Orphans and Vulnerable Children - CRIN

For this activity you will need:

 Flipchart and markers

To facilitate this activity:

1 Explain to the group that sociologists and behavioural psychologists who study the development

of children over a period of time have identified patterns in their behaviour based on their age.

In this activity, participants will describe the characteristics and behaviour of a child at different ages.

Start by asking the group to think about a baby, less than one year of age, and to describe the

characteristics and behaviour of this child. Write up responses on the flipchart. When you have

a few listed, briefly present the theory that Erickson and Piaget had for a baby of less than a year

old. Use your facilitator’s notes for this.

2 Do the same for a child aged:

• 1 to 3 years


• 3 to 5 years


• 5 to 11 years, and


• adolescents up to 18 years.

Throughout this exercise, you should ask the participants if they agree with the theories of the

psychologists, or not. Generate some discussion around child development by asking the group

if they have had different experiences with their own children or children that they know.

3 If time permits, you could ask for a volunteer or a number of volunteers to role-play the

different behaviours of the child as he or she progresses in age and in development (for example,

crying, throwing a temper tantrum or playing in a group). This will help to lighten the subject

and stop it from becoming too theoretically based!

30 minutes

(^166) Unit 2, Module 2 Guide to Mobilising and Strengthening Community-Led Care for Orphans and Vulnerable Children