LIFE IS CREATION!
OneHeartBahrain’s recent creative event for children of all abilities, in partnership with Interactive Minds Center for Rehabilitation, was a spectacle of magic stories. The loving, dynamic combination of activities brought about a deeper connection that extended beyond social engagement to explore energetic exchanges, filled with curiosity and enthusiasm, nurturing stories of life and genuine human interaction.
As you will have noticed from our previous events we love bringing children together in creative harmony with nature. In the heat of summer this is more challenging but we still managed to sneak a little bit of nature appreciation into our event. Here are some noteworthy insights and moments from that day:
Activities Integrated with Purpose & Artistic Creativity
The event beautifully integrated various activities, from art stations and storytelling circles to sensory play with clay dough and chilled culinary creations. Each activity served a distinct purpose, collectively nurturing the children with a varied array of experiences.
Children enthusiastically shared their creative artworks with parents and fellow participants, celebrating their achievements and nurturing a sense of pride and accomplishment among the young artists.
The children gained various benefits, including improving their creative skills through crafting, practicing empathy during group activities with mixed special needs and mainstream children, and discovering self-expression through art, turning Interactive Minds into a holistic creative playground.
The connection between all these activities lies in their multifaceted approach to learning and engagement:
- Cooking: Making art out of healthy fruit, encouraged a hands-on and engaging way for children to learn about food, nutrition, and culinary skills in a creative and fun environment.
- Construction: Making colorful clay dough from scratch using kitchen ingredients for creative modeling provided a tactile experience of sculpting and building, promoting fine motor skills, creativity, and spatial awareness.
- Storytelling: Teaching children how to create a narrative for a puppet show and bring it to life by creating their own puppets and finally putting on their own little puppet story, promoting communication skills, creativity, and emotional expression through engaging narratives.
- Nature and Art: Incorporating nature elements into design provided the opportunity for the children to participate in integrated creativity with the natural world, nurturing artistic expression inspired by the environment as well as love and appreciation for nature.
- Tech: Engaging with technology in a creative, playful and interactive way encouraging digital literacy and problem-solving skills in the children, promoting innovation and understanding of how technology can be applied to support human creativity.
Together, these activities offered diverse opportunities for children to explore different facets of learning—whether through hands-on creativity and self-expression, communication, connection with nature, or technological exploration—contributing to a holistic creative experience.
Diverse Expressions of Childhood & Learning through Engagement
Throughout the event, it was clear that learning extended beyond structured activities. Children showed curiosity, asking questions and exchanging insights with peers and volunteers. Right from the start, each child brought their vibrant energy to the event. Some were excited, eagerly diving into activities, while others quietly explored with keen interest, observing their surroundings. This varied spectrum of expressions honored each child’s distinctive qualities & highlighted the event’s inclusive environment, embracing children of all personalities and interests.
Inclusive Environment & Authentic Interactions
A standout feature of the event was inclusion, bringing together children from diverse backgrounds and abilities. The integration of special needs and mainstream children highlighted the power of diversity in enriching collective experiences. Interactions between children of different abilities were characterized by mutual respect, empathy, and a spirit of cooperation, showing the transformative impact of inclusive settings. The mixed setting was a revelation. Special needs children interacted happily with their mainstream peers and vice versa. They learned from one another, breaking down barriers and coming together as a one heart family of kids. Another heartening aspect was witnessing the genuine interactions between children and volunteers. Whether exploring an intriguing object or engaging in storytelling, the volunteers nurtured a space where children felt empowered to express themselves freely.
Volunteers: The Heartbeat of OneHeart
Behind every successful event are dedicated teachers and volunteers who go above and beyond to ensure a positive experience for all participants. They patiently answered questions, encouraged exploration, and honored the individuality of every child. Their dedication and warmth made the event truly special. Their kindness and commitment remained unwavering throughout the day as they organized activities and provided consistent support and motivation.
In summary, the event was a testament to the transformative power of community, creativity, and inclusion. It goes to show the profound impact that supportive environments and meaningful interactions can have on a child’s development and their enthusiasm to explore new horizons. Through instances of creativity, curiosity, and companionship, we not only creatively nurtured young minds but also cultivated a sense of belonging and mutual respect among all participants. It was a celebration of childhood, creation, and the boundless potential that dwells within each child.
OneHeartBahrain is grateful to the dedicated partners who delivered the magic of the creative workshops including Gloria’s Team, Deepthi Peter, Algorithmics, Kids Nature Club International and Anandi’s Special Heroes. And of course to Interactive Minds who generously offered their venue for the event. The success of the event was down to the coming together as one heart of this community of partners, all contributing creative expertise to make this day magical for the children.
Stay tuned as we explore more stories of hope, creativity, and connection from the heart of OneHeartBahrain!
