Reflection - Storytelling

Challenge & Selection

Storytelling is one of the best tools I use. I used to volunteer in kids outreaches every Saturday, I  intentionally devoted my time to invest in these children’s lives. Many of these kids do not come from a  well-off family. As young as they may seem they are no exception to challenges and struggles in life,  they need guidance and inspiration to see the brighter side of life and to become the best version of  their selves. As we all know, the attentiveness of the children are shorter compared to us, after a couple  of minutes their focus will be diverted to something else. Usually they will talk or fight to their  seatmates, some will transfer from one place to another that causes other children to do the same. With  these traits, we made actions that will catch their attention. Observing the behaviors of these kids  helped us to see the things that we needed to apply, the speakers are storytelling using the lesson to  capture the interest of the kids. Understanding and getting the lesson is the most important goal we  have for them to become the best version of their selves as they grow older.

Application

In our evaluation every after the outreaches, we always see to it that we are able to point all the things  to improve. Addressing every need and the best for the kids. We are continuously talking how to be  more effective and intentional without leaving a single kid behind, knowing that their age gaps greatly  affects their catch up, attention and concentration. We are more than eager to improve and to do our  best on the next outreaches we will have.

I shared to them that I remember a couple of times when I got distracted by a kid going hysterical, he  was shouting and crying loudly. His behavior is way extreme compared to other kids. I know that this kid  needed more attention, hence right after my lesson, I approached where he is seated, let him sit on my  lap and consoled him until he calmed down. I told him that I will walk him home and he just nodded. He  can barely talk and had a couple of gestures that are not usual. Shortly after we arrived, his mother  thanked me for taking care of her child and told me that he has special needs, everything explains why  he was acting like that.

Insight & Approach

His mother told me that she might stop sending him to outreaches for he is just causing trouble but I  insisted that we could manage the situation somehow. I explained well that with the right amount of  attention and understanding we will be able to calm him down just like what had happened earlier. I  knew that I needed to tell her the side of my story and started telling her that my older brother and I  used to have a playmate when we were still kids, in fact he is the only childhood friend we made and his  case is just like his son’s. The special needs of our childhood playmate didn’t stop us from doing the  things we love to do: playing, chatting, eating, jumping, and all sorts of fun. He is such a nice and  generous guy, even though he has speech and language delays we patiently waited for him to express  what he wanted to convey and never did we made fun of his situation. We talk to him normally and  never did he felt discrimination from us.

With the right amount of understanding, patience, love and attention, people like them with special  needs could live a life normally just as we do. I believe that them being surrounded by a lot of kids will  make them grow happier and might adapt to the environment they grow up with, slowly but surely.

I found out that storytelling is a good tool in conveying your message to the community. I plan to use  more of this in the future together with the lessons I learned in this course.


Reflection - Storytelling Challenge & Selection Storytelling is one of the best tools I use . I used to volunteer in kids outreaches every Saturday , I intentionally devoted my time to invest in these children ’s lives . Many of these kids do not come from a well - off family . As young as they may seem they are no exception to challenges and struggles in life , they need guidance and inspiration to see the brighter side of life and to become the best version of their selves . As we all know , the attentiveness of the children are shorter compared to us , after a couple of minutes their focus will be diverted to something else . Usually they will talk or fight to their seatmates , some will transfer from one place to another that causes other children to do the same . With these traits , we made actions that will catch their attention . Observing the behaviors of these kids helped us to see the things that we needed to apply , the speakers are storytelling using the lesson to capture the interest of the kids . Understanding and getting the lesson is the most important goal we have for them to become the best version of their selves as they grow older . Application In our evaluation every after the outreaches , we always see to it that we are able to point all the things to improve . Addressing every need and the best for the kids . We are continuously talking how to be more effective and intentional without leaving a single kid behind , knowing that their age gaps greatly affects their catch up , attention and concentration . We are more than eager to improve and to do our best on the next outreaches we will have . I shared to them that I remember a couple of times when I got distracted by a kid going hysterical , he was shouting and crying loudly . His behavior is way extreme compared to other kids . I know that this kid needed more attention , hence right after my lesson , I approached where he is seated , let him sit on my lap and consoled him until he calmed down . I told him that I will walk him home and he just nodded . He can barely talk and had a couple of gestures that are not usual . Shortly after we arrived , his mother thanked me for taking care of her child and told me that he has special needs , everything explains why he was acting like that . Insight & Approach His mother told me that she might stop sending him to outreaches for he is just causing trouble but I insisted that we could manage the situation somehow . I explained well that with the right amount of attention and understanding we will be able to calm him down just like what had happened earlier . I knew that I needed to tell her the side of my story and started telling her that my older brother and I used to have a playmate when we were still kids , in fact he is the only childhood friend we made and his case is just like his son ’s . The special needs of our childhood playmate did n’t stop us from doing the things we love to do : playing , chatting , eating , jumping , and all sorts of fun . He is such a nice and generous guy , even though he has speech and language delays we patiently waited for him to express what he wanted to convey and never did we made fun of his situation . We talk to him normally and never did he felt discrimination from us . With the right amount of understanding , patience , love and attention , people like them with special needs could live a life normally just as we do . I believe that them being surrounded by a lot of kids will make them grow happier and might adapt to the environment they grow up with , slowly but surely . I found out that storytelling is a good tool in conveying your message to the community . I plan to use more of this in the future together with the lessons I learned in this course .