ESTEVAN — The children at Mary's Little Lambs Preschool were once again eager to participate in this year's Thanksgiving Kids promotion.
The preschool's 32 kids were asked why they are thankful. The kids gave an answer and had their photo taken, and the answers, sponsored by local businesses, are spread throughout this week's edition of the Mercury.
This year marked the first time that the three-year-olds were included in the promotion, and owner Mary Lawrence was interested to see how they would respond.
"Every year, they're so cute, but every year we also get some different answers," said Lawrence. "This year there were some that were so sweet."
There were the typical answers, with the kids saying they are thankful for their parents and other family members, or they're grateful for their pets. One little girl is thankful for hugs, another loves sleeping with her toy elephant and a third appreciates helping her mother make banana bread.
"We also get some very funny ones, and I honestly think this one was my favourite. A little boy said he is thankful for Halloween bugs because they're so funny," said Lawrence. "Another one liked ladybugs because they're nice to hold."
Each year is different and they never know what the kids will come up with.
Lawrence said this is a fun and colourful month at Mary's Little Lambs due to their decorating efforts. Teacher Patti Ksenych plays the guitar for the kids and teaches them songs. One of them, according to Lawrence, is a cute one named the Gobbler Turkey Song in which Ksenych plays and then the kids run away to avoid being turkey dinner. Ksenych also has a variety of crafts scheduled.
"Patti said that this is probably one of her favourite times of the year because the children are so sweet and loving about who and what they love. She said it's such a joy to be with them during this time to hear what they're thankful for," said Lawrence.
A puppet, George the Mouse, appears each day when they discuss the calendar, and they talk about the people they love and pray for somebody they know. It's all part of teaching them to be thankful.
Lawrence is pleased to see the small businesses support Thanksgiving Kids each year and she is thankful for the Mercury to organize the promotion.
"The kids get so excited to see themselves in the paper. I always laminate the paper with all their pictures and all they've said, and we post it in the school. The parents are just so excited to hear that this is going to happen," said Lawrence.
The parents and grandparents clip the answers as well and the ads wind up on refrigerators around the community.
