tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-181594332024-03-06T09:12:57.511+05:30ToybankDevelopment Through Play Toybank Indiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14444795750345543854noreply@blogger.comBlogger400125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18159433.post-592704325358791802022-10-10T18:14:00.003+05:302022-10-10T18:14:24.295+05:30Mental Health through Power of Play<p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Find out why Play is critical to paving the way to a healthy mind...</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Play is self-care</span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-1ace9a47-7fff-ba17-daaa-b123ade9877b"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Play evokes memories of childhood like little else. Whether hide-n-seek on family picnics, building sandcastles on the beach, football during lunch hour at school, tea-time in the toy kitchen under grandma’s bed, solving newspaper puzzles every Sunday, putting together a fancy car with empty matchboxes or talking to imaginary animals created by the shadows on the wall - play evokes a feeling of warmth and happiness. Play time has also been about self awareness, self-expression and most importantly, self-care. Every 10th of October, we keep reminding ourselves about the importance of mental health but forget to highlight that one clear path towards mental well-being is defined by play.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio3ORv_z03u1J4_RT8BujNg4yNg6gBpVjqIGumWfhtflvtMd9ZEGhwiqr8rBMWOQ7_G8B7aXKH9wLgvdNmynJld69b9rrNvHhXCg1Xx7api49LAdyAYIjUpbkWth9gJ7aJi90omoKdEwguJqRjGzZ79Zi0q4kjmRlepGnmeKAuI6hk3x6qYg/s1080/Mental%20Health%20Day%20%20%20(2).png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio3ORv_z03u1J4_RT8BujNg4yNg6gBpVjqIGumWfhtflvtMd9ZEGhwiqr8rBMWOQ7_G8B7aXKH9wLgvdNmynJld69b9rrNvHhXCg1Xx7api49LAdyAYIjUpbkWth9gJ7aJi90omoKdEwguJqRjGzZ79Zi0q4kjmRlepGnmeKAuI6hk3x6qYg/s320/Mental%20Health%20Day%20%20%20(2).png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><b id="docs-internal-guid-aef3d879-7fff-5793-348d-a44a8030feeb" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Mind loves Play</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-798fb533-7fff-587b-e44f-94a32c94153e" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Anyone can engage in play. Any place is suitable for play. Any time is a good time to play. Yet not everyone has the opportunity to feel empowered by the power of play. Dr Stuart Brown, internationally renowned psychiatrist and clinical researcher collected the play histories of over 6000 adults and made some unexpected correlation between childhood play and antisocial behaviour in adulthood. He points out that often adults who had not engaged in simple ‘rough-n-tumble’ games in childhood lack social skills to differentiate between appropriate and inappropriate levels of aggression. In fact, Toybank’s three year impact study in the Malvani area also indicates the drop in aggressiveness amongst children after they participate in our play sessions. Research around neurosciences and neurotransmitters is still developing but release of hormones such as dopamine, endocannabinoids, opiates and IGF-1 in the brain is perceived to be connected to play.</span></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK4NF2BAElLkrxOof3cRp5XBDjnVT5OIfI0BMugWJE-x8h5HInmM2-52lP1fwEfQ63MkcOe9VpLBSvcGyJjkHg4bUjHf4yrtp35hvEgUYSFYlO3jLhx-UmlP1nt4y9NT8ijdz1rIo_W9_35-ayMYEu5mlJe7xvuhxHq8e_h8fuQ-UbODfKuw/s1080/Mental%20Health%20Day%20%20%20(1).png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK4NF2BAElLkrxOof3cRp5XBDjnVT5OIfI0BMugWJE-x8h5HInmM2-52lP1fwEfQ63MkcOe9VpLBSvcGyJjkHg4bUjHf4yrtp35hvEgUYSFYlO3jLhx-UmlP1nt4y9NT8ijdz1rIo_W9_35-ayMYEu5mlJe7xvuhxHq8e_h8fuQ-UbODfKuw/s320/Mental%20Health%20Day%20%20%20(1).png" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; white-space: pre-wrap;">Play to heal</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-4f24006c-7fff-a7a1-fb49-40b538c7bef7"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Play lets children gain a sense of agency by being in control. This enables them to become confident decision-makers in the future. Playful engagement also builds community through a sense of affiliation and belonging, thus becoming a stepping stone towards trust-building in relationships. What makes play an intrinsically joyful experience is the sense of safety that comes from being in a non-judgemental environment, just like our Play2Learn centres aim to create. While the pandemic-hit generation grapples with the crisis caused by mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety and lack of motivation, it is imperative that we acknowledge play deprivation as the public health hazard that it truly is. Mainstreaming play is essential for healthy and happy childhoods that transition into fulfilling adult lives.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p>Toybank Indiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14444795750345543854noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18159433.post-22043589383667128852022-09-15T19:11:00.006+05:302022-09-15T19:11:57.893+05:30Volunteer Dalee Davis recounts Toybank’s 18th birthday…<p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjRV8LtUFe2nz91zu8u9boeVPcPnXWfD20fthCl0dpGx_TMhXpYMdlfg_RZ6VAEVXn6r8V0LvShl7Lms1Emrz7MMmgSVnabRkeg1usD1CXaumijHACJ8caxlH8M0uuw3gGlQUr8YOR_ctTTgpTmBiWMKd_q5r00cj19VkTKnssVOw12ZwYaPQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"></a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEizpjAdZCi6C3YzS3l8Kc4VC2eFUdAwGmJtjvw9PipeYwSt3wpx-wi_rCpEkGyJZfH7YJ_rzduBScHm81vKzAnqgkeVgXub_RY-1kw2vcII3Y-xN3z1tl_YYF9yYkri0lrRaWBJVkoSuID599P4OmLowV_ohhI8v3rG5B9TSv-0Bzyw94LOTA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEizpjAdZCi6C3YzS3l8Kc4VC2eFUdAwGmJtjvw9PipeYwSt3wpx-wi_rCpEkGyJZfH7YJ_rzduBScHm81vKzAnqgkeVgXub_RY-1kw2vcII3Y-xN3z1tl_YYF9yYkri0lrRaWBJVkoSuID599P4OmLowV_ohhI8v3rG5B9TSv-0Bzyw94LOTA=w400-h400" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-23acef23-7fff-bf37-48df-11dd27d2725f"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I was restless on the morning of Saturday, 27th of August. It was Toybank’s 18th birthday and for me, my first physical volunteering opportunity. There was so much excitement for the day to unfurl - after having virtually volunteered for a few months at Toybank, this was my first ever physical event. I didn’t know what to expect, what to do, how to help and of course, how to have fun!</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 280px; overflow: hidden; width: 602px;"><img height="280" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/d93khfBRmil81NIFt8cjjB__1Aceo2Bt_dvyQV956ytpMV2QM0RDLcBIK5EYQDiow8AqVpYd7MZ16yYz7haYeRTJm_tEjLT6N_18qJaAAjP76VLUkULwz6Hz70eM9wKdyLQJKHEsqX5H4aGz8jcv8Rp3YWCpQs--eONgRZds8UXKdffCr7oQaE9yDQ" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="602" /></span></span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">At the beginning</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When I reached the venue, sitting in a mid-sized classroom of a BMC school complex in the Govandi area of Mumbai, I found myself feeling nostalgic. I squeezed myself to adjust and sit on the small wooden desks and tables and was curious about the day that was about to unpack. The briefing session from Toybank would soon put my anxiety to rest, I hoped. I was the first volunteer to reach the school and there I met Charu and a few other amazing folks from Toybank.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The notion of a briefing session sounded too rigid to me at first but on the contrary, it was so fun. We played games so we were pumped up to take the day head-on. I relived my childhood while we volunteers and the Toybank team members were playing so many games. That 15-minute session gave a lot of insight into what Toybank is aiming to achieve through the power of play and how it’s bringing a tremendous change in society, one play session at a time.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgij9rs9gM9opm8U7GSNoGFTVwChA0-CzP5m1z5VmkFbvlCiNXecWMY1Burulf4bs9A20JpHItM0ApmgqBnQktVaUh-QS9wnTEE0BVXzHOVxj5vVqNoK8y2jwsyB2JPa4jImlajReuRPUOclFmT2SwjzH-V6jNwEU64-Ruo2sWqzok9uhajrA/s4088/Volunteers_Toybank%20Birthday%20Distribution_27082022%20(14).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center; white-space: normal;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1804" data-original-width="4088" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgij9rs9gM9opm8U7GSNoGFTVwChA0-CzP5m1z5VmkFbvlCiNXecWMY1Burulf4bs9A20JpHItM0ApmgqBnQktVaUh-QS9wnTEE0BVXzHOVxj5vVqNoK8y2jwsyB2JPa4jImlajReuRPUOclFmT2SwjzH-V6jNwEU64-Ruo2sWqzok9uhajrA/w640-h282/Volunteers_Toybank%20Birthday%20Distribution_27082022%20(14).jpg" width="640" /></a></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Play as a cause</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">One thing that resonated with me so well during the briefing was Toybank’s thrust on development through play. When I was growing up, learning and playing were treated as separate trails of life. Importance was given to formal learning, leaving us all wanting for more play and simultaneously feeling disassociated with the learning process. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What Toybank aims is to join the two paths of learning and play. Many studies have proven that skills learned with a mix of games and activities tend to have a higher rate of engagement and execution. Toybank’s play programme aims to bridge this gap with innovation in education and help develop more empathetic and emotionally intelligent human beings for our society.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The other thing I learned during this volunteering opportunity was how my work was impacting change in society. I was playing a small role in achieving this vision and I got a birds-eye view of how I was fitting into the puzzle.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjeNe9zUJOWPcZG69kINe7Lr-1iBK6y0m-QPJnhAH0Wx52xvIOCYpLS6xMo0u1INNKV7WgqpfSLSQd6tX4KBlY2pHxtPxsnvOhI6EEFZ0wWqbH0YeU6nWhSd3iKHwoOkllghrIlftHRlDKgh5yY33yV79u-4BCQAE2jExgJs4u_b3nNa--vNA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1664" data-original-width="3584" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjeNe9zUJOWPcZG69kINe7Lr-1iBK6y0m-QPJnhAH0Wx52xvIOCYpLS6xMo0u1INNKV7WgqpfSLSQd6tX4KBlY2pHxtPxsnvOhI6EEFZ0wWqbH0YeU6nWhSd3iKHwoOkllghrIlftHRlDKgh5yY33yV79u-4BCQAE2jExgJs4u_b3nNa--vNA=w640-h298" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: 700; white-space: pre-wrap;">My day made special</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We were given one agenda: “To play and have fun while you play!” We had an open ground and we could come up with an idea to play and engage with kids. At the end of each session, we were to distribute a play kit to each of these students. My first session started with students of sixth standard and I was really nervous about what games I could play to engage with them. I entered the class of 40 and all the children were very excited to see us. I was overwhelmed by the warm welcome. They shared with us what they aim to become and how they pursued their hobbies. We had a few engaging sessions on geography and then some on motor skills, the biggest highlight being dancing on a very famous hook step.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">My second session was with children with disabilities. The class was big with no benches. There were just mats on the ground, a few games scattered and a handful of very excited faces. Never have I ever played football inside a classroom and had so much fun! I was literally out of breath and our team did win after a long tiring 15 minutes of the game.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">My third session was with fifth standard students. By this time, I had gained a little confidence and we started engaging with students more effortlessly. We met so many talented artists in a class of 40. Then we had a closing session and I met quite like-minded individuals who were so geared up with the vision of Toybank. I met volunteers who were associated with Toybank for more than 10 years and felt so inspired.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 401px; overflow: hidden; width: 602px;"><img height="401" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/JeV-MuAoQE7lcTkznyjOyS9FFvgzmODwhEC3xHcExcz9CsjUinjyQoAUvy2Uo84dcFEjr4m6Hw6aeEe_aH-WjB5XveJikB5nnxtupirnEOXFZKuE0UsAoejR7bkvxHhZAf853F7WTyy3Zz-1_aXDYggglGXrq7yvyaC2KUp3dSxwTDlT23b2tOZ9WA" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="602" /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I am a Toybanker!</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The event was very well planned. From photographers to toy distributors to our very own clown, played by a retired naval officer Pravin Tulpule, Toybank had it all covered. Kudos to each and every member of the Toybank family for making the birthday event full of joy and contentment. My first physical volunteering experience with Toybank will always be full of memories and nostalgia. The vision of Toybank is really strong and is core to many of us. As a child, haven’t we all felt that, </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Please, thoda aur time khelne do”?</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Bringing innovation in learning through play and helping shape a better future for all of us is a much-needed step towards building a more empathetic society.</span></p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />Toybank Indiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14444795750345543854noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18159433.post-42593824179972448562022-09-05T18:47:00.011+05:302022-09-06T13:01:25.479+05:30 Why teachers love to teach through Play <p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;">While Play has proven to build a wide variety of crucial life skills in children, research shows a decrease in playtime for children across the globe, with structured activities or homework taking its place. It is essential that children are allowed time to play freely as play fosters holistic life skills like creativity, critical thinking and socio-emotional skills that are needed for children to be ready to face our ever-changing world. <br /><br />With the National Education Policy (NEP 2020) of India now encouraging play-based education, what better place to enable children to play to learn than at school? Here’s what teachers from Toybank's Play Centres have to say about play: </p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><br /></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-e1e013d6-7fff-06e7-cfd7-321b24885a55"><ol style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Play helps children learn to collaborate </span></p></li></ol><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 31.5pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Quicksand, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjzdQ6vA1EBp56IwSEo0QeLjuxpjZAoaMp1V9hwetKFYwAlMYVX6hGkrIs79dU-oLzDWJE8zpRnkOIfYgynINrbuJFBQ4t_v01K3h00r68BVR2znFIj2L21c3ABBn8NBhZ1jE2Pd-7GIxKjcYiMBIP_EafldhSgMVMJnHmabRSyd14PmpY6PQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjzdQ6vA1EBp56IwSEo0QeLjuxpjZAoaMp1V9hwetKFYwAlMYVX6hGkrIs79dU-oLzDWJE8zpRnkOIfYgynINrbuJFBQ4t_v01K3h00r68BVR2znFIj2L21c3ABBn8NBhZ1jE2Pd-7GIxKjcYiMBIP_EafldhSgMVMJnHmabRSyd14PmpY6PQ=w400-h400" width="400" /></a></div><br /></span><p></p><ol start="2" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Play enables children to keep their worries aside and happily learn </span></p></li></ol><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br /><span face="Quicksand, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEitdMl4ymnXnR22QH8wlAOODe_TX6uQJ--PEL585laooON7Lh734knOpanHRiSxWS2xNVKgCddlnYWEpIaoZoCtHN8IHMOReCbqnOKNMHHEkBBjqgBkvzIgnlmQ1ctT5rEvq7yZ8_Zn0nLWXo2Fq_WbAbpjs8gyRYWPup0Y0pG7y6KgH_qznA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEitdMl4ymnXnR22QH8wlAOODe_TX6uQJ--PEL585laooON7Lh734knOpanHRiSxWS2xNVKgCddlnYWEpIaoZoCtHN8IHMOReCbqnOKNMHHEkBBjqgBkvzIgnlmQ1ctT5rEvq7yZ8_Zn0nLWXo2Fq_WbAbpjs8gyRYWPup0Y0pG7y6KgH_qznA=w400-h400" width="400" /></a></div></div><br /><p></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><span><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span face="Quicksand, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; text-align: left;">3. Play fosters a love for learning in children </span></span></p></span></blockquote><span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhxJCnXwN0hSZjraaWAieeejli7nmk_fR23lIq5MwYAOMkPwpwGr-a_ALE6G8Ggm8dvuPFps8arI6BgkyD-J6wXZQbgbwl2Kd5lMG3jNqK6GasVK5gWi8J3p2oTSaZhWzsSpw-6HhSdG-AroCnKqT7sKH7tXiF8oHK8HGh0Ij7jlUR7YMqx6g" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhxJCnXwN0hSZjraaWAieeejli7nmk_fR23lIq5MwYAOMkPwpwGr-a_ALE6G8Ggm8dvuPFps8arI6BgkyD-J6wXZQbgbwl2Kd5lMG3jNqK6GasVK5gWi8J3p2oTSaZhWzsSpw-6HhSdG-AroCnKqT7sKH7tXiF8oHK8HGh0Ij7jlUR7YMqx6g=w400-h400" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br /></div></span><p style="text-align: left;"><span><span id="docs-internal-guid-15244a46-7fff-41c7-a104-9feef894f7ab"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Play enables children to collaborate with their peers, build on their aptitude, express themselves, learn at their own pace and relate concepts to the world around them. It is essential for children to hone their socio-emotional, cognitive, creative and critical thinking skills at school to be better prepped to navigate this ever-evolving world. </span></span></span></p><div><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span><span><p></p><br /></span></div>Toybank Indiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14444795750345543854noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18159433.post-76678428299458968372022-08-10T18:01:00.001+05:302022-08-23T17:13:29.618+05:30The Sibling paradox: to play or not to play? <p style="text-align: left;">Siblings are best friends that you are blessed with and most likely spend the most time playing with growing up. These relationships span unmatched rivalry to late-night bonding sessions discussing life and challenges on each other’s bed. However, one thing you can count on siblings to do is to create unforgettable memories made during play-time—from lucky breaks and intense strategies to striking the winning moves. Here are some games that bring back the nostalgia of staying home and playing with siblings. </p><h3 style="text-align: left;">Monopoly </h3><p style="text-align: left;">This game helped us learn a bit about how real estate works. Children learn how to make decisions on how some spaces are more valuable than others and simultaneously develop their cognitive as well as executive function skills. However, never once has this game ever been completed in peace when played with siblings as someone has amassed more money and property and is close to making the others bankrupt - chaos ensues.</p><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-1aec95a5-7fff-6b0a-4406-d280cbe964c5"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 287px; overflow: hidden; width: 378px;"><img height="287" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_0ew2hYO-qJsJWeLG4IDgHOUp_vcfDaydnRGUGfhfPWH1QuBBqIgkHhn3SrVsXfezbS74lgLkunOzoTO2j9cpOciQ8V1GTuB70P8yXKJP6heYVjN6yUH9al33_2jP1ayrGQzA-iaSIO1of8rYcBi6jU" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="378" /></span></span></span></div><div><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">UNO</h3><p style="text-align: left;">This colourful card game teaches kids colour and number recognition and observation skills. Especially, when played with siblings it boosts exceptional attention to detail among many other things. Suddenly each sibling is well-aware of how many cards the other has picked or the number of cards one threw down in the pile. Uno has also been tweaked with households having created different rules with the much debated<i>: Can you play a Draw 4 on a Draw 2?</i> Thus UNO helps children build their creativity as they create new challenges and rules for the game, as well as, always keep an eye out for the hidden Draw-4 that could be hiding in their sibling's hands.