Orphans and Vulnerable Children - CRIN

For this activity you will need:

 Flipchart and markers

 Copies of Handout 1

To facilitate this activity:

1 Explain to the group that play is an important part of a child’s development. Get participants to
brainstorm reasons why they think play activities are good for a child’s development; then to
give reasons why they think a child may withdraw from play. Write these up on the flipchart.

2 Give out Handout 1 to participants. With the group, read through the lists in your facilitator’s
notes (reflected on their handout), emphasising the points about the natural socialising and
developmental effects of play on children. These will add to the points they have brainstormed.
Highlight the fact that, when a child is seen to be withdrawing from play activities, there could
be a problem that a counsellor or home visitor may need to monitor.

3 Divide the participants up into pairs, explaining that each pair will be working on a short
scenario based on an interaction between a child and a counsellor. Let each pair decide who
plays each role.

For this activity, it is assumed that a caregiver or home visitor has noticed that a child is sitting

alone and is not participating in a game with other children. The person playing the role of the

counsellor or home visitor will try to find out from the child what the problem is, and try to help

the child. A home visitor who is supervising games for children will need to make sure that all

the children are engaged in and integrated in the activity. If not, he or she should find ways to

include the child in the game by, for example, teaming him or her up with another child.

4 In plenary, let pairs volunteer to act out their scenarios
for the other participants. In each case, summarise the
interaction between the pairs, emphasising the signs
which indicate that the child may have a problem; and
how the adult interpreted the signs and helped the child.

45 minutes

Guide to Mobilising and Strengthening Community-Led Care for Orphans and Vulnerable Children Unit 2, Module 2^199