Providing lifespan services to individuals with special needs...

What?

Pretend play has many names

• Imaginative play
• Creative play
• Make-believe play
• Fantasy play

Why?

Pretend play helps to

• Develop social skills
• Builds self confidence
• Improve cognitive skills
• Practice language skills
• Strengthen emotional well-being
• Enhance physical development

How to develop pretend play in little children

• Getting down to the child's level and playing like a child yourself.
• Be face to face - in this way the child will give attention, feel connected and will be able to see your gestures and actions.
• Observe the child's interest. The child will be motivated to play with you if you follow his lead
• Do not put too many toys at once
• If the child does not pick up any toy, you pick up a toy and do simple action to give the child idea. (e.g.) Pick up a toy cup and pretend to drink, saying "Yummy juice". See if the child imitates. If it does not interest him try using other objects that might interest him
• Imitate your child's pretend actions to gain his attention. Then introduce new but related actions to the play and wait to see, what the child does.
• Keep it simple – don't introduce too many ideas at one go.
• Get into the play – being "in" the play gives the child more chances to learn as it allows more interaction and conversions.
• Take turns – do something with your toy, pause and encourage the child to have his turn to do something with the toy. This encourages back and forth conversions.
• Introduce new ideas – (e.g.) if the child enjoys pretending with vehicles, introduce the theme of stopping at the signal and moving when the light goes "green".
• Expose your child to new experience – every time you visit the new place with your child, that becomes a raw material for pretend play (e.g.) visit to the Zoo, visit to the Restaurant etc.
• Choose the right toys.

When you follow your child's lead, you learn more about your child's interest and develop his thinking skills which he will use throughout his life.

The month of March will be written and remembered in the annals of humankind, and the part it played in a common worldview. The month where the Corona virus became a reality and the world united in a way that has never been seen before.

The mega event for the year, our annual day with the Last leaf of Lorien had just got over, on the 6 th of March, a roaring success and just as we were gathering the accolades and storing the costumes and props away came the rumblings of another macro event that took the world by storm or by sneeze to be more exact. Parents were still gathering the gifts of the annual day in terms of increased confidence, more vocalisations, some changed demeanours as in more maturity, and teachers were trying to get back into the school routine. Reports were being discussed, reviews and plans for next year were just on the horizon and then the entire city, state, country, and the world came to a stand still.

But not for long. The obvious period of a seeming hiatus began to crack in places and each teacher from their own capacity gathered stories, songs, messages, clips, and basically exchanged information and encouragement to and from homes of the students. Each day there was a pop up. Aditi told the story of the little gnomes to her grade 1 children, Usha Suresh sang songs for her senior students. Neha and Puja sent many recordings of the music that they have shared its the children over their music classes.

The parents have been touched and sometimes overwhelmed and grateful at the least. They reported that children who were having difficulties in sleeping and eating were sleeping and eating much better. Shreya and Sai Kishen were two children who were not able to sleep at all and once they heard their school songs, parents reported that they both had a good nights rest. All the effects of the intervention of music and messages from the teachers. Or like always, the children sense what lies behind? The love and true interest that the teachers carry with them always is something the students in KLC can tune in very easily.

All student homes have been given the rhythm of the day which is based on the basic pedagogy that is followed in KLC. So far, nine ten days into the lockdown we have not received any untoward incident being reported from homes. Everyday is a balance of maintaining timing of food and sleep but also keeping the children engaged in artistic and relaxing work alternating with heavy work and housekeeping duties. A few senior students have cooked, independently done yoga, and helped in the house.

It's been heartening to see that when parents are held and taken care of by the community of the school, most of them who would have found life stressful and hard have found this time very productive with their children . Parents have said that it is a god sent opportunity to spend happy times with their wards. "Happy to be united as a family and we really enjoy each other's presence. ..... Bharati sleeps in the night! O my! Corona! "... this is from Elango parent of Akshay Nathan .

What is specially noteworthy is the children themselves. As if they are aware of a larger world happening, they have not had tantrums and melt downs or none that have been so far reported. Parents have reached out and a song or two from their teacher has assuaged their problems. We have always known that our special needs students are tuned at another frequency but this time it's like they know, they are waiting and they are watching with patience and courage like most around them.

Participation in the School Annual Day Celebrations:

The month began on a promising note with our children and staff all geared up for the annual day celebrations. Selected students and staff of VRC participated in the school play. The other children supported by helping in making props for the play. The activity helped to bring out the talents of the children and also help them to bond with children from various departments of V Excel. The children will always cherish the memories of the play "Last Leaf of the Lorien" that was staged on 6th March.

COVID 19 its impact.. The most unexpected happened. The lockdown forced us discontinue the regular classes. Hard times cannot stop us from moving ahead!

How we tackled it:

First worksheets were prepared by the teachers for the students. It was based on the individual capacity of each child. The worksheets included the activities planned in the curriculum; some activity based learning, creative work.

Second each teacher was allotted some students. The teacher would speak to the students at a particular time fixed by the parent on alternate days. This was to keep in touch with the student and parents to help the child to get over any anxiety or behavior issues that they faced during the stay at home.

Third a parent and teachers WhatsApp group was formed. The teachers would post information or activities for the students. Parents could share any interesting activity done by the student; it was to be a platform to share concerns and activities of the children.

Fourth constant reminders about safety and good health are being given over phone to the students and parents.

How it has been progressing:

The students and the parents look forward to the call from the teachers. Many parents have been given a listening ear - to help their child to follow a schedule during the holidays, to improve their knowledge, encourage the children to do activities to keep them busy. Parents are very happy that their children are getting support and also they can share their views.

We all hope that this issue will come to an end soon and hope o have our team back once again at school. Praying for a healthy nation! Let’s be together in thoughts and actions and keep ourselves safe.

Srirangam center, trains students in vocational skills. The vocations they are trained is based on the functional ability. Therapy is the integral part of the training programme. The role of therapy is to facilitate the following skills:

• Gross motor skills
• Fine motor skills
• Co-ordination skills
• Activities of Daily Living
• Endurance
• Physical fitness and
• Functional skills

Therapy contributes to improving performance, satisfaction, quality of life and social skills of person with disabilities. Therapy helps in achieving the vocational skill they are being trained and lead an independent life.

The following are the important components of home training for parents at erode centre.

Bladder and bowel training:

• Learning bladder bowel training is a gradual process
• Don’t make the child feel bad when he cannot do as you expect him to do
• The training is a gradual process.

Feeding in a healthy way:

• Prepare the area
• Position the child comfortably
• Observe the child’s reactions
• Know what the child likes to eat

Bathing and dressing:

• Explain/demonstrate the process
• Allow the child to do what he can do
• Gain the child’s interest

Play:

• Pleasurable exploration of the environment
• Ensure active participation of the child
• Be patient wait for the child’s response
• Provide satisfaction through ending with success of child’s own effort.

Avaz training is included, as a part of early childhood development programme at Tirunelveli centre. Avaz training helps to develop speech in nonverbal children. Children with speech delay have difficulty to express their needs and communicate. In such children Avaz helps to initiate and express their need. Avaz communication is easy for the children to observe and follow it. They can be trained in their mother tongue.

• Improves focus and attention.
• Helps to develop motor coordination of hand movements.
• Helps to express their needs.
• Helps in language building.
• Reduces behavior issues.
• Facilitate activity of daily living training.