</p><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-43fe3913-7fff-e726-d184-9dd0b4b77478"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 328px; overflow: hidden; width: 222px;"><img height="328" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/NHW_QvYoBJxGJo9tenGeCUyeChwczEQpB7y83rsECjq-FsfiyOQ9gYAFWXkx6KkrUZ0uUxYaJhycdEUYTWF8LjOLejBDgROtljMKqlhvdUNAxNV2JB9P0OPU4waNslNZhXBBr_ZdNtJo2Efm2yxHd7E" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="222" /></span></span></span></div><div><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">Hide and Seek </h3><div>While this game developed our gross motor coordination, muscle development and builds strength. It also encourages the children to observe and come up with good hiding spots. However, when played with siblings, this game encourages children to think extra hard about where to hide or to think outside the box- whether it is to go outside the designated area for hiding or camouflaging in the background. </div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-d1c5d285-7fff-5221-65da-d0d0d9bdfc2c"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 247px; overflow: hidden; width: 345px;"><img height="247" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/7qRnRC1WYisXmWHzgeROVJGiBXeyOzJ_c2GkO5c_caFVklJnR0CIvhiBAVAT_ut9p9O1i6-PZksoRWZp3Ek6iyWMRHgWZzSGJ7ro8aSqooPoiYsTo831xx8Tx9g6oqTYqnPbfajf-IdkK0QnSaP34VY" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="345" /></span></span></span></div><div><br /></div><div>It’s these play-filled moments that build the foundation of support and trust for the rest of our life. While sibling relationships are often affected by family dynamics, age, gender and more, it’s during playtime that children get to interact with each other on an equal footing and connect as individuals. Sibling bonds strengthen and they become our support system through the time spent playing together - whether it is one-on-one or as a team with other members of the family. games played with them that we bond, develop critical thinking and social skills while creating memories that last a lifetime. </div><div><br /></div><div>Image Credits: Gifs sourced from Giphy.com and Tenor.com</div>Toybank Indiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14444795750345543854noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18159433.post-8756239300690481062022-08-10T17:42:00.002+05:302022-08-10T17:42:10.893+05:30Build Back Happiness Through Play<blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><h2 style="text-align: left;"> <span style="font-family: Quicksand, sans-serif; font-size: 13pt; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;">Toybank’s Play2Learn Programme Update Report for April-June 2022</span></h2></blockquote><div><div style="text-align: center;"><img height="329.31208355255205" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/ovBMzEJi1YpNbSuoLN6zcnDW6Mi6HIR2qZXkoyVjnY_DM4VA-0z7Qrv0dJDDK4N7QGmS8k00p7ZOzhZHYmEgDE0MHgmihd9wqvRovgEgYCDB0bcpp38kNWZ6tc9ehcXmr9dqQXSGVY7DQe3zXTX2YZw" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="394" /></div><span id="docs-internal-guid-885fb888-7fff-274c-a0f3-bbed83cb04fe"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Quicksand, sans-serif; font-size: 13pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“</span><span style="font-family: Quicksand, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Living in a low-income family that resides in the slum areas of Dhobi Ghat, Rajesh (name changed) wasn’t exposed to many spatial-skill building games or toys at home. When</span><span style="font-family: Quicksand, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> our Programme Officer introduced a new game called </span><span style="font-family: Quicksand, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Tangram</span><span style="font-family: Quicksand, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> to the class, Rajesh was super excited to see it. He loved the vibrant colours and challenge the game posed. Initially, he couldn't figure out how sharp shapes like squares and triangles could build a rounded shape like a heart. </span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Quicksand, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When he got stuck, he raised his hand and asked a Programme Officer to guide him. After a little guidance, Rajesh together with his bench mate put together a heart with semi-circles. The 7-year-old slowly understood how simple geometric shapes like circles, triangles and rectangles can come together to form complex shapes of heart, parallelograms, as well as shapes of animals. </span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Quicksand, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Building spatial ability at a young age will lay the foundation to comprehend subjects like geometry, 3D objects and build spatial intelligence that’s needed to pursue professions in design, engineering, architecture and more.</span><span style="font-family: Quicksand, sans-serif; font-size: 13pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">”</span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Quicksand, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">—Story shared by Alisha Lobo, Programme Officer in charge of Play2Learn Centre U148, Abhinav Dhyan Mandir School</span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Quicksand, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-47264b0c-7fff-5263-d067-99c4bc5f905a"></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Quicksand, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-575e2271-7fff-c9b2-4fe7-7f236dc2ce50"><p dir="ltr" style="font-family: Quicksand, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">The new academic year brought about a sense of excitement and hope for what lies ahead—a post-pandemic time where children can regularly attend school, engage with learning in the classroom and continue to play with their friends. As schools and our Play2Learn centres slowly re-opened after the summer vacations, our team was ready to kick-start our in-person play sessions and interactions with the children and teachers. The teachers welcomed the children back to school with Play, </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline;">creating a safe and happy learning environment in their classrooms</span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"> for every student, with the support of our Programme Officers. We are humbled, yet take immense pride in our team who have ensured that the progress we have made for our children won’t reverse. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="font-family: Quicksand, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="border: 1pt solid #000000; display: inline-block; height: 272px; overflow: hidden; width: 325px;"><img height="272" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/Oh8IYkcxk0oA0wAETKNQAi0bsoeMY2ksVDR3ojG7ATpX5qc6tUI-rcL1PtSBD3hYnY_Tt4pnn0bwVaYloRgM9soWpf862o3G0quWrnOM_mG5J6n6CeMxCpCEeYygrSo2SSpiDg5fDCkH5BzU-EPSNuY" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="325" /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Quicksand, sans-serif;"><u>Toybank - Development through Play,</u> has been delivering it’s hybrid Play2Learn programme to <b>60,000+ children across 12 districts in Maharashtra and 4 states and 1 Union Territory in India</b>. The programme guides and supports <b>19,500 caregivers</b> through <b>645 support groups </b>and<b> 420+ Play2Learn centres</b> (as of 30th June 2022).
Here’s a quick update of all the work done together between April-June 2022. We look forward to continuing to create safe, happy learning spaces with opportunities for them to learn and holistically develop through Play!</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Quicksand, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Quicksand, sans-serif;"><b>387 Play2Learn sessions were conducted by our Programme Officers and partner teachers. </b>In quarter 1, while Programme Officers conducted in-person Play2Learn Sessions once the schools reopened after the summer break, our partner teachers also incorporated our Play2Learn activities into their daily lesson plan. They conducted games and solved Play2Learn sheets on the board in order to have engaging classes as they welcomed children back to school.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Quicksand, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-c7338dba-7fff-5eb9-4113-99e439be0a11"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="border: 1pt solid #000000; display: inline-block; height: 353px; overflow: hidden; width: 419px;"><img height="353" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/PHfANtzhi-8_HCa4AWtzKG3g4Zd9Ey0YQUDwvqml5kH_X_P6WrKAxspJg2Zw2mlXbfoxJsusM32UQdvcLDlMZfgK7XYb05L5yvbmN0A7X2NXoJQ20XvYAN4bImJWFRXq6_26-I3t6YLRU2SIrKlmQzY" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="419" /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-d1ba97fc-7fff-a471-5bde-922714c12302"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #1c4587; font-family: Quicksand, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Children from our Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Prathmik Vidyalaya Play2Learn centre in Mumbai learn about parts of the body, mathematical equations and animal names through Puzzle games stocked up at the centre, during play sessions led by the Toybank team and teachers.</span><span style="font-family: Quicksand, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Quicksand, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Quicksand, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Through </span><span style="font-family: Quicksand, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">WhatsApp Support Groups, we delivered</span><span style="font-family: Quicksand, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-family: Quicksand, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">62 Play2Learn digital activities </span><span style="font-family: Quicksand, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">that were professionally designed to include age-appropriate content aligned with their academic curriculum, life skills and socio-emotional skills. The activities aided in the development of integral life skills like critical thinking, socio-emotional well-being, and cognitive skills, while also aligning with their academic curriculum.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Quicksand, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-a9ff47f8-7fff-60c8-dd08-d6cdb595246b"><span style="border: 1pt solid #000000; display: inline-block; height: 262px; overflow: hidden; width: 417px;"><img height="262" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/bAzI-KPEdRTMlnUefliKhpx77bZFTeKjYfAMP4R3h79HCYbzV6gmlFWwmj3Psmr0k-_IbutRoktLlYhMFGrxR39TzVyCmMaDPeHNo3UcUJKTFn7LUDlNq7zeA182xreKYt9r9AiSgPL6UUljlcMuBHc" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="417" /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-52c8be80-7fff-8941-8df2-af6195b4006d"><span style="color: #1c4587; font-family: Quicksand, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Children build on their alphabet identification and language skills through the activity ‘Find the Letter’. Teachers also used the sheets in their classes, further supporting the children to transition back to in-person learning from digital.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span><span style="color: #1c4587; font-family: Quicksand, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-71ac7953-7fff-bd83-8006-0edec2bd267e"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Quicksand, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The teachers also used the Play2Learn sheets as a tool in their classes when schools reopened in June, making the session more engaging and fun for the children. </span><a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/14QhKEMOA2wsASMgdVmRCdo3PAKPhSFy8/view" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Quicksand, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Here’s a video</span></a><span style="font-family: Quicksand, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> of how Supriya Sakharkar, teacher from Mumbai Public School Rajawadi (CBSE), used our Digital Play2Learn sheet- ‘Sentence Snakes’ in her classroom to help children learn short and long sentence formation. </span></p><br /><ul style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; list-style-type: disc; margin-left: -13.5pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Quicksand, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 500; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Between April-June 2022, we conducted </span><span style="font-family: Quicksand, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Power of Play Workshops for 296 teachers from 133 centres,</span><span style="font-family: Quicksand, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 500; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> which supported them in aligning play-based learning with their academic curriculum and effectively using the Play2Learn digital activities and board games at the centres. The workshop was geared to:</span></p></li></ul><ol style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Quicksand, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: lower-alpha; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Reconnect the teachers to the benefits of Play-based Learning and re-orient them about the Toybank Hybrid Play2Learn Programme</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Quicksand, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: lower-alpha; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Train them on new games and how to effectively use them inside classrooms as a part of their daily classroom teaching to build a healthy Teacher-Student bond</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Quicksand, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: lower-alpha; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Maintain a strong relationship between our field programme officer and the teachers to ensure effective facilitation of Play2Learn Sessions and better classroom management as they integrate play into their classes.</span></p></li></ol><div><span style="font-family: Quicksand, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-449e1b47-7fff-a05e-db53-46c5545779f6"><span style="border: 1pt solid #000000; display: inline-block; height: 424px; overflow: hidden; width: 505px;"><img height="424" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/OggRrY4s8IOybG5cl3K4IQgBQxSH9eS4WZ7FRdc2fgXhg0bILs5fRtGkboBUPzYQJ7pMmYDabyjRzEIoUfaVYL9NUoiXYerEy6lFKQDroxpgukWm2ngvnzsA-9l8fsiBPLP_e6Ifr8k3W1ZNC5C4G3s" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="505" /></span></span></div></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-0bb5df4c-7fff-cd82-848a-f1cc1d7dd56c"><span style="background-color: white; color: #0b5394; font-family: Quicksand, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Teachers collaborated, shared their challenges and worked together to complete puzzles and games during the ‘Power of Play workshops’ held in Mumbai in May 2022. A total of They also identified and discussed various skills each game would boost in children post the session. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span><span style="background-color: white; color: #0b5394; font-family: Quicksand, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-4b005ddf-7fff-fb50-0ecd-af5f08a9a5e6"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Quicksand, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“While we are all from different schools and don’t get to meet each other often, together we learn to understand each other's point of view and cooperate to solve the puzzles. I believe that students will also learn the importance of listening, responding and collaborating through these games,”</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Quicksand, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> said Deepika Bhaskar, Teacher, Dadar Woollen Mills Municipal School (ICSE), after attending the Power of Play workshop.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Quicksand, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“This is my first training session. I haven't attended any such session before as I just joined the school 2 months back. Through the training, I learned how we can teach children through Play. I really liked the games: ‘Multiplica’ and ‘Multiples and Factors’ as they teach the children the 4 mathematical functions of addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. I was impressed with the game and will use these games to teach children math,” </span><span style="font-family: Quicksand, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">shared Gaikwad Saibho, Teacher from Shree Chatrapati Shivaji Jr Basic School, Nanded during his post-session</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Quicksand, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/149Gn1v_HCYnC3uYP3V_8iOT4DKXGOcnf/view?usp=sharing" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: Quicksand, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">feedback interview.</span></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Quicksand, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Quicksand, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-3fe5675f-7fff-2f03-861d-be9758506b45"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">Replacement of 4638 Games across 171 Play2Learn Centres: </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">After permissions to conduct in-person meetings came through post the reopening of schools after the summer break, our POs were able to conduct stock checks at the Play2Learn Centres and initiate the process of restocking games and play material. The partner teachers see this positively, as now, children will have opportunities to learn and play from not just the digital Play2Learn sheets but also board games.</span></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Quicksand, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Quicksand, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-b744c18b-7fff-ef1d-6d5a-61597fcc3996"><span style="border: 1pt solid #000000; display: inline-block; height: 276px; overflow: hidden; width: 318px;"><img height="276" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/37UgZt7JwEgHmvtHmzDxuoL2080v-PtFsOO7gPN4GJuqTCpMJUcbAvyk2_ITFy09hM_gReMOLfcj69gEMKAIw5yVZfdigYMdl1KNIIUyqsjrJF_oG7tUTeSFKirU4NrcOho3caOd427q-qzXFjOr5D0" style="margin-left: -10.692403486924045px; margin-top: 0px;" width="328.692403486924" /></span></span></span><img height="274" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/n8xskYG0S-pdt9FUiErzfa5vfXA1Q4Uf5leCSRH8KcNHf9F3zqmrOrvpfJ6WQxfuGxtnqh_x8mY2_9wzMBdxzKx3BpYDmFTNmjeWPXuaUfW7wpEE4JaS4IC8ui-kp0aFZlBba18SB5yxiDKdVS_W8cU" style="background-color: transparent; margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="327" /></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Quicksand, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 14.6667px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Quicksand, sans-serif;"><b>As schools and community centres reopened, the children excitedly engaged with the newly stocked games at the centres. Games like ‘Junior Mechanix and Stacking Drums’ enabled the children as they transitioned back to in-person learning from digital. </b></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Quicksand, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>(Z.P.P.S. Yeli, Osmanabad and Kushi Bal Bhavan Centre, Ahmednagar)</b></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Quicksand, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Quicksand, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-413c8e0a-7fff-f3ad-3405-7e5f6abf54bc"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline;">World Play Day Celebrations: On 28th of May</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">, Team Toybank organised a <a href="http://blog.toybank.org/2022/05/ToybankWorldPlayDay2022.html">Play-based Drama Workshop</a>, led by the popular actor-coach Shaun Williams. The workshop enabled children to express themselves, explore their creativity, and learn fundamental movement techniques using their bodies. </span></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Quicksand, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Quicksand, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-c6a51214-7fff-1f9e-c2d0-d549548259f9"><span style="border: 1pt solid #000000; display: inline-block; height: 278px; overflow: hidden; width: 498px;"><img height="278" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/4uMd-m8DGTwOCKfQALwat9XvAnN2b9Jh13ouVDVxkf4_z3QYojA_VZ7I3B_EMTMMWsDDuVZq_i99sHcqfWJdO57405HVNuNGYMl218UEzVEUYKJQKmnKScNLJFG50QzEGLsMVIt1Uxlh48T4dQl0mnE" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="498" /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Quicksand, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-62126c2d-7fff-4244-e802-4e058accec8b"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: 10pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline;">Around 35 children from a local slum community enjoyed a day filled with free play through the Play-Based Drama workshop.</span></span></span></div></span></div></span></span></div></span></div>Toybank Indiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14444795750345543854noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18159433.post-14034171299993145942022-08-04T16:59:00.002+05:302022-08-04T16:59:18.455+05:30Playfully Back to School<p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">How would you feel if post a long summer vacation you were welcomed back to school with a classroom filled with games? Excited and joyful, right? That’s precisely how children across Maharashtra felt as teachers used games from Toybank’s Play2Learn Centres to welcome children back to school. </span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-429d4e63-7fff-cdb6-c7ac-2df123c2b840"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="border: 1pt solid #000000; display: inline-block; height: 396px; overflow: hidden; width: 471px;"><img height="396" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/IF_aINOQQPwLUrX4_pjGUp23MInGgTfHpS3zFjcWzaOmpSfF7mepl2qenPk0uBsZkCyW40LK8OHCSw5brccVV4JZmTLexLto1jyX8dXWyl3hXknMouByzQUuwN-j8yFkbzN3tfvEPqTL5G-P-s3aa78" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="471" /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: 13.3333px;">Teachers arranged games across the classroom for children to begin their school year learning through play.