Starting school can be a daunting experience for young children. Anything that can be done to foster some level of comfort from the moment they start preschool is important to their transition.
For the last four years, our Handicrafters have been providing handmade nap blankets to beginning preschoolers. This year, Elaine Elliott, Glenda Day, and Mary Ann Hanna were on hand at Petree Elementary when the five classes of 72 children received their blankets.
“There was one little boy who would pick up a blanket and hug it, look at it, and then put it back down,” Mary Ann said. She had to assure him it was his to keep.
Glenda said it was hard for a lot of the kids to comprehend that this blanket was theirs to keep. They will use the blankets each day during nap time and then take their blankets home at the end of the year.
After having provided blankets at Ashley, Griffith, and Petree Elementary Schools in the past, Handicrafters is officially “adopting” Petree next year to provide the nap blankets for many years to come. Their handiwork will ensure that dozens of children each year will start their school experience with a warm bit of comfort.
