Today I volunteered for the first time at Casa de Fe, the orphanage on the outskirts of our small town. This little place is about a mile from our house, down a huge hill, across a river, and up another. The last bit of the walk is seemingly into the country because very little surrounds the place; it's fairly secluded from all other civilization.
When I asked if I could volunteer my time there, they reported a real need for an extra set of hands in the three-year old room. So, today I jumped in with both feet and became a 'tia' (auntie). The room is really no bigger than a bedroom and houses seven of the most wonderful, active little threes that you'd ever have the pleasure of meeting. They all wear Casa de Fe clothes, reminiscent of a school uniform, and sport the shortest little haircuts. Two teachers supervise two girls and five very rambunctious boys. Shortly after my arrival into the room, a friend of mine who is the nurse in residence, showed up to dispense medicine which intrigued all the kids, yet not as much as did her paper, highlighter, pencil, water pitcher, cups, and envelopes full of tablets. It was near impossible to keep these things away from curious little hands. Eventually I picked up her basket of things just so that they would be out of reach; otherwise, this two minute activity was going to stretch into several more.
Upon her departure, we sat down to do an activity at the table, where no one really wanted to sit--there simply was nothing of interest at the table. All the toys were on the floor, calling the children's names and bidding them to wander off. It took all three adults and several minutes to convince the wee ones that the table was the best place to be. We played a ball rolling game reinforcing the color of the ball and the correct way to send it across the table. This activity lasted no longer than a couple of minutes before it was meandering children again, eager to play with the other toys.
Next we tried to entice them back to the table with Play-Dough. Play-Dough seemed to be more in the line of what they had in mind. We made balls, squished them into tortillas, and practiced our flicking skills. For at least a couple of minutes my new little friends were contented. Then we had to make a bathroom run because our mid-morning snack had arrived. So, all children poured out of the classroom, down the slick hillside where rain had fallen just moments before, around the corner of the bigger building, and into their bathroom area. Pushing and shoving all the way we finally got fourteen little hands clean and all bladders empty--quite the feat for three year olds who are in the process of being potty trained.
We all returned to the classroom and now all wanted to sit at the table; snack was imminent. Yogurt with chopped bananas--gone in record time. Not a single drop was left. All kids ate well and were contented. Next we moved to the floor to play with blocks and one sweet little friend planted herself in my lap and contented herself with just my patting her legs and back. Three year olds never get enough touch. Orphaned children probably need it even more. One child's unwillingness to share produced a fit which lasted for several minutes and was extremely well handled by the classroom teacher. She was very firm and loving as she held him throughout his fit and talked him down from his crisis moment. Once he gained control of himself, she spoke to him and he was able to return to play. Meanwhile, five of our little friends had to return to the bathroom because they needed to go again. Potty training is a demanding process.
Finally we went on a nature walk on the orphanage grounds which took us down a path lined with large rocks as we tromped on smaller stones. The teacher showed how to follow in line as she chanted kid-friendly tunes, pointed out the ways to dig in the dirt and how one cleans hands, and how to walk down an incline so that no one gets hurt. When we neared the end of the short journey, she used a stick to draw a circle in the dirt and encouraged the boys and girls to put rocks on the circle's outline. Wow. She knew exactly how to reach and teach this curious bunch. By year's end, I am certain I will be labeling her a miracle-worker. She knows well what they need and what it will take to get the job done.
On my jog home, I reflected at how much I learned about teaching today (my background in education helped but I still have lots to learn), about how children do not automatically learn self-control--you have to teach it to them, and about how blessed I am to have been included in this little room. What a joy. I look forward to returning tomorrow....
Blessings, kim
sweet!
ReplyDelete