42 • PART TWO: FACILITATOR’S GUIDE
- Drama, Mime, Puppets and Role-Play
The use of creative media develops many skills,
including empathy and communication, self-
confidence, critical thinking and problem
solving. In role play and drama, it is important
that the children develop their own script and
do not speak “ready made” lines prepared by
adults. The purpose of this creative media is to
allow the children to express their viewpoint in
their own words. It is important to process the
activity and encourage the children to express
what they feel after the activity is completed.
Mime is when children express themselves
without speaking; non-verbal behavior
sometimes is more expressive than words.
Puppets are useful especially when sensitive
issues are to be discussed. This approach helps
children distance themselves from their
problems and, at the same time, provides a safe
way of expressing problems by “transferring”
the concerns to a non-threatening object like a
puppet. However, one of the best reasons for
using puppets is that the children love them
and enjoy playing with them!
Some Tips: Help the children “get into” the
character by giving a background sketch of the
character, such as who they are, what their lives
are like, etc. Give them a prop such as clothes or
objects to help the children identify with the
character. Make sure that the drama, role play
or puppet show is not too long; a short
presentation has more impact and is more
manageable for children. Do not forget to
process the activity by asking what they were
feeling and why when they were acting. - Songs and Poems
It is easy to remember health related messages if
they are in the form of a song. Poems need not
have a special rhythm and are excellent ways for
children to express themselves.
Some Tips: Make sure the message is right!- Games Adapted for Learning: Both Indoor
and Outdoor
Board games, word games and outdoor games
help in learning and reinforcing knowledge. There
are many traditional games that can be adapted
for learning about health. - Question Box
Children can anonymously place questions in
the box. The box can be opened periodically
and questions answered by the facilitator. The
facilitator must be careful to answer without
passing judgment.
Experience from the field
Some issues from the Question Box from
YWCA, Delhi from adolescent slum girls:- Boys are looking at us and whistling;
- My sister’s husband troubles me;
- When we walk (in the community),
boys call us and speak vulgar words; - Why do girls and boys touch?
- Why does one person lie on top of
another; is it “dirty?” and - My teacher hits me and says bad
words; I do not like it.
- P Matrix Ranking: Problems, Plans, Priorities
A useful tool used in many Child-to-Child
projects is a ranking instrument for problems,
plans and priorities called P Matrix Ranking.