22 tips for conducting workshop for children

22 T I P S

on conducting workshops for children

This book is meant for education non-profit purpose only All rights reserved.

Copyright Š 2017 NID Credits : Type face used KG No Regret Sketch - Kimberly Geswein Minion Pro - Robert Slimbach

mondal.binayak5@gmail.com i.sengupta1207@gmail.com mridujhangiani@gmail.com subhrajitghosal@gmail.com

22 T I P S on conducting workshops for children

by Binayak Mondal, Indrayudh Sengupta, Mridu Jhangiani, Subhrajit Ghosal

PREFACE

We are a team of Product Design students who worked on the topic ‘Cities for Children’ as part of a Systems Design project at NID. Our project required us to work with children extensively. As a result, we have learnt some lessons on how to conduct activities with children. Thinking that this might serve as a useful reference material for people who would like to do the same, we created this book as a pocket field guide.

INDRODUCTION

Growing up is tough.

What with the responsibilities one must shoulder to fit into the machinery of society, one almost forgets what it is to be a child.

Flip through the next few pages to remind yourself of how a child thinks and how one can work with a child effectively.

1.

CHILDREN COMPREHEND THE WORLD DIFFERENTLY

Children of different age groups comprehend problems to different degrees of depth. For younger children it is necessary for facilitators and implementers to consider the different layers of problems from which their opinions stem from.

2.

ALL WORK AND NO PLAY...

IS DULL

Activities requiring higher concentration levels should not be carried out consecutively.

It should be punctuated with some playful and energising exercises.

3.

HAND OVER THE CONTROL

The language used by facilitators should such that it lets the child have a sense of control in what they are doing and not spoon-feeding ideas into them.

4.

IDEAS COME FROM WITHIN

Instigate the child participant to come up with original ideas by encouraging them to relate it with very personal problems they face.

5.

ONLY PAIN, NO GAIN

Overall, no exercise should be made to feel like a compulsion.

Stress and compulsion are negative motivators.

6.

CHANGE ALLOWS VARIETY

If the child is stuck with something.

Don’t readily give a solution but try to push them in the direction by posing the challenge as questions seen from different perspectives.

7.

WORDS MAKETH THE MAN

Inculcate a sense of responsibility in a child by asking them to back their demands, ideas with a reason.

8.

ONE SHOULD USE APPROPRIATE EXAMPLES

Conducting workshops with children requires facilitators to carefully understand the levels of ideas that can be comprehended by the children by providing corresponding examples.

9.

ICE BREAK TO COMMUNICATE

Ice breaking exercises are important to get the participants comfortable with each other.

Team based activities may prove especially helpful.

10.

INCENTIVES LEAD TO ENTHUSIASM

Rewards and other positive motivators are important for children to work well.

One must be careful not to overindulge.

11.

STEP IT UP

Conducting the workshop in the form of a ‘game’ will get the children more excited.

12.

BE SURE OF WHAT YOUR OBJECTIVE IS

Children are easily influenced, so dropping hints and examples in an attempt to help them understand may restrict them.

13.

POSITIVE CRITICISM GOES A LONG WAY

It is important to ensure that the child isn’t out of the comfort zone.

Keep encouraging and appreciating the efforts made.

14.

PATIENCE IS A VIRTUE

The ability to be patient with children is necessary.

Listen and spend quality time as much as possible.

15.

HUMILITY AND RESPECT

Show mutual trust, respect and affection to the child.

Apologise if needed, because a person is a person, no matter how small.

16.

A GOOD TEAM DOES WONDERS

Strategic grouping of children while doing an activity will define the nature of interaction and hence the outcome.

17.

FREEDOM TO EXPRESS

Separating children from their parents or guardians may help them feel more free in their expression.

18.

INTRA-TEAM DYNAMICS AFFECTS OUTCOME

Dominance, bullying and other social interaction issues among children need to be kept in mind while working with larger groups of children.

19.

NEGOTIATION IS A TWO-WAY STREET

Take the time out to share experiences with children.

Ask them, tell them.

It’s crucial to let them feel heard.

Mutual respect and negotiation should be taught.

20.

KEEP IT HANDS-ON

Keep the workshop as sensorial and activitybased as possible.

21.

ENGAGE AND INTRIGUE

Providing children with activities in their areas of interest or keeping them intrigued will get them to be more involved in what they’re doing.

22.

PLEASANT SHOCKS

Get additional human assistance while working with children. They can be unpredictable.

“Only where children gather is there any real chance of fun.”

— Mignon McLaughlin, journalist and author

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