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In Mumbai, children walked into classrooms full of games from our Play2Learn Centres. These games were divide into categories such as language building, cognitive development, and mathematical practice to excite children about what to expect this academic year. </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">After long school closures and the digital divide, teachers noticed a high level of learning regression in children.</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Two years of the pandemic has drastically affected the learning levels of our students. Our 3rd graders are at the learning levels of 1st grade students. But we see them learning and picking up concepts faster during the Play Sessions conducted by Toybank Programme Officers. These sessions allow children to enjoy learning and not see it as boring which I think is very beneficial for them,”</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">shared Medha Dhumal, Principal at Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Prathmik Vidyalaya. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></p><h1 style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span><blockquote><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Children didn’t want to go back home and insisted the Play sessions be stretched,” <br /></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">—Vijay Nikam, Program Officer based in Latur, Maharashtra. </span></span></blockquote><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span></h1><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">While in the rural areas of Maharashtra, the start of the new academic year was celebrated flamboyantly with decorated tractors taking children to school. This </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">‘Pravesh Utsav’ </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">or ‘Welcome Back Festival’ had children getting small gifts like flowers and welcomed to Play Sessions. Teachers also ensured that the initial days were packed with play-based sessions to make learning at school fun and engaging for children. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“I am hoping to see more students turn up to school after this Play2Learn session,” shared Farzana Sheikh, principal at a government school in Mumbai. “While playing children exhibit a different style and pattern of learning—some are drawn to shapes and pictures and learn words through these puzzles. It's a good site to see kids playing with Mechanix- where they build something on their own.” </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 539px; overflow: hidden; width: 409px;"><img height="539" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/JZC14htoVGV2Jk29u_fndDhjOiqks-wLh_JkpU56GUKdPkPGV6isE7qoX9CYmvn2CQif39zgT2UprUtjZ_aNyNrrAGHW34Qc5TVjrmM8G3ieSJXpOD0I_QeLuMQ0A-ptyvox0vb8TNjt3z2Ie-1ULwk" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="409" /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Children happily play together building social skills like sharing, collaboration, and communication in Beed (city in the Marathwada region of Maharashtra)</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When the pandemic isolated children and took away avenues for children to play together, it consequently affected children’s socio-emotional skill development. During school closures, our partner teachers armed with playsheets ensured play never stopped and now at schools, today they use games stocked at Play2Learn centres to kickstart the academic year with a play-packed timetable. </span></p><h4 style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;">Found this interesting? Share this blog to inspire parents, teachers or caregivers to create more safe and happy spaces for children to benefit through Play! </h4><div><br /></div></span><br /><p></p>Toybank Indiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14444795750345543854noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18159433.post-43337941508196060752022-07-20T16:34:00.025+05:302022-07-22T19:10:01.589+05:30Chess: Of 64 Squares and Winning Moves <div style="text-align: left;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-d965975f-7fff-3ae9-2373-32fb92bebe23"><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;">Most of us would have tried our hand at a game of chess at some point, but many do not know that children as young as three to five years can benefit from playing the game. They learn to strategise, analyse, and decode while developing foresight and comprehension skills while playing this ancient board game. Created almost 1500 years ago in India, this popular game has shown an increase in concentration, memory, logical thinking, problem-solving skills and creativity. Chess has thrived for centuries and today we have international championships and acclaimed Grandmasters of the game, all under the watchful eyes of the International Chess Federation(FIDE), who have the final word on the rules and regulation of the game.</p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 11pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin: 0pt 11pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 353px; overflow: hidden; width: 353px;"><img height="353" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/LYmF5-nFdXUo_HL42TyujIqGhFmGz-gsJMwmoLwHCk16dGLWB6vCT13k-Idx85WwxSKbIjn90cadFRlOp4b2fehLe1YK1zlPo0XN398jKnn6NoZlXcircpflGFDlEHRw3SM20fuUrJdKpexCFn9swX0" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="353" /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">India Story</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">With Grandmasters like Vishwanathan Anand and Praggnanandha, Chess is played very widely across India and is especially loved by children. Currently, there are around 40 Grandmasters below the age of 15 years with Gukesh D who took the title of India's youngest GM at 12 years, 7 months and 17 days, succeeding Praggnanandhaa who held the record at 12 years and 10 months since June of 2018.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 11pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin: 0pt 11pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 323px; overflow: hidden; width: 323px;"><img height="323" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/fuhVjuHpPb4jwEHmqfSHATy-rcyQToMRsG5aTxKs4W1-OIGFbfdf0nq7FDHFm4bII5L34bAYOa18rn9jLtB-3riML6-lRt5eNL2CD3B9sywLWotuRYcfEIqEcAKI8VVAS4Q2g6C9j17GQAJgxowRTrw" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="323" /></span></span></p><h3 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 4pt; margin-top: 14pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Game Play</span></h3><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A game of chess can last from a few seconds, known as </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">blitz </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">or </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">rapid</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, to hours or even days, when played in its long format. The game can be roughly divided into three stages: Opening, Middlegame and Endgame. While the Openings are more about learning different theories to position one's chess pieces strategically on the board, the Endgame is mastering the winning moves after most pieces have been exchanged. The Middlegame is where the player can unleash his strategic thinking and creativity and play some signature moves. </span></p><br /><br /><h3 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 4pt; margin-left: 11pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 14pt; margin: 14pt 11pt 4pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 350px; overflow: hidden; width: 350px;"><img height="350" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/cAzilTP932LYQxA99pCdEZOoomc16pgjRsCTDzl0q5w2rcnwJlIS7NVTkRVroxRZ-vGlKOyLed7AwPGAZN2QETh8et6PhSq-ndz1b7CBnzAChY3TexdPBZAW970cqdjACszjpHgMFBdDTLJfI9_sq8I" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="350" /></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 372px; overflow: hidden; width: 372px;"><img height="372" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/rhKwj_E9osPKBsAke4PoCupfs5xhpzJt01-RP_qGmF4PSoZRql-kAldxJ9WQW0VCwdd3wGlcU-hndvgoPzkFyBzkgEYBVFALYDIjZRlxsEb2C4bgvPaVVZi53lKDwgx9V8hPmscn5Bj2phws82OfpCk" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="372" /></span></span></h3><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin: 0pt 11pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Chess is a well-loved board game at Toybank’s Play2Learn centres with children from 10 years onwards getting introduced to the various nuances of this exciting mind game that requires patience as well as stamina. Even our volunteers are active proponents of this game and join our play sessions to teach our kids the ropes of winning. </span></p><br /><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 11pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin: 0pt 11pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 469px; overflow: hidden; width: 624px;"><img height="469" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/eM1gbMx4TEi4rFdlirbSYiCcCgIYptVQA71hF0H7dMGleY8aAsANW7wVcTtG-htVY8XijMhHL2lfUZdAA6jPdh6wy8idVDY9yBD_9qoSFZo3SIXbSfy_uQ6RKyJ0yAX66R0vHnkk9X6qMrt-2DFxTBo" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="624" /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 11pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin: 0pt 11pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>Children from Toybank's rural Play2Learn centres engage in a battle of wits on the chessboard.</i></span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 11pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin: 0pt 11pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Did you like this blog? Drop us a comment and share these interesting facts with your friends. </span></p><br /></span></div>Toybank Indiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14444795750345543854noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18159433.post-21951919443851960682022-05-31T11:56:00.041+05:302022-07-13T12:17:03.756+05:30A Little Drama on World Play Day<p style="text-align: center;">“There is freedom in being playful and fun and not caring about what people think. This overall freedom adds to the positivity and fun and makes one feel light.” </p><p style="text-align: center;">—Shaun Williams, Acting Coach and Toybank workshop curator</p><p>On the hot and humid day of 28th May, amidst the sweltering heat of Mumbai, a palpable sense of excitement filled the air as Team Toybank headed to celebrate World Play Day. The teachers from Toybank’s partner, SHARE, eagerly awaited the children at the community centre located inside the one of the serpentine bylanes of the Golibaar neighbourhood in Santacruz East, Mumbai. Soon, a teeming crowd of children surrounded Shaun Williams, the actor and drama coach, who was leading our curated World Play Day drama workshop.</p><p>After brief introductions, Shaun engaged them with questions ranging from pop culture to their favourite songs and games. And so began a round of fun vocal exercises through imitation of animal sounds and enactments of everyday activities like eating a sandwich or an ice cream. The short ice-breaker helped the children overcome their initial hesitation and dive into the ongoing playful engagements. As minutes passed, they could not wait to show their best ghost or lion impressions to Shaun.</p><p><img height="351" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/D-HKTbpnthe29uKMwCf3hi5crHiinuNhfx9N21ZBQC-dCXlrtmtUp7CMf46MnujFYhWZwi0Sk1lpUgrIL770SX-e9mGos_eg5ExrHwGJYBc4UwOAKr9CJdfJ8GFczE_67JXFiR9osU8ogbrY6Q" style="color: #0e101a; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; white-space: pre;" width="624" /></p><p><span style="color: #0e101a; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; white-space: pre;">The children take a picture of Shaun with their imaginary cameras.</span></p><p>The children made a circle as they sat on the floor. They intently focussed their attention as Shaun challenged them to get agile with a quick standing up and sitting down game. He first made a mixed group of all the children and divided the kids into two groups. Each group took turns and walked around the room as Shaun instructed them to double up their pace or lessen it by half the speed. While walking, they enacted eating a chocolate or a sandwich through their gestures. Sometimes they imagined that the floor was flowing with lava. Children were seen jumping around in glee and spontaneously acting out scenarios that evoked a range of emotions, like admiring a flower or reacting to a cockroach near their feet. </p><p><img height="351" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/FM8jbcdyI1P8RHiVvbWxP-TFZVcbLp1lhoqyk6WSuBCiv_doC2zbScVqI-bvPib8-9SH0-KMeYko9oGBHepzDNwPjhxwBLGVrX0EYrY40oxb8HVjGa-0GVR0P2LpzwVhOm8N61qdSpoJEjiOyw" style="color: #0e101a; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; white-space: pre;" width="624" /></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.44; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #0e101a; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">The children pretend to swat mosquitoes</span></p><div><br /></div><div>They were further divided into smaller groups of six and asked to use their bodies to showcase a flower, a car, a plane, or spell three letter words together. The kids surprised us all with their imaginative depictions. They worked as a team, strategically placing themselves, some pretending as if they were driving cars and bikes. </div><p><img height="351" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/QRaBMp6ZfzUKzFl3T1XA4AqQ8HYs8n7c-7Q7oZtp6RnBZnTf8tzmqy0_u349PGHHWeVvBNG2LrBss_2uzpAyoq7t4ReRA64Gwuji5q-T8WnnkM7zwNuZgZhaxOl7YSFCy1cB-gCVjFrnVsr4rg" style="color: #0e101a; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; white-space: pre;" width="624" /></p><p><span style="color: #0e101a; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; white-space: pre;">One group of children spelt out ‘cat’ in this creative way</span></p><p>Even with the sun blazing, the children enthusiastically played in a large, open quadrangle. Shaun taught them many versions of Lock and Key, one remarkably had the catcher tap and ‘lock’’ as many players as they could, while the untapped 'free' players would try to ‘unlock’ their fellow mates by crawling through their feet. Another version had kids acting out a zombie apocalypse, where if touched, they would turn into zombies and start turning others one too. The kids loved enacting the dramatic metamorphosis into zombies. </p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 2.88; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #0e101a; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 351px; overflow: hidden; width: 624px;"><img height="351" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/HpHdp2wHDCykG6zzKk0eCCZJyF6usICmWwetdYPs944cfUR2dvC0HiNxRmAl7E6P6mKjV7-id35Iq_iYGR7ypYx2Wfo63Df5cbZjbZaM3tHUXWjk3nwbUbFyCfPDHJOSsmEf8vkN0-AQwDls6A" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="624" /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 2.88; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #0e101a; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">The heat didn't stop the children from enjoying a hearty game of lock and key.</span></p><p>These games invigorated the children, the sweltering heat did not matter, nor did the hot ground - there were only giggles, laughter and some zombie squeals that echoed. After this exhausting exercise, the children went back into the room, still laughing, and were instructed to hydrate and rest for five minutes. But even within those five minutes, they began playing games amongst themselves and the Toybank Team. Shaun then instructed them to lie down and guided them through calming exercises and meditation to soothe them while engaging their imagination.</p><p><img height="351" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/ezY6ONeUpJj_5UjikuvzwlYaf-6zDgyFxrOGiA5QOtd7N924TlxMdoPOC8F7cX5HqXfoq5xNKbEsOY2tQ4mrV1CH4vVcKMx_vrOcxD34FUYTPYfBnANDp8jnTrVL8dh37YG25UyBo7u110v_-A" style="color: #0e101a; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; white-space: pre;" width="624" /></p><p><i>The children taking a calming break post a fun session in the heat </i></p><p>After the kids seemed rested, they were again asked to sit in a circle and use a dupatta as anything but the dupatta. As an example, Shaun folded the dupatta and used it as a phone. Almost immediately the kids came up with ideas, using the piece of cloth as a steering wheel, a bike handle, headgear, as a skipping rope. Even more fascinatingly, they used it to make jackets which the children laughingly said that they learnt from ‘Five Minutes Craft’ on YouTube. Post this, a group of boys decided to present a play where they showed interactions with the police and a young boy caught speeding. </p><p><img height="351" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/Ivw36_xqNX23ZeiEC9BAKRIf4rmB9BF4NSpBrNvlxsIqkmsrWMidrQFcMkV76TUyMuSNJFgIg-Owa5XRpewidQGaLlbiDTNK8iH3LyYQHuc0ltncwZMSWLQd4BAqf-AkeSISQmdccmxR37mHUA" style="color: #0e101a; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; white-space: pre;" width="624" /></p><p><i>Children used their imagination to showcase new uses of a Dupatta</i></p><p>At the end of the session, this is what our workshop curator Shaun had to say: “I had a good time with the kids because I get to be a kid and be silly with them. There is freedom in being playful and fun and not caring (about what people think). This overall freedom adds to the positivity and the fun and makes one feel light. Play makes life a little more bearable and you become happy. You can be nice to other people that would make them happy and this chain reaction would cause everyone in the world, in theory, to be happy.” </p><p><img height="351" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/BAFZGfYb0vLKtNNA9xVRA7Spc4_OWaeLO4HxORLVzNqAMpN6iaRCydLQuJYMAo2ymoT-iCpPVjtDvDkgfnEawF9ELBqyQS-Pxr4BBY3X9Agqf6zQ4v80RaIXpLOCPaN7EDtQ4VVtIayBiYH8sA" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; margin-left: -93px; margin-top: 0px; white-space: pre;" width="624" /></p><p><i>The event ended with all the children giving Shaun ‘Sir’ a big tight hug and when we distributed bookmarks, the kids asked Shaun to sign them.</i></p><p>It was great to see how the kids enjoyed the session and promised to not only come for more sessions but also get all their friends to join in too. This session highlighted the importance of physical play sessions. During this workshop, there were no electronics used showing the children that they can have fun and creatively express themselves through physical play sessions. The workshop made them think out of the box. In fact, the kids were sad as the session came to an end. In today’s time when children’s favourite games are played mostly on phones, it is important to show how playing with each other without glaring at screens can be even more fun. This drama workshop helped them to develop their social and creative skills through play.</p><p><b>By Shanaya Dastoor</b></p>Toybank Indiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14444795750345543854noreply@blogger.com0Mumbai, Maharashtra, India19.0759837 72.8776559-9.2342501361788472 37.721405899999993 47.386217536178847 108.0339059tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18159433.post-21355026822063058902022-01-20T15:05:00.007+05:302022-01-20T15:10:20.273+05:30Toybank's Annual Reports <p></p><h1 style="text-align: left;"></h1><h2 style="text-align: left;"></h2><h2 style="text-align: left;"></h2><h1 style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div>Toybank's Annual Reports:</div><ol style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://anyflip.com/efwhp/ogkb/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-large;">Annual Report 2020-2021</span></a></li><li><a href="https://anyflip.com/efwhp/aagz/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-large;">Annual Report 2019-2020</span></a></li></ol></div></div></h1><p></p><p><br /></p>Toybank Indiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14444795750345543854noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18159433.post-69290675684059760612022-01-17T17:14:00.007+05:302022-01-20T17:28:54.840+05:30Rebuilding at-risk children’s childhoods through Toybank’s Play2Learn Program <h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> <span face="Quicksand, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; font-weight: 700; text-align: center; text-decoration-line: underline; white-space: pre-wrap;">October to December 2021 Update Report</span></span></h3><span id="docs-internal-guid-cfd7338c-7fff-d272-3a68-be43f3ed6235" style="font-family: inherit;"><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span face="Quicksand, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">‘It is time for a return to childhood, to simplicity, to running and climbing and laughing in the sunshine, to experiencing happiness instead of being trained for a lifetime of pursuing happiness. It is time to let children be children again’ -</span><span face="Quicksand, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">L. R. Knost</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span face="Quicksand, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The pandemic has and continues to deprive </span><span face="Quicksand, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">188 million at-risk Indian children’s</span><span face="Quicksand, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> happy and safe spaces of learning and play. We are humbled, yet take immense pride in our team who have ensured that the progress we have made for our children won’t reverse. Throughout 2021, we’ve seen noteworthy resilience in the ways our children tackled hardships and roadblocks to learn and play.