the change process. So, I found a project and wrote a letter.

A good way to help toddlers with saying goodbye, I read, is by giving goodbye gifts to buddies and teachers.

I hunted on line and found these cute little yarn dolls that I hoped I was talented enough to make. After making 16 of them (arthritic hands beware), I added a garden touch by cutting a piece of lavender for each doll. Any fragrant flower would have been fine. Options like rosemary, mint or agastache (licorice smell) work great. Packaging is important for all of us 2 year olds, so I wrapped each one in tissue paper and taped it closed.

Here are three of the sixteen and the letter I included in the box!

Making the yarn doll website:

https://www.learningthroughliterature.com/yarn-doll-tutorial/

I’m told the kids enoyed the whole process of a present,  and adults enjoyed the room smelling of  lavender.

Maybe you would like to give it a try!

Christie lives in Manakin Sabot , Virginia where she manages a 3 acre garden. Her blogs are written from her 35 years as a personal and professional gardener.