The Halloween party at PlusKids was one of those evenings when the centre looks completely unlike its usual self.
The children painted the witch's house, turning it into an enchanted place. Then came the costume parade, where everyone had their moment — and a costume made or chosen by a child says more about them than any observation sheet: one wants to frighten, another wants to be funny, another has picked exactly the character they have loved for months.
They then ventured through magical mazes that stirred their imagination and their courage. A maze works on two levels: it calls for spatial orientation and for remembering the route taken, but it also calls for a little bravery, because the dark part is built into the game. It is a small, controlled fear, of the good sort — and children come out more confident than they went in.
We also had fun with watercolour fingerprinting, leaving colours and memories behind.
A themed party is not simply a break from the usual activities. It is the moment when children see one another differently, outside their classroom roles, and the group knits together better than after any number of team-building exercises.
Thank you to everyone who came for an unforgettable evening.