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span face="Quicksand, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">With schools in several parts of Maharashtra being ordered to shut down once again, barely a month after they reopened, amid rising Covid cases, education experts termed the decision to shut primary schools impractical and detrimental to the development of children.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span face="Quicksand, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Toybank, through its Play2Learn program, provides safe and happy play spaces for at-risk children to be developmentally on track in their mental and behavioral well-being. Even in the midst of the pandemic, our ethos is firm, </span><span face="Quicksand, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">‘It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men and women’.</span><span face="Quicksand, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> The progress in socio-emotional development and mental well-being of our children has continued to be the core focus. For their continued learning, meaningful engagement, mental well-being, and resilience, we are daily delivering our Play2Learn Program as the digital Toybank Play2Learn Kit.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span face="Quicksand, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As the new variant threatens further isolation and may push back the long-awaited reopening of schools, through Play, Toybank is building children’s resilience to face not just the pandemic but also other such hurdles in the future. Your support has empowered us to ensure at-risk children have access to meaningful engagement and tools for continued learning. We look forward to your continued backing. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: -0.75pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Quicksand, sans-serif" style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 10pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="border: 1pt solid rgb(34, 34, 34); display: inline-block; height: 366px; overflow: hidden; width: 435px;"><img height="366" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/1WlhwZwlb7HhUrRVI0wPrNhqLVZp-Qlq8YwOX8K2DZldqVn_YHNvxgpTnZGjHaImR6WGschH0EFaJWvAFLUzs99TKgTD1aHwuuEi1C0TA5tpghGAmTgmf32O66lwFBLMI74hoe4f" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="435" /></span></span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span face="Quicksand, sans-serif" style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">We Played!</span></span></p><ul style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We disseminated 1009 Play2Learn activities</span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> where children from various age groups and learning levels </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">learned holistically</span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> with our curriculum-aligned activities. Our Play2Learn activities helped children </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">work on their anxieties</span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> due to distressing news and online learning during the pandemic, helped </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">rebuild healthy routines</span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">recognise emotions</span></p></li></ul><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Quicksand, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="border: 1pt solid rgb(0, 0, 0); display: inline-block; height: 321px; overflow: hidden; width: 502px;"><img height="321" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/VuvlVSZI0xnwSsF8lveG2-T1l1jXmtEjlVxLVDJURlui-9UC6spxq2h9Wg4j63Grx2EScyr9XBpBy9PDgj4M4cQ8esf2s5ZGzEmGhMcgyI_aBDijam227TlNXSPLo0smUGlmXu5_" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="502" /></span></span><span face="Quicksand, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span face="Quicksand, sans-serif" style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 10pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Children create their schedules to learn time management </span><span face="Quicksand, sans-serif" style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 10pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span face="Quicksand, sans-serif" style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 10pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(MHB Urdu School No 4, Play2Learn Center U217) </span><span face="Quicksand, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span face="Quicksand, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><ul style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Physical Play2Learn Sessions were conducted by partner-teachers</span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> while following social distancing rules. Children played board games in groups of two or three under teachers’ supervision to ensure their safety.</span></p></li></ul><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="border: 1pt solid rgb(0, 0, 0); display: inline-block; height: 331px; overflow: hidden; width: 439px;"><img height="331" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/kiuqrx2CL3ZGLXos2YvXYDaf2KPhCpUBlnpJWbgys_ZP0qTMde1DrfltLc9DwHNOoQCFxfRp-g4JqWQcXIvxUBpy1OQ5XMGT2EW4r-Zw8jY8CS0e6zRWhrA3dN47sxn0cbowS6T1" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="439" /></span></span><span face="Quicksand, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #3c78d8; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Children sit in groups to support each other’s creative ideas and make Pop Up Cards</span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #3c78d8; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #3c78d8; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(Play2Learn Center U317, SHARE community center, Mumbai)</span><span face="Quicksand, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.</span></p><ul style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">85 Digital Play2Learn Sessions were conducted by our Program Officers.</span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> These are curated with a sequential session plan by the team to encourage peer learning, boost children’s learning with the Play2Learn Kit and break the ice among classmates through group activities. These sessions gave the children the opportunity to become more curious and build on life skills.</span></p></li></ul><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiDDY07lENzipiVrCVTgSQB0JxsvBIbBWAwAUNuCrXu9bfQXHhxOWZhs6usxXV4d4WmMjWiaZ8ypjRvOuAxtxl7pmYZy3aZd01EbgwvFnl6qK436-KmO8aXyTmgP0n8Cdzelgt3hgw05EfBUNBGFM4fwbgZUPwAUhP90dcBDwJYEKSyEPUkOw=s512" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="229" data-original-width="512" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiDDY07lENzipiVrCVTgSQB0JxsvBIbBWAwAUNuCrXu9bfQXHhxOWZhs6usxXV4d4WmMjWiaZ8ypjRvOuAxtxl7pmYZy3aZd01EbgwvFnl6qK436-KmO8aXyTmgP0n8Cdzelgt3hgw05EfBUNBGFM4fwbgZUPwAUhP90dcBDwJYEKSyEPUkOw=w640-h286" width="640" /></a></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Quicksand, sans-serif" style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 10pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Digital Play2Learn session underway where children and partner-teachers </span><span face="Quicksand, sans-serif" style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 10pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span face="Quicksand, sans-serif" style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 10pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">engaged with the Program Officers. </span></p><ul style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">28 student volunteers facilitated 22 buddy sessions as part of The Buddy program.</span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> These sessions included getting to know and building a bond with the child, discussions around aspirations and about emotions, strengths, routine and habit building. The Buddies give the children a platform to have social interactions which have been drastically hit due to the pandemic.</span></p></li></ul><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Quicksand, sans-serif" style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 10pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 408px; overflow: hidden; width: 487px;"><img height="408" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/QyFlbVPQNziCAZFmRneAVwpFiK5NrvAOUwizHXXa8XnMqCWQrp1wC6_CUVP6lZf78_lxxlqPhsd0yNU-giUY9W3SeNWP13g5HLIncV7Bgne8IH72zT8u1vbwhyf9hFjOZs8b88AO" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="487" /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #3c78d8; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Children have continued to engage with play through the year ensuring they continue to learn</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"></p><h1><span face="Quicksand, sans-serif" style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">We invested!</span></span></h1><span face="Quicksand, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We are invested in children’s Right to Play.</span><span face="Quicksand, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> We have been continually tracking on-ground issues that our children have been facing through fortnightly calls with partners, virtual focus group discussions, and in-person meetings and rural visits with education and block officers, headmasters and principals to ensure Play was a part of their virtual learning and back-to-school plans.</span><p></p><ul style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We visited our rural districts of Beed, Latur & Osmanabad in October</span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> to give key partner-stakeholders a refresher on our program, check the program’s progress, plan for teacher training and physical Play2Learn sessions as schools were in the process of reopening.</span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></p><blockquote><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Everything related to education collapsed during the pandemic. But Toybank's continued efforts ensured children had some form of knowledge,”</span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> shared Dr. Vinayak, Toybank’s program incharge of our partner in Beed.</span></blockquote><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><p></p></li></ul><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Quicksand, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="border: 1pt solid rgb(0, 0, 0); display: inline-block; height: 212px; overflow: hidden; width: 298px;"><img height="220.53727481407603" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/IBLXTGRj6XWiwAtUrsTKKXQe4rYvnbzbNgZI4SJP2Df9UhYEUcpbYzsimecCeSNyDSEJtbYgZ-8uAqoOuTdCePoetG3UEokacRu7FInsoKzRs5Eya5EapZ-Lnk_l9d_QSJvDFwff" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: -8.53727px;" width="298" /></span></span><span face="Quicksand, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><span face="Quicksand, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 13.5pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Quicksand, sans-serif" style="color: #3c78d8; font-size: 10pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Meeting with Abhinav Goel, Latur Zilla Parishad CEO, and Bhagwan Phulari, </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 13.5pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Quicksand, sans-serif" style="color: #3c78d8; font-size: 10pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Primary School Education Officer</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 13.5pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="border: 1pt solid rgb(0, 0, 0); display: inline-block; height: 212px; overflow: hidden; width: 342px;"><img height="212" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Mqit3yi60QewGdAodUC8a-AoCpoCP9gQBcTSb7vrfDNBNUjUb1w2YEM8UopO33SjYJZBmacHOJRscZO_7DoUf7umijb1_SG9QE92f2DZVWRxH-EhScJIYY3j29k944TVHtDtv8d" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="342" /></span></p></span><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><span><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #3c78d8; font-family: inherit; font-size: 10pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Meeting with Bhagwan Phulari, Primary School Education Office</span></p></span></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><ul style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In December, over a course of 6 days, </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">525 teachers were trained</span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> in Latur district of Maharashtra. The training was interactive and designed to motivate the teachers to ask questions on Play, and take them through our Play2Learn program (Physical and Digital). The teachers first hand played with the games and understood their objectives and skills they cater to.</span></p></li></ul><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Quicksand, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="border: 1pt solid rgb(54, 96, 145); display: inline-block; height: 248px; overflow: hidden; width: 514px;"><img height="248" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/am6SzDKIBMlpv59NL1DaI7uDTCB_XcjFZimPnOQXxl4TgigP-om82FnOdGPv1Ffb7YLQdB4dXfQvY1bT2PjAkx3QZ3jXH6Ei0IGAiL6gi5QoGTYoKv49T9wRqr7L6G_RkdH0n6sq" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="514" /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Quicksand, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="border: 1pt solid rgb(54, 96, 145); display: inline-block; height: 255px; overflow: hidden; width: 294px;"><img height="294.0940766550523" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/XKDaL38Xml22ps1ziEka7CUbIHVMVrMTEhtEktmKUq7uDwAMSTWN6jInig5XH_1vnl7pP4nfwFRRyV2CGAkR69JfcUTqs3UHOhYXlSqrXx67htw8zmd_pUyJbmDxY3vMxrfFHAeF" style="margin-left: -57.0182px; margin-top: -30.2091px;" width="351.0181818181818" /></span></span><span face="Quicksand, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="border: 1pt solid rgb(54, 96, 145); display: inline-block; height: 256px; overflow: hidden; width: 303px;"><img height="256" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-zQHHuMEq5OUZSdHmi7anlcM111bWvfizs8wGZc7DstqnE9oLpTJJJxREDMXoP8kpoxzW0zSAi59a_df90529hG6MtaHljyfQtmRrCRCBDHn27ctEqGrgJXB3jORUFTZSAFyLXT5" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="303" /></span></span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Quicksand, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></p><blockquote><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Quicksand, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“</span><span face="Quicksand, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Children can learn and make several things out of this mechanical game, their ability to understand technical aspects will also develop. Children will enjoy playing this game. T</span><span face="Quicksand, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">he trainer has shared very valuable lessons with us.”</span><span face="Quicksand, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-right: -0.75pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin: 0pt -0.75pt 10pt 36pt;"><span face="Quicksand, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">— </span><span face="Quicksand, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Deepak Dongre</span><span face="Quicksand, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, </span><span face="Quicksand, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Teacher from ZPPS Samdarga, Play2Learn Center R381 </span></p></blockquote><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-right: -0.75pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin: 0pt -0.75pt 10pt 36pt;"><span face="Quicksand, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Quicksand, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></p><blockquote><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Quicksand, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“</span><span face="Quicksand, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The concepts that you have shared today are very good. This is one the best-est training that I have attended in a while,”</span><span face="Quicksand, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Quicksand, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">— </span><span face="Quicksand, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Navnath Bharat Mende</span><span face="Quicksand, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, </span><span face="Quicksand, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">teacher from ZPPS Samdarga, Play2Learn Center R381.</span></p></blockquote><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Quicksand, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></p><br /><ul style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">34 Virtual Focus Group Discussions</span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> with </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">330 teachers and decision-makers</span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> gauged the effect of lockdown on our children. They shared feedback and suggestions on our Digital Toybank Play2Learn Program helping us to strengthen and support our partners effectively.</span></p></li></ul><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 13.5pt; margin-right: -5.25pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin: 0pt -5.25pt 0pt 13.5pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Quicksand, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="border: 1pt solid rgb(0, 0, 0); display: inline-block; height: 298px; overflow: hidden; width: 479px;"><img height="400.434041786094" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/DSMlSfnUpQ_4xx8UOnWg0ZWq19NIQmZ-ZOvscFuJ0r1ASlwf4CF-6p3R4TJBNduz-ZhHdAJR8vB5WQohIsIt6N4dMgQmUsjHPt5qgvXvzBtmi3hV4yU97Bftm30TePnST1u4B_Io" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: -22.0627px;" width="479" /></span></span><span face="Quicksand, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span face="Quicksand, sans-serif" style="color: #3c78d8; font-size: 10pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Screenshot of the meeting with teachers from Play2Learn Centers in Latur </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span face="Quicksand, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Few snippets from the FGDs by our partners</span><span face="Quicksand, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span face="Quicksand, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span face="Quicksand, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Deepak Kubde, Teacher from Subhedar Ramji Ambedkar Vidyalaya Play2Learn Center in Mumbai said, </span><span face="Quicksand, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“</span><span face="Quicksand, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As the lockdown started and Toybank asked to be added to school groups, I was delighted as online classes were dull and managing things was new to us. Activities are shared on a daily basis without any hurdles. Kids enjoyed the activities and we also learnt new things everyday. Hope we’ll have Toybank Play2Learn Program from day one of the school reopening.”</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span face="Quicksand, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span face="Quicksand, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Leena Kamble, teacher from ZPPS Lokhandisawargaon, Play2Learn Center in Beed district shared what she benefited from the program,</span><span face="Quicksand, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> “It has helped me bond with them, overcome language difficulties, teach them despite their restlessness, inattentiveness or disinterest in studies. Children may not do something from textbooks but if I ask them to do the same thing through an activity, they readily do it.”