Family Room: Playground Article Archives
Burlington Chapter Parades for Children!
Emily Hess (l) and Jennifer Foster (r) carry the message in the Kid's Day parade.
The newly formed CFI Chapter in Burlington, VT, got off to a great start by participating in the annual Kids Day event on May 13th (2000).
Burlington CFI leader Emily Hess describes Kid's Day as a “wonderful event for kids with many exciting activities. This year, there were train and pony rides, hands-on crafts exhibits, stage performances, storytellers and clowns. The kids got together and made Vermont's biggest peanut butter and jelly sandwich.” The day was kicked off with a parade that starts at the top of the hill on Main Street and marches down through town to the Waterfront Park on Lake Champlain. Emily and her friends and family marched in the parade carrying a colorful CFI banner, homemade with love. “With an average attendance of 15,000 participants,” adds Emily, “what better way to spread the word about CFI?”
In order to participate in the event, the Burlington Chapter had to provide a kid-centered activity or give-away item at their table. (Emily's daughter received a pair of bright pink plastic fang-teeth at one table-it was pretty cute when she showed Grandma her new set of teeth!) On behalf of CFI, Emily and her family and friends helped children make paper-bag hats. “They were easy to make,” said Emily. “Requiring only simple materials, each hat could be as simple or elaborate as desired. The kids loved them, and while they were making them, I gave out information about CFI to their parents, and talked with anyone who seemed interested. It went really well-and I was extremely pleased when one Mom recognized Playground. She'd picked one up from where we'd placed them at the town library, and she told me she'd already given it to all her parent-friends to read. It was nice to know we had already reached some people in the Burlington community.”
Another high point that day came when a parent said to Emily, “isn't it wonderful to see so many parent and adults treating their children with such kindness and participating in a day created just for them?”
We salute Emily for her enthusiasm, energy and creativity. And we're excited to grant the Child-Friendly Seal of Approval to 13 establishments in the Burlington area, based on the chapter's feedback and recommendations. Search our on-line database of Child-Friendly places for Emily's finds in Burlington, VT.
Hannah (age 2 and a half) decorates a paper bag hat at the CFI table.