For special needs children with Intellectual Disability at a school, Kathmandu
What better way to explain the concept of a circle than a Story about a Circle! “Hi, I am a Circle” is a story that engages the children by showing how a circle changes its color, size, multiplies along the way and moves its position using simple acts of Pressing, Rubbing, Blowing, Tapping and Shaking the storybook. Taking inspiration from the board book ‘Press Here’ by Herve Tullet, this workshop develops the idea further using hand crafted tools and techniques that engages the students, invites them for a sensorial experience and together travel with the Circle in the world of creativity.
The workshop is specifically designed for children of age 3-6 or for children with special learning needs.
On February 25, 2025, The Joy House Collective conducted the first workshop at a school of children with intellectual disability in Kathmandu. This fun-filled participatory workshop began with a circular mystery bag from which the students took out various circular objects and explore different possibilities to play with those. “Hi! I am a Circle” story was introduced to them using Storyboard technique along with hand-crafted tools and sensorial objects. Students showed engaging participation and learnt not only about the shape, but colors, movements, various motor skill developments and brain boosting experiences. After the storytelling session, the students were given a circular musical instrument, a steel tongue drum, that each student had a chance to play with. The healing sound of the instrument engaged even those students who had low hearing abilities and those with severe intellectual disability.
The workshop ended by giving the students home-made snacks of traditional Nepali Selroti (shaped like a doughnut) to reinforce the idea of circle and activate the sense of taste.
To make this event a success, we would like to thank:
- The teachers and students of ‘Resource and Family Counselling School for Intellectual Disabilities’ a community special school in Kathmandu for inviting us and participating in this workshop.
- Anamika Aryal from Warming Hearts Nepal for joining hands with us
- Philipp Neuweiler and his friends for extending their support
- Payal Singh Chaudhary – Trainer
- Bansri Pandey – Trainer
- Himal Bhujel – Photography and Support
- Laxmi Pandey – for making delicious homemade Selroti for the children
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