</span></p><br /><h1 style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-right: -0.75pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span face="Quicksand, sans-serif" style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">We’re rebuilding childhoods!</span></span></h1><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-right: -0.75pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span face="Quicksand, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Story of Resilience: Bridging learning gaps with the game Abacus</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span face="Quicksand, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Sameer was in Class 2 and at the end of the academic year when schools closed down due to COVID-19. He could recognize single to two-digit numbers easily. By the time he was in Class 3 in June 2020, his school had just begun remote learning. This not only negatively impacted what he had learnt but we also failed to track how much our students were grasping. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span face="Quicksand, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sameer was in Class 4 by June 2021, with schools yet to reopen. With the introduction of three-digit and bigger numbers, he was off his learning track once again. When children could attend school physically, I noticed that Sameer struggled with number recognition. Toybank had restocked Abacus, so I decided to creatively bring him up to speed with digits. I visually associated the colorful beads with units, tens and hundreds, which made counting easy and quick for Sameer. This excited him to keep coming and learning more. With this realistic learning experience, he eventually took his notebook along and started writing down all the numbers he learned.”</span></p><span face="Quicksand, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">- Story of Resilience shared by Shubhangi Kulkarni, teacher from ZPPS Bansorala, Play2Learn Center in Beed district of Maharashtra.</span><span face="Quicksand, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></span>Toybank Indiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14444795750345543854noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18159433.post-2553906089971495432021-11-26T18:23:00.000+05:302021-11-26T18:23:08.035+05:30Play has the power to rebuild childhoods affected by COVID-19!<span id="docs-internal-guid-0f394190-7fff-eece-c499-778aaddaa021"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 7.05pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="border: 1pt solid rgb(0, 0, 0); clear: right; display: inline-block; float: right; height: 285px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; overflow: hidden; width: 225px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img height="285" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/1VQjPsSOFisdd60xVBVajpoiYx_JW604zoZA-nrtW4UuaCvJGVE640WQ0x-iP2iJqDEmcgH-kxxTsy6xnMeDQTdL9Dc1u15XgAOE0GFXdJek74Av1AAx08tOEOyajkHFMJG8icaY" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="225" /></span></span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">A resident student of the Sainik Vidyalaya Hostel in Sagroli village for three years, Dev (name changed) did well as the in-person curriculum included training in self-defense, swimming, martial arts, and so on. Being active at the Toybank Play2Learn Center kept him interested in learning, too. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 7.05pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 7.05pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">With the abrupt and big shift from offline to online learning, Dev struggled to understand and retain concepts, as well as, stay motivated to learn. However</span></span><span style="font-family: inherit; white-space: pre-wrap;">, Toybank’s Play2Learn activities drew back his interest in studies. The Std 8 boy gradually developed his language skills with playsheets such as ‘Effect or Affect’ and ‘Create Words'. As school reopened, Dev is back at the hostel where play sessions have restarted.</span></p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">The digital divide and difficulty in understanding lessons may lead to long-term absenteeism in at-risk children. </span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Another aspect is the difficulty in grasping lessons, which discourages them from paying attention to what they are learning. </span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">These, in turn, greatly increase their chances of dropping out of the education system altogether. The COVID-19 crisis is likely to widen the gap in inequities that could affect underserved children for their entire lifetime, experts warn. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-0f394190-7fff-eece-c499-778aaddaa021" style="text-align: left;"></span><span id="docs-internal-guid-9f2616cc-7fff-67a1-da13-275b136d536d" style="text-align: left;"></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Over a series of Focus Group Discussion sessions, our partner-teachers told us about how challenging imparting and taking education has been, and how the Digital Toybank Play2Learn Program is helping mitigate these. </span></span><span style="font-family: inherit; white-space: pre-wrap;">We have modified our Program to address multifarious challenges that the COVID-19 lockdown has brought. Not only do at-risk children stay meaningfully engaged but their teachers are supported and parents guided, too.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></p></span><span id="docs-internal-guid-9f2616cc-7fff-67a1-da13-275b136d536d"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Challenge: Students are not learning effectively</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify; white-space: pre-wrap;">Vivek Thorat, Principal of Vivek Vidyalaya, Mumbai, says, “Normally, kids don’t read textbooks. They rely on rote-learning or guides for answers and don’t even check if it’s correct.” </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwRP7r0oeQ8A6sUcGRjRcm6Pav5EuCPf007YG0gEXaF_FkUMpZkr-hdOBAIgZwGV4JaUOsv12maxz3iqJh9Ym5CoIhQpyE1-FQdRMbGTpUIDt5a4RoCbdcLHEvLCQvMMJuxk-i/s940/GRP+%25282%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="487" data-original-width="940" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwRP7r0oeQ8A6sUcGRjRcm6Pav5EuCPf007YG0gEXaF_FkUMpZkr-hdOBAIgZwGV4JaUOsv12maxz3iqJh9Ym5CoIhQpyE1-FQdRMbGTpUIDt5a4RoCbdcLHEvLCQvMMJuxk-i/s320/GRP+%25282%2529.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Children are improving their vocabulary with crosswords</span> </td></tr></tbody></table></div><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Support in online learning</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">While solving our Play2Learn Sheets, students need to apply their minds. “The puzzles have especially improved children’s thought process and reduced </span></span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">spoon-feeding,” Vivek Thorat states. With curiosity and the urge to explore increasing, they are </span></span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">eager to learn new chapters or skills in online classes. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></p><blockquote><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>“Earlier, we had to coax them to find relevant information but now they make an effort to know things on their own,” </b>says Vivek Sir. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"></p></blockquote><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: 700; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: 700; white-space: pre-wrap;">Challenge: Children from pre-primary to Std 2 most adversely affected </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Students from pre-primary to Std 2 haven’t gone to school yet, at an age most crucial for their growth. The India Task Force study of four states, 44 districts indicates:</span></span></p><ul style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">92% of primary students </span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">have lost at least one language ability</span></span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">82% of children </span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">have lost at least one specific mathematical ability </span></span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Younger children have </span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">forgotten what they learned </span></span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Children are </span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">unprepared in foundational skills </span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">of curriculum and performance </span></span></p></li></ul><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Teacher Deepak Kubde from Subhedar Ramji Ambedkar Vidyalaya says, “Children from Std 1 have lost out on learning in a big way. Since they couldn’t come to school, their writing skills have been affected badly.” RH Kate School’s Headmistress, Babita Lingre, adds, “They don't know they’re in Std 1, they think they’re in Sr Kg.” </span></span></p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Learning has become easier</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Young children are especially attracted towards play and pay more attention to studies through Play so much so that teachers are using it as an incentive to make them complete their homework. Ms. </span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Prabha, Headmistress</span><span style="color: #c2185b; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">,</span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> KBVP Pre-primary School</span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">added<b> </b>the activities are easy to follow even for the pre-primary section children. </span></span></p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Challenge: Teachers are grappling with imparting education online</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A survey states that </span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">84% of teachers face challenges </span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">such as maintaining discipline, absenteeism, unreceptive students unfamiliar with the online medium, or disinterested, less educated parents who do not understand the study materials to support kids. Vivek Thorat said, “The new way of online learning kept children’s interest alive initially. But then it got repetitive and mundane, so now they turn off their cameras or minimize the screen and play mobile games. In classrooms, we could bring their attention back but virtually, that’s impossible.”</span></span></p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Children are motivated to learn</span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="345.5234657039711" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/9fjVI4QmGbvY0CZcFIqV30qPfilsBemJqcszXCq2uA7U6kwRxNY5jK-Rwk33EEKvOmcstEi-phF_nhJHwtq80PpIyBJ9pwiiUQsvV7S0dgU9HmmQ0BRDQY0sXXdxlrZhL7NFRlbc" style="color: #1155cc; font-family: inherit; font-style: italic; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;" width="411" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-style: italic; text-align: justify; white-space: pre-wrap;">A child creates a jigsaw puzzle from a newspaper image </span></td></tr></tbody></table><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“With the introduction of play activities, children are self-motivated to learn,” said Lalita Khaare, Teacher, KBVP English Medium School. Toybank’s games and Play2Learn Sheets are also an incentive to bring children to online classes. Hema Desai, Headmistress, Sheth G.K. Prathamik Shala said, “Any child who has 100% attendance and does their homework gets a game to take home for a week. We then replace it with another game. This gets us the attendance we need and they stay engaged as well as learn.”</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">As children readjust according to the new normal, they need resilience through Play to rebuild their childhoods and lives. Invest your support through our Play. Invest. Rebuild campaign. <a href="https://bit.ly/PlayinvestRebuild" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #378fcc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">https://bit.ly/PlayinvestRebuild</span></a> <br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF4SWaD3-098IdIaLmFK-EpHHPty9-Hctx0JSjVlxrWZ3ZqS2XDnab4xdqGEQjcGzOAXFJwtzXBf1XHVc7B0Qk3gyj6YqF5M89HDPEuryrkToQfohett97h-ZVPpJdta6Y4m8T/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF4SWaD3-098IdIaLmFK-EpHHPty9-Hctx0JSjVlxrWZ3ZqS2XDnab4xdqGEQjcGzOAXFJwtzXBf1XHVc7B0Qk3gyj6YqF5M89HDPEuryrkToQfohett97h-ZVPpJdta6Y4m8T/" width="240" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><br /></span>Toybank Indiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14444795750345543854noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18159433.post-20824247232602442032021-11-11T19:06:00.001+05:302021-11-11T19:06:33.199+05:30Prolonged lockdown—But at-risk children continue to Play! <p><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-weight: 700; text-align: center; text-decoration-line: underline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Toybank April 2021 to September 2021 Update Report</span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-5c0c330a-7fff-d956-27c6-7128fcf3d6bb"><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span face="Quicksand, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This is not a regular game of Snakes & Ladders, and that’s not a play mat. The life-sized colorful take on one of our Play2Learn Sheets has been created by our partner-teacher (from Zilla Parishad School in Latur, Maharashtra’s Singhgaon village). Children learn about healthy habits—good practices will take you up the ladder and snakes are bad habits that will pull you down. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span face="Quicksand, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span face="Quicksand, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As the COVID-19 lockdown has prolonged, children have continued to stay meaningfully engaged and learn through Toybank Play2Learn Program, with immense support from teachers. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-right: 35.25pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin: 0pt 35.25pt 0pt 36pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Quicksand, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="border: 1pt solid rgb(0, 0, 0); display: inline-block; height: 380px; overflow: hidden; width: 565px;"><img height="477.0122630992196" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/o4a7GUvDal-yBAZSwTZfJRj-CMSkTLtF0h1cCFAPR0Lhx7RFNzebejsYkQ5yNPCWiZ1FaVr9njGMqnlEIvJCF3FxAa4Gz3RASRDfZ2dl1YnMpV0BJ77BtPYDAdeuHPd_nQ43WVSB" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="565" /></span></span><span face="Quicksand, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span face="Quicksand, sans-serif" style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 10pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Children at Zilla Parishad School in Singhgaon, Play2Learn Center in Latur, move about the life-sized Snakes & Ladders while learning about healthy habits </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span face="Quicksand, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">One-and-a-half years of lockdown in India is the seventh-longest school closure in the world. UNESCO has called ‘interrupted learning’ one of the top COVID-19 adversities on children. However, since it’s time for blackboard classrooms, peer learning, and playing in recess for many children, they still need support to thrive in the new normal. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span face="Quicksand, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Our partner-teachers unanimously state that Toybank’s Play interventions came to children’s rescue during the lockdown. Deepak Kubde, Teacher, Subhedar Ramji Ambedkar Vidyalaya, Mumbai says, “</span><span face="Quicksand, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Virtual classes were dull. So, I was delighted to add Toybank to our school groups to provide Play2Learn Sheets. Children love the activities and we learn new things every day. We wish to have Toybank Play2Learn Program from day one of school reopening.</span><span face="Quicksand, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“ </span></p><br /><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span face="Quicksand, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="display: inline-block; position: relative; width: 100px;"></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Quicksand, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Toybank's Play2Learn Program in the new normal</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span face="Quicksand, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Our Digital Play2Learn Program turned hybrid as we delivered quality Play through </span><span face="Quicksand, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">897 Play2Learn Sheets </span><span face="Quicksand, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">daily on </span><span face="Quicksand, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">515 Support Groups on WhatsApp </span><span face="Quicksand, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">and conducted </span><span face="Quicksand, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Digital Play2Learn Sessions </span><span face="Quicksand, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">as well as in-person ones with utmost safety precautions in a few of our Play2Learn Centers</span><span face="Quicksand, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. </span><span face="Quicksand, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">These ensured children’s meaningful engagement, academic learning and equipped them with various life skills, as our Program is aligned with the NCERT curriculum & Diksha App. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"></p><div style="text-align: center;"><img height="332" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/49J4FtujKGGoIJhPKhcPxS2pk1gFEL--tfIVNRgElH_ORcVLnKCp7tRqDEnGas5XIslfABHDEcO3DMS3I1V8GFO9lCvxtnGYBgyOxWjZnY6SRoBEEYIqkilbs3jI-zzgxc9ddNjv" style="font-family: Quicksand, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin-left: -5.12015px; margin-top: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;" width="590.1201527585279" /></div><span face="Quicksand, sans-serif" style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 10pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Primary children practiced the forms of alphabets by tracing them in a plate of rice </span></div></span><span face="Quicksand, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div style="color: #1155cc; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">(Khushi Balbhavan, Ahmednagar)</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; text-align: justify;">55 Digital Play2Learn Sessions </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 400; text-align: justify;">Curated to encourage peer learning, Digital Play2Learn Sessions boost children’s learning and aid social interactions. Teachers and parents support them to log in for the sessions.</span></div></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"></p><div style="text-align: center;"><img height="279" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/hrfGbTI2ZXGIokx_WJ8IPA7MUtpAFfjRtRc6lRssEkduthr_Knvr8F5UX7dpPHc62vNDSLThYqWIyKWlz81i8Z25liYI9VOQa6vSU6DBwJxvDQtvP4gDScKcbgr-6XH-uv0RZicV" style="font-family: Quicksand, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;" width="511" /></div><span face="Quicksand, sans-serif" style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 10pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Children learned an action song on listening attentively (MNP School No 2, Ahmednagar)</span></div></span><span face="Quicksand, sans-serif" style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 10pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><p></p><span style="font-family: Quicksand, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; text-align: justify; white-space: pre-wrap;">58 Virtual Play2Learn Sessions facilitated by 16 corporate volunteers</span><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span face="Quicksand, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">40 kids</span><span face="Quicksand, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> interacted with volunteers through the fortnightly virtual Play2Learn Sessions to:</span></p><ul style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="2" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Quicksand, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; margin-left: -13.5pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Promote teamwork and kindness</span></p></li><li aria-level="2" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Quicksand, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; margin-left: -13.5pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Learn the importance of habits and routine </span></p></li><li aria-level="2" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Quicksand, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; margin-left: -13.5pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Recognize strengths and build self-confidence</span></p></li><li aria-level="2" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Quicksand, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; margin-left: -13.5pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Closure and gratitude to each other by creating Thank You greeting cards.