First one by one, then two by two, then by the mass..................fortunately Melinda was on hand with helping the flow of play with the little ones (her speciality) and me the bigger kids ( what I find easy). I was worried that the children from 3 - 5 were at risk at putting these beads up
noses and or down ears.........which I was sure Wayne would not have been too happy about having to fish out.
All was good and the only problem was, with most of the children, that they tended put Beads in their pockets ( for later ....of course). After a few days of passively dealing with this, Melinda and mysel
f started the FBI game and all the children either voluntarily turned their pockets out on leaving the craft room or their pockets were patted down for bead contraban........ Melinda and myself even let the children pat our pockets down too...just so they could see it as a game
Some like Wey here, just had that adorable guilty look that gave them away every time.............."Who Me??"
The plan was that they could play and make a necklace or Bracelet - one for Wat Opot shop and one for themselves.
Even though this was a playing situation I felt it was good to give guidance to them about structure in the craft room and how they can help out Wat Opt through having fun and creating.
Here is Rit telling us, when he was questioned on how many items had he made for himself.................it was either that or he was blowing us off with the western style fingers......I truely believe that the first option was what he was doing.............but if you look at what he has on him.....there is 3 pieces of jewellery.................
Okay Okay...... the real answer to this is that, this is what they do in Asia when they are having a camera pionted at them.........its Asia's version for the peace symbol.
We spent about 4 days with the children just playing and making.................bare in mind even though we put up on the display boards even the attempts of the little ones....we did have to recycle some of theirs from time to time.
The time used supervising them with this kind of creativity was full on and at times tiring.....but when you see their faces light up because they have not just made a bracelet but actually were part of a group of children all having fun and creating, and creating something that they chose to put together the way they wanted..........its all just so worth it.This is why I get so passionate about helping the children at Wat Opot with craft.............this is not just an activity to bust bordom........creating and making and discovering through play is of vital importance to a childs development. I also see its benefits as an Art therapy. In this case you could see many of the children growing confidence through making jewellery and anything else they attempted to make with beads,wire and twine.