</span></p></li></ul><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Quicksand, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 248px; overflow: hidden; width: 480px;"><img height="248" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/LlFXf6OIwBKq6RBADE4o7ywlD7OXIkPBMEK9b1OQbLldZm2Gc4wlvkV5ADVVeNxEOsjMk9MMWKL7AI0BmXtk1ucsqAlaU8QjF_SDAdneHadyNe5E3Gu0309P5Kzs_J-nPI9HrGKv" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="480" /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 84.75pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Quicksand, sans-serif" style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 10pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span> <span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span></span>Volunteer Raveena conducted a memory game where children </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 84.75pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Quicksand, sans-serif" style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 10pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>observed objects for 2 mins and tried to recall them all</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 49.5pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><span style="font-family: Quicksand, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; text-align: justify; white-space: pre-wrap;">Games restocked at our Play2Learn Centers</span><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span face="Quicksand, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">With Play2Learn Sessions resuming at some of our Play2Learn Centers, we restocked 1,310 games at 46 Toybank centers in Beed and 796 games at 23 centers in Ahmednagar. </span><span face="Quicksand, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /><br /></span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="border: 1pt solid rgb(0, 0, 0); display: inline-block; height: 322px; overflow: hidden; width: 289px;"><img height="322" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/vtAt7XflUI4-SGHK3EnqVzAh0USfduu0vpD3VrnthieXHZsNaa_kNml0fcGx7JuY9cH6q5suSZsZHrNMlSj0nBe5TtEFyZ7espihoeOkZg7pLWGPH8k1-y-3JZaHM34yJETzX4lF" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="289" /></span><span style="border: 1pt solid rgb(0, 0, 0); display: inline-block; height: 324px; overflow: hidden; width: 329px;"><img height="324" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/qCCKPGkOcK9e6aneZtfgWHUqcGXifChOIFDD1Y8-3c_VdHlZhSuG6PIQdb9BG3txshobEgb9zv0HZFw1esgg6nMb4DxnIXCuedTjp9Maf0CPS5pD9sIfLmcoeyXJlvUHDq2FfZqA" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="329" /></span></div></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Quicksand, sans-serif" style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 10pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Children play with games restocked at the Play2Learn centers</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Quicksand, sans-serif" style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 10pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(Urja Balbhavan and Unnati Balbhavan, Ahmednagar)</span></p><span style="font-family: Quicksand, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; text-align: justify; white-space: pre-wrap;">Physical Play2Learn Sessions</span><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span face="Quicksand, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">With safety precautions, our partner-teachers facilitated play sessions with the Play2Learn Kit and board games at the reopened Play2Learn Centers.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span face="Quicksand, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Quicksand, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="border: 1pt solid rgb(0, 0, 0); display: inline-block; height: 306px; overflow: hidden; width: 551px;"><img height="306" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/B4qpcvODpyVLddp_DmjCLoQnmOf4lDbO7wxotZwaHU3O83A907jRf1yF8NYgWwYCKGF5CsnMipNm_AVIdbFMQmmsb-2Tt6pRU0AlFUsDGqfyhhA1C2ZFu9RxuZDMQ-LVuuP2QiF1" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="551" /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Quicksand, sans-serif" style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 10pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Children create various types of vehicles with the Mechanix (Gandhi Maidan School and Unnati Balbhavan, Ahmednagar)</span></p><span style="font-family: Quicksand, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; text-align: justify; white-space: pre-wrap;">Virtual Focus Group Discussions (FGD)</span><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span face="Quicksand, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Through </span><span face="Quicksand, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">8 FGD </span><span face="Quicksand, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">with </span><span face="Quicksand, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">146 teachers </span><span face="Quicksand, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">and decision-makers from </span><span face="Quicksand, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">26 partners</span><span face="Quicksand, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, we gauged how the lockdown has affected children, Digital Toybank Play2Learn Program’s support and feedback as well as suggestions to strengthen our Program and its delivery.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Quicksand, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="border: 1pt solid rgb(0, 0, 0); display: inline-block; height: 331px; overflow: hidden; width: 611px;"><img height="331" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/soXbNtL_3LUKOIyUaDKXjsXyC7_ZPNvEdX7DV7KdRjoHiM9zsHOIty8j4keuXXVOP5uKsIvSuxkDJYFp0zG9D3N3hmtVvmDk6YkrW3TNzL8lxLv_1pLAyYczGlSdvh7cv5t1dszj" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="611" /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Quicksand, sans-serif" style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 10pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Teachers in conversation with Toybank’s team</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><br /></p><br /><span style="font-family: Quicksand, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Distributed 2,682 games for children to engage at home</span><span style="font-family: Quicksand, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /><br /></span><span style="border: 1pt solid rgb(0, 0, 0); display: inline-block; font-family: Quicksand, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; height: 246px; overflow: hidden; text-align: justify; white-space: pre; width: 420px;"><img height="246" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/UaJ_88Yce5MiMAuDPnv_y7BjW0kHfHY_w0ng0reBPHuBydVk5TsSli01X84jfuDr8ZaeMzO83kPhyUCriMyIg9xVuUXC2CySFTTIfv60nqcKAupV0OKzrQdpvo1-JcVyiPEBRBNJ" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="420" /></span><br /><span face="Quicksand, sans-serif" style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 10pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700; text-align: right; white-space: pre-wrap;">Tribal children in Mulshi access quality games to play with at home</span><br /><ol start="6" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px; text-align: left;"><ul style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="2" style="font-family: Quicksand, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; margin-left: -49.5pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1,160 craft games at 9 partner-schools</span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">in Malad</span></li><li aria-level="2" style="font-family: Quicksand, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; margin-left: -49.5pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1,441 games at schools and tribal villagers in Matheran </span></p></li><li aria-level="2" style="font-family: Quicksand, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; margin-left: -49.5pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">51 games for children in the preschool age group in Mulshi-Tamhini village</span></span></p></li><li aria-level="2" style="font-family: Quicksand, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; margin-left: -49.5pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">30 games for kids living with intellectual disabilities at </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Bring a Smile School </span></p></li></ul></ol><span face="Quicksand, sans-serif"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><u><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-size: 12pt;">Toybank’s Play2Smile Program Updates</b></div></u></span></span><div style="text-align: center;"><img height="254" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/7SqYv5fFJu9mXGvZcTQxPdHSR2k7cRLup10zLbFPorEOZav7BxHx-uTttSA7mexxvkp2-mC1IABM_1eVCDBhExnvhehsKHikvZDExNBQsG1rTYlzXWsLUt916I-pRfJ2fsZN9Bab" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="302" /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Nurses distributing games across wards</div><div><span face="Quicksand, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">In September, we restocked 183 games at 10 of our Play2Smile centers at Bai Jerbai Wadia Hospital for Children in Mumbai. Play provided stress relief and distraction to the children while facilitating communication between them, parents, and medical caregivers.</span><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><br /></p><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Our work across India</b></div><h3 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 14pt; text-align: center;"><span style="border: 1pt solid rgb(0, 0, 0); display: inline-block; height: 302px; overflow: hidden; width: 469px;"><img height="302" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/ZKBRhL62t4wiT9W6-rokMlZPnm88N71Drf_llsDV7X5-wTCS2xPx1Vz3PtHq3JaMkuifaI1LT02lkf2E-MNZG2xiT6EAOMfx1UAv0NApLtkfBav8-xY1KJ--wAvkOi3J1yAD2M25" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="469" /></span></h3><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: -9.75pt; margin-top: 0pt;"></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 13.3333px; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700; white-space: pre-wrap;">Premanu Foundation, West Bengal, shares children’s testimonials</span></div><span face="Quicksand, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">The digital and translations feature of Toybank Play2Learn Kit made it adaptable in various rural and urban communities of Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Manipur, Ladakh, West Bengal, and Madhya Pradesh.</span></div></span><span face="Quicksand, sans-serif" style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><div style="font-size: 14.6667px; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></div></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><h3 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 14pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Quicksand, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Other updates from Toybank—Development through Play</span><span face="Quicksand, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /><br /></span></h3><ol style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Quicksand, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; list-style-type: decimal; margin-left: -27pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ink & Doodle Workshop by Arzan Khambatta</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In September, at Toybank’s Play Ambassador and artist-sculptor Arzan Kahambatta’s Ink & Doodle workshop, </span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">79 </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">children </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">from Play2Learn Centers and student volunteers learned squiggly lines, ‘stippling’ (dots), checks, and pattern techniques.</span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.</span><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 324px; overflow: hidden; width: 324px;"><img height="324" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/2n1hoiNNHycC2qcJvzmCxZFECPYg503SxgMkr36UVMcAdmQKVvDbMWfPEs7XIG8u4YQiDVgsj-XPQe47F23k4Leo0eL6xF9Wb7pwucY5px2_RCUMl8yqoDN3Eh9494Q8Zaa1SJn-" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="324" /></span><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 324px; overflow: hidden; width: 318px;"><img height="324" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/eumUST1NApGxeXgMIWOVwmBRqqqNdthxnZTcQa5ukCgKo-IGA2G-HZGj7j4U_D1Y0Tp4zMkkzcPueVhQbqrGZWj68uBW6nlDaOUWcvpkdFQ5DuiMm7O4IJ-Lj3eTa78HMKtxvR8f" style="margin-left: -5.79635px; margin-top: 0px;" width="323.79635449402883" /></span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Quicksand, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; list-style-type: decimal; margin-left: -27pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Cultural Fest by student volunteers</span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">20 children</span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> attended a Cultural Fest that </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">6 student volunteers </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">organized and included games & activities covering monuments, food habits, language, clothing of different Indian states of India.</span></p></li></ol><br /><br /><ol start="4" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Quicksand, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; list-style-type: decimal; margin-left: -27pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Global Good Award 2021</span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline;">Toybank bagged ‘Gold’ at the 2021 Global Good Award—COVID Crisis Champions. The UK award recognized and rewarded us for our agility in responding to the impact of Covid-19.</span><img height="200" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/sNneRrIV1NLAndyAeMAX6jBfqrPtdFq6javKhYyXX3Yidj4awc2B5uhqjsjrKQqKp8wjj6kMUhZkqfSiXwDrwJUQRvs6fh0I95Bh5tulG-BnJgVFyG48SF1kaPmAGrV3RztGJRh4=w200-h200" style="font-size: 12pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; white-space: pre;" width="200" /></span></div><p></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Quicksand, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; list-style-type: decimal; margin-left: -27pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Virtual Volunteering Support </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We sensitized </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">692 volunteers </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">through </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">12 Power of Play Sensitization </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">sessions to push play forward.</span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> 134 volunteers</span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> continue to support us in Virtual Play2Learn Sessions, the Buddy Program, video editing, research work, Play2Learn Sheet designing, and translations. </span></p></li></ol><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: -18pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: -18pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Quicksand, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Stories of Resilience </span><span style="border: 1pt solid rgb(0, 0, 0); display: inline-block; height: 380px; overflow: hidden; width: 554px;"><img height="380" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/fRpOP2bUENJIhEMz0V_97FgvC7IKiYZB4Ol1L22QTJC8rAhdGRFsbWO06PU1kmH9Jk_blVZAyjNWLDqjidTIUMmXZUh13XaaNpj-zcYqnTH9jMtPtflChAnrhAlYMJ8sqguA2U6-" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="554" /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-right: -0.75pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"></p><span face="Quicksand, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #4a86e8; font-size: 10pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Inaya creates a pull-up flower using a pen and paper </span></div></span><span face="Quicksand, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #4a86e8; font-size: 10pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">(Maharashtra Housing Board Urdu Medium School, Play2Learn Center in Malad, Mumbai)</span></div></span><hr style="text-align: right;" /><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-right: -0.75pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Quicksand, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Urdu Toybank Play2Learn Sheets enabled Inaya to become an independent learner</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: -0.75pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Quicksand, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Until recently, Inaya (name changed) had to depend on Toybank’s Program Officer (PO) or me to solve Play2Learn Sheets. But receiving activities in her first language, Urdu, has supported her and many of her classmates. Over time, Urdu Playsheets have improved Inaya’s English vocabulary and Hindi sentence formation. Solving playsheets independently is liberating for her, and she now proactively helps her friends engage with the activities and daily learns new concepts by herself.”</span><span face="Quicksand, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: -0.75pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"></p><hr /><p></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: -0.75pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Quicksand, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Story of Resilience shared by </span><span face="Quicksand, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sabeena Ashrafi, Teacher,</span><span face="Quicksand, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span face="Quicksand, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Maharashtra Housing Board Urdu School, Play2Learn Center </span><span face="Quicksand, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">in Malad, Mumbai</span><br /></p><br /><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: -0.75pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Quicksand, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Supporting Toybank in making quality play more accessible</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-right: -0.75pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span face="Quicksand, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span face="Quicksand, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">As we continue to mainstream Play, a big family of Toybank’s supporters, teachers, government officials, volunteers, and children look forward to more avenues to give children their right to happy and healthy childhoods through Play!</span></span></div><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Quicksand, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Thank you and Happy Toybanking!</span><span face="Quicksand, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span face="Quicksand, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div></div>Toybank Indiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14444795750345543854noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18159433.post-56664288745212126342021-08-11T19:40:00.000+05:302021-08-11T19:40:37.343+05:30 Games and gainful engagement for the tribal kids of Mulshi-Tamhini<p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Quicksand, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The tribal settlements of Mulshi-Tamhini in the Sahyadri Range off Pune lack even basic necessities such as clean water, clothing and healthcare. </span><span style="font-family: Quicksand, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Residents need to fetch water from a hill and they travel three villages away to reach a rudimentary healthcare center, which is shared by other settlements and villages. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Quicksand, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">With most parents working as daily wage laborers—as and when they do get work—</span><span style="font-family: Quicksand, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">illiteracy and lack of education are rampant in this community. Thus</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Quicksand, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, children’s education and healthy development is a big ask. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Quicksand, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">There are only two teachers from an NGO who visit once a week to guide them with simple learning but not academics. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Quicksand, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">While most children there are deprived of learning, teenage girls are even more severely affected due to child marriages that not only</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Quicksand, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> prevents </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Quicksand, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">their holistic development but also burdens them with household responsibilities. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfnoL8i8f-E8Hxw3kaBO-uSl1vyHyr5Cmi_f9vM0g2TMzEZPhx8FGofn_MuIuh5NOAVlrxK6K2C-N-ngK8w5MYIW6WmDBARZdVf-vmP7tGPJFrNypeDI0mDnhy0qNF8fXBavwr/s2048/branding++%25289%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1538" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfnoL8i8f-E8Hxw3kaBO-uSl1vyHyr5Cmi_f9vM0g2TMzEZPhx8FGofn_MuIuh5NOAVlrxK6K2C-N-ngK8w5MYIW6WmDBARZdVf-vmP7tGPJFrNypeDI0mDnhy0qNF8fXBavwr/w400-h300/branding++%25289%2529.png" width="400" /></a></div><span id="docs-internal-guid-24a81943-7fff-0206-6247-217dad4fcbf6"><br /><h2 style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Quicksand, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Why is Play so crucial in Mulshi-Tamhini: </span></h2><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Quicksand, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">During a sanitary pads distribution drive in Tamhini due to lack of menstrual hygiene products, Gillian Pinto, an individual do-gooder, noticed that children weren’t learning due to inadequate facilities for online classes. Even though parents and children bond over play and do household chores together, illiteracy among elders prevents them from fully supporting young children’s learning and development. Moreover, though children have ample open play spaces and the small settlement is relatively unaffected by the coronavirus or the lockdown, families are financially impacted as the daily wagers have lost employment. So, there was a severe need for Play in these children to distract them from economic hardships. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Quicksand, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></p><blockquote><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Quicksand, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Children here do not have any games or toys to keep them gainfully engaged and occupied as well as learn,”</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Quicksand, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Gillian states when asked why she reached out to Toybank. </span></blockquote><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Quicksand, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Quicksand, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. </span></p><h2 style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Quicksand, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Games were carefully curated</span></h2><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Quicksand, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">51 children from the age group of 1 to 15 were chosen as part of the distribution. We carefully selected games that would ensure various needs by the age were catered to. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Quicksand, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“We included simple playthings such as teddy rings for little children as well as English and Maths games for older ones. We knew how drastic things were for the kids. So, while we planned only to give board games earlier, we felt they should also have something comforting like a soft toy, and made a set of two games for each kid,”</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Quicksand, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Rashmin adds. Another thing to consider was that the children’s teachers who visited once a week found it taxing to guide the children due to restrictions in terms of facilities. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Quicksand, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Hence, we provided simple games that strengthened children’s foundational learning so that they could at least recall what they had studied,” </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Quicksand, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">says Toybank Program Officer Rashmin Shaikh. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Quicksand, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Gillian points out that during her visit, she spotted a couple of girls playing with dolls and make-up. Toybank has always been mindful and vocal about genderization of Play and games promoting stereotypes and biases. Our curation of games avoids this as we encourage girls to play with Mechanix sets or boys to skip the rope. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Quicksand, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></p><blockquote><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Quicksand, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Married at a young age, the girl child is typically expected to engage with traditional art and craft activities. However, we wanted them to know the world beyond their household and village. Thus, we gave them puzzles on the India map and the solar system,”</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Quicksand, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Rashmin adds. </span></blockquote><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Quicksand, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><p></p><br /><h2 style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Quicksand, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Not just children, parents were thrilled too</span></h2><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Quicksand, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Like Toybank, Gillian is happy to be able to provide something the kids were never exposed to before. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Quicksand, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“This brought so much joy to them. The soft toys were a big hit and even parents fell in love with them. They were also thrilled at the quality of the toys, how delightful the games looked and that their children would have fun with them,”</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Quicksand, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> says Gillian. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><div style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1533" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjUaqCBu9r_qgsIbeIdGo8bXNz7Jd_HXfLLnTYdUZiUkhiwE-MtKMAnk7X-W4n44ipoxaMCjSbIt5ZvnOuRGoxVgQdxt1UrW6oWscUQqvVtH5lEMgb2_qeXIA6_46FS-9QEbKb/s320/branding++%252811%2529.png" width="240" /></div><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Quicksand, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><h2 style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Quicksand, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Working together to support at-risk children</span></h2><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Quicksand, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">At Toybank, we have always relied on our supporters’ backing to deliver resilience and learning through Play to at-risk children, no matter what the challenges we face. For this distribution amid the lockdown, logistics proved to be a challenge as the volunteers were an hour-and-a-half away from Pune. However, one of our solid supporters was traveling to the city from Mumbai and handed over the package to Gillian. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Quicksand, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“I saw this as a sign that everything was meant to fall into place just so that the kids could play. The games were so systematically and beautifully packed and of such good quality,”</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Quicksand, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Gillian signs off. </span><span style="font-family: Quicksand, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="display: inline-block; position: relative; width: 100px;"></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br /></p></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjUaqCBu9r_qgsIbeIdGo8bXNz7Jd_HXfLLnTYdUZiUkhiwE-MtKMAnk7X-W4n44ipoxaMCjSbIt5ZvnOuRGoxVgQdxt1UrW6oWscUQqvVtH5lEMgb2_qeXIA6_46FS-9QEbKb/s2048/branding++%252811%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjUaqCBu9r_qgsIbeIdGo8bXNz7Jd_HXfLLnTYdUZiUkhiwE-MtKMAnk7X-W4n44ipoxaMCjSbIt5ZvnOuRGoxVgQdxt1UrW6oWscUQqvVtH5lEMgb2_qeXIA6_46FS-9QEbKb/s2048/branding++%252811%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-wBHIqz84uFxJyOLslxtGZ4VuzLCS_y7vnmarbNSMKV9Ii8-vkeFpJVaFdMs6Xxu3Kaf2nSesqZfrno-3sSIBCri3LINLe4noQ64j3fvnn4Q7jDuzq6qhcDRLILBsXTpgDgC9/s2048/branding++%252810%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-wBHIqz84uFxJyOLslxtGZ4VuzLCS_y7vnmarbNSMKV9Ii8-vkeFpJVaFdMs6Xxu3Kaf2nSesqZfrno-3sSIBCri3LINLe4noQ64j3fvnn4Q7jDuzq6qhcDRLILBsXTpgDgC9/w400-h300/branding++%252810%2529.png" width="400" /></a></div></div><br />Toybank Indiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14444795750345543854noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18159433.post-32209196997658764472021-07-30T17:10:00.000+05:302021-07-30T17:10:12.033+05:301400+ games distributed in Matheran and surrounding tribal areas<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUmRwKWRW7DdGqkGadnq8oNO3ml7-Egeh8ANDRwINoIZ6WeQSkT1Z_LvVQPamK6vIt-i8om3FJnHDU7c4ktq8DqnbkAikGPh3WE65Hq1Bkt6FE1oZEAXgHUFXjLwJUzypwHzgQ/s2602/branding++4.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1208" data-original-width="2602" height="314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUmRwKWRW7DdGqkGadnq8oNO3ml7-Egeh8ANDRwINoIZ6WeQSkT1Z_LvVQPamK6vIt-i8om3FJnHDU7c4ktq8DqnbkAikGPh3WE65Hq1Bkt6FE1oZEAXgHUFXjLwJUzypwHzgQ/w674-h314/branding++4.png" width="674" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">750 children from the main town and a remote adivasi vadi, Hashachi Patti, received Play materials</td></tr></tbody></table><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b><div><b><span style="font-size: large;">T</span></b>he misty mountains of Matheran may be idyllic, but the children of the hill station have been affected by school closures and lack of Play due to the COVID-19 lockdown just the same. While our collaborators, Caring Friends, have been doing exemplary COVID relief work there, they saw the need to club Play with their efforts to provide mental well-being and continued learning to the children. Thus, we got together for a games distribution drive across three schools—St Xavier’s High School, Matheran Nagarpalika School and Pracharya Yashwantrao Gavankar High School. <div><br /></div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwPhNAIIoGGrtdd9BeuZylZEwH2f60ETW-LobWpJHnJCBs0hPPgtgFnMjn2G2lpNg6BYcjOz5TlCvIWJIRKBW7q5Yx0jGEKAp8JLNJQyf4dslBePobfD0KqP6sEr6Qa3D90-CN/s1080/1+%25282%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="808" data-original-width="1080" height="324" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwPhNAIIoGGrtdd9BeuZylZEwH2f60ETW-LobWpJHnJCBs0hPPgtgFnMjn2G2lpNg6BYcjOz5TlCvIWJIRKBW7q5Yx0jGEKAp8JLNJQyf4dslBePobfD0KqP6sEr6Qa3D90-CN/w434-h324/1+%25282%2529.png" width="434" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A variety of games enabled kids to share them with each other while playing </td></tr></tbody></table><b>Play to reduce screen time</b> </div><div>Games were necessary for the children here as they were fatigued with digital learning, with cellphones being their only avenue for education and entertainment. Concerned parents wanted their children to stay distracted not only from the distress of COVID but also reduce their screen time. Even though Matheran is blessed with open play spaces near schools, the stay-at-home order at the moment has made these areas inaccessible for children, forcing them to stay indoors. So, while carefully following precautions, our collaborators distributed Toybank’s games to the children.
We set aside two play materials per child, with some extra ones, so that no kid would be left without a plaything to call their own. </div><div><br /></div><div>On the day of the event, we found out that an adivasi vadi called Hashachi Patti had children who needed Play just as acutely. The residents are typically porters, handcart pullers or vegetable vendors in the main town, and thus their children face inequities. Instantly, we decided to give them Playful happiness and meaningful engagement, too.
Even though providing games to more children meant the kids of Matheran would get only one game each, the meticulous curation of the games proved to be handy. As the children are all neighbors, the games were selected so that there was no duplication. If all the children received the same kind of materials, they wouldn’t share them; therefore, an array of games would prevent monotony while providing more meaningful engagement. This change of plan enabled us to bring Play to approximately 750 children.</div><div></div><blockquote><div>'We were motivated and focused because we were reaching out to children in remote places where they needed our play intervention' —Pinkan Kedase, Toybank Inventory Team</div></blockquote><div></div><div><b>Meticulous curation of games</b> </div><div>This requirement made planning a long-drawn process as the Toybank Program Officer (PO) and Inventory team had to keep in mind the different age groups, learning levels and variety of games. “We<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs9xdeDSMGcx7eHXfqaD6EradH5aiM3I6E-zPmnfDWpUH1FF9KXyZbcGcESEmfgEhXMgpdqB5u8aTtiHY6K8IjFkxvB51reLQrJSABXeXXMaiOfRtRm-KO5sg3wj3IXZ66GOie/s1079/3+%25282%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="808" data-original-width="1079" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs9xdeDSMGcx7eHXfqaD6EradH5aiM3I6E-zPmnfDWpUH1FF9KXyZbcGcESEmfgEhXMgpdqB5u8aTtiHY6K8IjFkxvB51reLQrJSABXeXXMaiOfRtRm-KO5sg3wj3IXZ66GOie/w400-h300/3+%25282%2529.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Toybank curated games according to children's varied needs</td></tr></tbody></table>took a complete stock of all the games and made a list of what we could give, which itself took us two days. Then came segregating them according to the age group. We clubbed Junior and Senior KG, Classes 1 and 2, Classes 3 and 4, and so on till Class 10. For this distribution, we paid more attention to planning according to the varied needs,” says Rashmin Shaikh, Toybank PO. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Providing sustainable games</b> </div><div> As hill stations such as Matheran do not have the same provision for Play or games as major towns and cities, the longevity of games was vital, and one-time use games wouldn’t have served the purpose. Thus, the Toybank team includes alphabetical and numerical games, puzzles, blocks and generic maths games. “Toybank Play2Learn Centers kids are familiar with and know how to play board games. But that wasn’t the case with these children, especially those from the adivasi locality. We couldn’t assume that a child from Class 3 will be able to play with games we typically stock at our centers for that age group,” reasons Rashmin. Pratham Education’s ASER (Annual Survey of Education Reports) assessment emphasizes that children in higher grades (including adolescents) have a poor grasp of skills taught in lower grades. Thus, we had to be mindful that all the children would benefit from the games. Hence, we avoided tough Strategy Games and chose simpler ones such as Teddy Rings for KG kids, puzzles of 6 to 10 pieces, Brainvita and Snakes & Ladders to cater to children of different learning levels. “We included art and craft games from Disney so that children do not have to work too hard or find it difficult as they may lose interest and give up playing,” Rashmin adds.</div><blockquote><div>'Now, children also come with their parents to buy things from my store. They thank me for the games each time. It feels great' —Nitin Shah, Toybank's collaborator </div></blockquote><div><b>Overcoming challenging tasks</b> <br /></div><div>Working and coordinating remotely had its set of challenges for the team, especially for the segregation of games. Rashmin and Inventory Team member Pinkan Kedase exchanged several calls each day. “We would both remind each other that we were doing it for these children, and we had to sort it out no matter what. So, even if we’d get frustrated, we made sure to come up with solutions and brainstormed with each other,” says Pinkan. “We were motivated and didn’t lose focus because we were reaching out to children in remote places, and they needed our play intervention,” he adds. </div><div><br /></div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz-f0OIB0jBSyEeWoou6wAPtV_czLaGHAnnlfCs9PZD2xQ7Cw1-c-l9Xqptm8r0zkybethjI0NvXidMj_3gN5nmawNoGDhV68bOhFwSZmLaVsnkyMHe64dTcTPXzf5Yb0y37Qg/s1080/4+%25283%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz-f0OIB0jBSyEeWoou6wAPtV_czLaGHAnnlfCs9PZD2xQ7Cw1-c-l9Xqptm8r0zkybethjI0NvXidMj_3gN5nmawNoGDhV68bOhFwSZmLaVsnkyMHe64dTcTPXzf5Yb0y37Qg/w400-h400/4+%25283%2529.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">Time slots were scheduled according to age groups for distribution</span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div><b>Support from our partners</b> </div><div>Our point of contact, Nitin Shah’s involvement in logistics and distribution from start to end, was invaluable. As the local storekeeper couldn’t have managed such a massive distribution on his own, our collaborators Nimesh Sumati, his wife Preeti and daughter-in-law Steffi lent their support.
Unlike previous distributions, the new normal called for extra care, keeping the COVID-19 safety protocols in mind. For that, our supporters ensured scheduled time slots according to different age groups. The distribution happened seamlessly, and the parents were ecstatic to receive the games for their kids. Steffi later told us, “The distribution was such a wonderful experience. We are all so happy that the children will keep playing and learning.” </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Indescribable feeling</b> </div><div>For Nitin, the distribution was memorable as the children who received the games have started visiting him now. “Initially, only parents would come to buy things from my store. But now, children also accompany them. They thank me for the games each time. It feels great,” he says. For us at Toybank, too, it’s a matter of gratification as children in remote regions have received Play. As Rashmin points out, even if we cannot go to Toybank Play2Learn Centers, delivering Play hasn’t stopped for us, nor should learning and resilience ever stop for our children. “All the challenges of planning and execution fizzled out with the successful distribution. Each moment, I felt I should put in more than 100 per cent for these children, and we did just that,” concludes the Toybank Program Officer.
</div></div>Toybank Indiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14444795750345543854noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18159433.post-58913943858718037862021-07-12T20:41:00.002+05:302021-07-12T20:41:58.443+05:30World Play Day, Play2Learn Session and more in May<p><b></b></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu1CU8o7ODLAAklnN4q_x-EHQtw_GFdgep_gAVul8QHztsdUOI5IE5ln-Yau1MXpnbvm7Tel8EBq7Vy7KoMQzyoQhkS5gLTBsEAS3zCDuRFifrL-MmS9ZUVMVa-cN6d-L_nuqS/s940/HTPF+Report+Images.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="788" data-original-width="940" height="526" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu1CU8o7ODLAAklnN4q_x-EHQtw_GFdgep_gAVul8QHztsdUOI5IE5ln-Yau1MXpnbvm7Tel8EBq7Vy7KoMQzyoQhkS5gLTBsEAS3zCDuRFifrL-MmS9ZUVMVa-cN6d-L_nuqS/w640-h526/HTPF+Report+Images.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A few children from Latur played at the Toybank Play2Learn Center after more than a year</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b></b></div><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b><div><b><span style="font-size: medium;">M</span></b>ay always has us more excited as World Play Day is celebrated on the 28th of the month. Even though children continue to be indoors, Play must go on, no matter what. So, we encouraged them to prioritize playtime in their daily routine with the Toybank Play Planner that they filled up and shared with us. Greater joy came from receiving photos of a physical Play2Learn Session from Latur where children played together after more than a year. During a ration distribution drive at a Zilla Parishad school, a few children accompanying their parents saw the board games at our Play2Learn Center and requested to Play as they missed playtime. With their masks on, they got together to create a model of a neighborhood with blocks. While these children could play together, Toybank Buddy Program had our volunteer Prabhutva and Small Buddy Prakash discussing important life lessons through child-friendly animated movies. <p><b>Complementing academic learning</b><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkXhvqiOW3Cx_PQo91ls3trJs6n8ZXEotNIGa7tn7nzuUfvmKAJR93XwRTLTEV-jgOIidxvpdNqO2Au_YbYO_aLqDYO3APMZrbC9osm9D6o4k2BxPDHVj-eDwuvxn7CnLj5xHZ/s940/WhatsApp+Image+2021-07-12+at+20.07.36.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="420" data-original-width="940" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkXhvqiOW3Cx_PQo91ls3trJs6n8ZXEotNIGa7tn7nzuUfvmKAJR93XwRTLTEV-jgOIidxvpdNqO2Au_YbYO_aLqDYO3APMZrbC9osm9D6o4k2BxPDHVj-eDwuvxn7CnLj5xHZ/w400-h179/WhatsApp+Image+2021-07-12+at+20.07.36.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Children are keener to learn new topics through Play</td></tr></tbody></table></p><p></p>Apart from bringing children joyous moments, our partner teachers noted that as children find the activities interesting and fresh, they are keener on learning new topics such as about mammals through Word Search: Mammals. They also improved their spellings through this. Children are also becoming more independent as learners through the self-directed Play2Learn Sheets. For instance, they revised multiplication tables and learnt equations during vacations with the help of ‘Search Equation of 2’, a crossword-style grid. This also supports educators who are concerned about students losing yet another year of quality academics. As Mahendra Vishwakarma, a teacher from Toybank Play2Learn Center in Latur says, "Children are surrounded by negative news daily and stuck to screens for their education. Toybank's playsheets are a great way to help them play, learn and enjoy their childhoods during vacations." </div><div><br /></div><div><p>The downside of virtual learning is evident in many of our children, like Farman (name changed) who excelled in the traditional classroom. With the lockdown disrupting his routine, he was overwhelmed with the sudden changes and he struggled to keep up. As Farman missed playing and interacting with his friends, Toybank Play2Learn Sheets gave him new play activities to engage with. Encouragement from his teachers also enabled him to learn, study, and play independently. His teacher, Mr Sanket, tells us, “The play activities are strengthening Farman’s foundation in the subjects he struggled in.”</p><blockquote><p>"Children are surrounded by negative news daily and stuck to screens for education. Playsheets are a great way to help them play, learn and enjoy their childhoods during vacations." </p><p>—Mahendra Vishwakarma, Teacher, Toybank Play2Learn Center, Latur</p></blockquote><p><b>Visual memory and creativity through Play</b></p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAnb3ABmS4pwT0Xr1UWm2zQ_r83fa2MMIeTL_RD6LCL4bG2C5NWC1Pu0x2XQ6RhkTaGQnj7WJimiNLPx_KE_mqFmWfbYm6m-ou-wcttfiLsGvHICxZGOEGeM9D6zyYsRyZQ-LW/s940/WhatsApp+Image+2021-07-12+at+20.25.40.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="788" data-original-width="940" height="329" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAnb3ABmS4pwT0Xr1UWm2zQ_r83fa2MMIeTL_RD6LCL4bG2C5NWC1Pu0x2XQ6RhkTaGQnj7WJimiNLPx_KE_mqFmWfbYm6m-ou-wcttfiLsGvHICxZGOEGeM9D6zyYsRyZQ-LW/w393-h329/WhatsApp+Image+2021-07-12+at+20.25.40.jpeg" width="393" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shailesh used ingredients at home to make paints</td></tr></tbody></table>The Toybank Play2Learn Kit focused on visual memory with the activity ‘Brain Teasers’, creative skills with ‘Thinking Color’, ‘Complete the Pattern’ and ‘Letter Match’, and social-emotional skills with ‘Things that Make me Worried’, ‘Behavior Chart’ and ‘A–Z Happiness,’ among others that enhanced their language skills as well as Math. For teacher Vishwakarma, an important playsheet was ‘Coloring Habits’, as it helped children unlearn bad routines due to being cooped up at home. These activities taught children to identify and reduce harmful habits. <p></p><p> It was a month of creativity, as children also engaged with the craft games we distributed in April. Most of all, Shailesh (name changed) from Latur channeled the painter in him. With no source of income due to the pandemic, his parents, though encouraging of his hobby, couldn’t afford to buy him art material anymore. The Class 7 child was dejected, but in Toybank’s playsheets, he found substitutes to paints that were easily available at home—like kumkum for red, turmeric for yellow, and chalk for white. While Shailesh was elated that he could paint, we were gratified to receive ‘Fingerprint Name’ from him as he traced his name. The child also encouraged his classmates to explore their creativity through Toybank's Play2Learn Kit. </p></div>Toybank Indiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14444795750345543854noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18159433.post-27526771639163576552021-05-31T21:20:00.016+05:302021-06-01T12:58:08.298+05:30Meaningful engagement during vacations in April<p style="text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large; text-align: left;"><b><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcb25eJdrBxRtoka9ZJs6J7NKP4uu-drelW8wHIUOSnuFKYlA-wmkLGP1nozhbOur9uKXT9RYibHMt0O47DNQFqCNEJxIy_mudwwGzP_8Qw0u1yOfhi0MDa4Cohp-mM8s3uoGe/s1920/game+distribution++%25281%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcb25eJdrBxRtoka9ZJs6J7NKP4uu-drelW8wHIUOSnuFKYlA-wmkLGP1nozhbOur9uKXT9RYibHMt0O47DNQFqCNEJxIy_mudwwGzP_8Qw0u1yOfhi0MDa4Cohp-mM8s3uoGe/w640-h360/game+distribution++%25281%2529.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Children stayed meaningfully engaged with craft games that Toybank distributed</td></tr></tbody></table><br />A</b></span><span style="text-align: left;">pril is vacation time, when children get to do what they rightfully must every day, all year long—Play. For the second year in a row, however, they have been away from play spaces and their friends and peers, in a lockdown during COVID-19. But, Play must go on no matter what, we believe. It’s been an entire year since we have been ensuring that 51+ at-risk children keep playing and learning even during the pandemic through the Toybank Play2Learn Kit. </span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b>What children learnt through Play in April </b></p><p style="text-align: left;">The Play2Learn activities are curated to build children’s resilience, socio-emotional skills and continued learning. As our partner teacher Ms Hemali Desai from MHB Hindi School told us during a feedback call, “Playsheets not only help students with their academics but also build healthy life skills like patience and self-awareness about how their words and actions can impact people around them.” </p><p style="text-align: left;">In April, while our kids solved playsheets ‘Rhyming Hunt’, ‘Possessive Pronouns’, and ‘Crosswords: Antonyms’ to enhance their language skills, ‘Multiplication Equation’ and ‘Spaceship Integers’ supported them in mental maths and numerical skills.</p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZjOJUsEseRtJxFrSQAp812CHk5pzIFs85f5QfCVBm9XK01BZZS1ZIIo1jd-ZxHpxMVBgSPYB4OwbLDZ8cB9dbCnPQBTILVEXVIGaONU6ql92tL3OUtCRX-I9JkQlJyZy8vw5y/s1920/feathers+of+gratitude.png" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="966" data-original-width="1920" height="201" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZjOJUsEseRtJxFrSQAp812CHk5pzIFs85f5QfCVBm9XK01BZZS1ZIIo1jd-ZxHpxMVBgSPYB4OwbLDZ8cB9dbCnPQBTILVEXVIGaONU6ql92tL3OUtCRX-I9JkQlJyZy8vw5y/w400-h201/feathers+of+gratitude.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Children said thanks with 'Feathers of Gratitude'</td></tr></tbody></table>Activity ‘Squares into Triangles’, where the kids had to use a grid to make 18 triangles, tested and developed their logical thinking and visual memory. As children stay safe at home with meaningful engagement, they expressed their thanks to their parents, teachers, caregivers and also COVID Warriors such as medical professionals, police and the government with ‘Feathers of Gratitude’ and ‘Helping Hands,’ which built their socio-emotional Skills by enabling them to express their feelings. <p></p><blockquote><p style="text-align: left;"><i>“Play2Learn Sheets help students with their academics and build life skills like patience and self-awareness about how their words and actions can impact others” —</i>Ms Hemali Desai, Teacher, MHB Hindi School</p></blockquote><p><i> </i> </p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b></b></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI3maoklbW_cx0r7H-db1m5PacYsl03OMEUkj9e-r2eQMObwu2aABPXo8LO2msntRjgX0FSS6PFkZadlZH0m26fMLIER7AMHlEA9ysOljgWABWMD59hW1xtCKwf1Rc8EPtli0t/s1280/WhatsApp+Image+2021-06-01+at+12.43.32.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="956" data-original-width="1280" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI3maoklbW_cx0r7H-db1m5PacYsl03OMEUkj9e-r2eQMObwu2aABPXo8LO2msntRjgX0FSS6PFkZadlZH0m26fMLIER7AMHlEA9ysOljgWABWMD59hW1xtCKwf1Rc8EPtli0t/w400-h299/WhatsApp+Image+2021-06-01+at+12.43.32.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">'Think Before you Speak' built children's social-emotional skills </td></tr></tbody></table><b>Feedback from partner teachers</b><p style="text-align: left;">During our feedback calls, teachers stated how playsheets build children's confidence and motivate them to study. They also noted that through Socio-Emotional Learning (SEL) based Play2Learn activities like 'Think Before You Speak' children learned ways to deal with difficult situations. </p><p style="text-align: left;">Teachers also pointed out that the Play2Learn Kit is giving children a headstart on their academic lessons. For instance, ‘The Quiz’ helped students improve general knowledge and topics from their History class.</p><p style="text-align: left;"><b>Games distribution </b></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEwCI42ogM8fYp7qIYZTzYX5ikay33MCnLq8-01F7W3I1-Nn-1XtHpYT5hA6jOyILbfTF4O8hgdK76pLbA_y7RhD5hD_Kc9Q9mDSlnIO42RGx29pumxIUDm0LGs_6IVzywfiIJ/s625/image.png" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="520" data-original-width="625" height="333" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEwCI42ogM8fYp7qIYZTzYX5ikay33MCnLq8-01F7W3I1-Nn-1XtHpYT5hA6jOyILbfTF4O8hgdK76pLbA_y7RhD5hD_Kc9Q9mDSlnIO42RGx29pumxIUDm0LGs_6IVzywfiIJ/w400-h333/image.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Toybank's outreach in April 2021</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p style="text-align: left;">Toys and games distribution is an integral part of our program. Even though we had to stall that temporarily during the pandemic, right before the Lockdown 2021, we distributed 1,160 creative games across 9 schools in Mumbai, and 1,095 games for the Play2Smile Program at hospitals in Mumbai and Pune. The inventory team meticulously sanitized and packed the games, and the distribution was conducted by maintaining social distancing. </p><p style="text-align: left;"><b>Toybank Buddy Program</b></p><p style="text-align: left;">As the Play2Learn Kit has been supporting children’s learning and development, our volunteers have been filling in as our kids’ friends and guides through the Toybank Buddy Program. In April, we conducted 18 Buddy Sessions that included virtual play, art and craft and everything that a circle of friendship encompasses </p><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />Toybank Indiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14444795750345543854noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18159433.post-38577274129256163962021-05-19T16:13:00.000+05:302021-05-19T16:13:07.632+05:30Play2Learn Games Distribution: Giving Play, mental relief and learning in children’s hands<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">After distributing </span><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1,095 games </span><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">for the </span><a href="http://blog.toybank.org/2021/05/play2smile-games-distribution-healing.html" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Play2Smile Program</span></a><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, Toybank distributed </span><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1,160 games </span><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">for the </span><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Play2Learn Program </span><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">at nine municipal schools in Malad, Mumbai.</span></span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-2cafae05-7fff-3a0c-34d8-ba960d262d8d" style="font-family: helvetica;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It’s true that Play can happen anywhere and anytime, even when children do not have playthings. However, kids’ joy knows no bounds when they have a game or toy to call their own and hold on to, especially during </span><a href="http://blog.toybank.org/2020/04/helping-children-play-at-home-to-cope.html" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">challenging times.</span></a><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Thus, the distribution of games and toys has always been an integral part of Toybank and something that kick-started our interventions back in 2004. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></p><span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxhM7J35D4QLPETiRU4EWx3l4UrTBm2bhNJZEOiVwA-RCTVe0PIE5vjxuD9-Z3gDHuQLCeKbngqi45Pvf812XMx61WgjKTKKZ1ej-TjfhS7Rwg_1oH1S7jULswmlqRlbA43H1K/s940/7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: white; clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img border="0" data-original-height="788" data-original-width="940" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxhM7J35D4QLPETiRU4EWx3l4UrTBm2bhNJZEOiVwA-RCTVe0PIE5vjxuD9-Z3gDHuQLCeKbngqi45Pvf812XMx61WgjKTKKZ1ej-TjfhS7Rwg_1oH1S7jULswmlqRlbA43H1K/w353-h296/7.jpg" width="353" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="color: #1b63cf;">Our partner Manavlok along with Zilla Parishad school teachers in Beed district<br />distribute games to the children during the pandemic</span></i></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span>While our digital Play2Learn Kit has been engaging our children through this prolonged pandemic, whenever lockdown rules have eased we have requested our program partners to send the games from our Play2Learn Centers to the children’s homes. These have been done in adherence to safety and precaution guidelines. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span>Even before the second wave hit the country, we liaised with our partners and teachers to distribute games to our children at nine schools in Malad Mumbai. Every instance of knowing that our kids are experiencing stress-relief, staying meaningfully engaged and learning adds to our happiness and motivates us. But, not a day passes when we don’t wish to be at Toybank Play2Learn Centers surrounded by our kids. Teachers who supported us in giving away the games echoed this sentiment too. As Ms Poonam from Rani Sati Urdu Municipal School said, <i>“For an entire year, we couldn't meet our children but through this distribution, we could see that they have something to enjoy and will remember school and teachers for this gesture.”</i></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span><i><br /></i></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCEoy96wEUePCdquZZ-FknaVrJ0uTwuq1xXbQv51YaQmhdqOJfAIVBSxa3r_rEfU-qu2mUBz16AOYuyLV7w_deRvQFVJzMPUIlBIpNv2PUHb2p23SeexCvAAtiLRUbbZYMpI2G/s784/19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="784" data-original-width="590" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCEoy96wEUePCdquZZ-FknaVrJ0uTwuq1xXbQv51YaQmhdqOJfAIVBSxa3r_rEfU-qu2mUBz16AOYuyLV7w_deRvQFVJzMPUIlBIpNv2PUHb2p23SeexCvAAtiLRUbbZYMpI2G/s320/19.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVGPGCy1KzMFz3qkBPx3oTyjjP-NI2gM6DdyklSuTQ4JLVFKPx9RPW9cdv399lmx5AlPtszK8_pAWjQuGwIEVlNDOURzXQpjR3Shuxd3kK4ipI1vBBfStw-gmlYavipf556a85/s1156/Kurar+Gav+Municipal+Marathi+School+No.+3+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1156" data-original-width="868" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVGPGCy1KzMFz3qkBPx3oTyjjP-NI2gM6DdyklSuTQ4JLVFKPx9RPW9cdv399lmx5AlPtszK8_pAWjQuGwIEVlNDOURzXQpjR3Shuxd3kK4ipI1vBBfStw-gmlYavipf556a85/s320/Kurar+Gav+Municipal+Marathi+School+No.+3+%25282%2529.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><h3 style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span><u>Why games distribution is crucial during lockdown</u></span></span></h3><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span><a href="http://blog.toybank.org/2020/12/reimagining-child-friendly-spaces.html" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Play spaces</span></a><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> are safe spaces for holistic development, social-emotional well-being and learning, especially for at-risk children who are surrounded by harsh environments. As these nurturing spaces of schools and Toybank Play2Learn Centers are temporarily inaccessible, playing at home is crucial. As our Inventory Team member Pinkan Kedase observes, <i>“Children from affluent families are privileged to have all the facilities, but our beneficiaries are all from low-income families and may not afford playthings on their own. Thus, we at Toybank make sure these games and materials reach them so that they stay engaged, which is necessary right now.” </i></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1iXoElnJpJWWlDRmCqW2ed-G0olXtdMB4ssq5-vuK7uUcF71ZKpkKLIVDFbaBAWns1vZieRKm9BW8MDC5WaXgsao3437vhCdFRe2no7PMRiVsGSuQpxw93GBXqSTJgVPNJF_e/s1156/Kurar+Gav+Municipal+Marathi+School+No.+3+%25284%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center; white-space: normal;"><img border="0" data-original-height="868" data-original-width="1156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1iXoElnJpJWWlDRmCqW2ed-G0olXtdMB4ssq5-vuK7uUcF71ZKpkKLIVDFbaBAWns1vZieRKm9BW8MDC5WaXgsao3437vhCdFRe2no7PMRiVsGSuQpxw93GBXqSTJgVPNJF_e/s320/Kurar+Gav+Municipal+Marathi+School+No.+3+%25284%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span></p><span><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Deepesh Ovhal, from our Inventory Team related to what these children must be going through because of his own child, <i>“</i></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>I know how frustrating it is at times for children who are so full of energy to be indoors when they should be outside playing. I’m also aware that many times children are at the receiving end of their parents' anger. These kids often step outside to avoid being targeted. But with these games, we can help children avoid such situations and distract themselves as they stay safe at home.”</i></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span> </span></span></p><h3 style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span><u>Behind the scenes with our inventory team working in full steam</u></span></span></h3><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">While most of Toybank’s employees worked remotely to coordinate this distribution, our i</span><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CN5I2uxJ7Pe/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">nventory team</span></a><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> held fort at the warehouse. They worked relentlessly while paying attention to their own health and safety. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Even in the pandemic, generous supporters of Toybank have donated games and toys and the inventory team have been stocking, sorting, maintaining a log, sanitizing and packing these games, keeping them ready for whenever there is a window to provide play to our children. <i>“We followed all the COVID protocols and ensured we were all safe, too. Each game was thoroughly checked whether they were complete sets or not. They were sanitized before packaging and later while loading them into transport services. We wore masks and hand gloves at all times,” </i>Pinkan adds. </span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Just like our teachers, our team was also filled with joy on being on-field for the distribution. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">That’s what we work for, after all</span><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqBP3Oqo1xg5AhAV1n2WDpWnGr-k0eK0Y3TjrbGwfkYlMo9cJw_WXQXX6RXf6HL4HD-3QfWSn5DOfh_xn_oL0ITrkWWIi5HM8Triqhu503HV5H_X9NeZPXEQhr8Hjeugoo9SFX/s768/13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="632" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqBP3Oqo1xg5AhAV1n2WDpWnGr-k0eK0Y3TjrbGwfkYlMo9cJw_WXQXX6RXf6HL4HD-3QfWSn5DOfh_xn_oL0ITrkWWIi5HM8Triqhu503HV5H_X9NeZPXEQhr8Hjeugoo9SFX/s320/13.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtB10ujVT6JKoHBAtST9Hjz7f6kldbb88zKo5xLVjVnR_ky_PN5AyR5EWMl7NBzCw6G61gVb__tc0-ezs891z3t9a_3nI2-AvbTbjE_Zm44L36j-cC16Uzq3py_jSmYEv-zI0A/s1000/Generic+Half+Yearly+.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="750" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtB10ujVT6JKoHBAtST9Hjz7f6kldbb88zKo5xLVjVnR_ky_PN5AyR5EWMl7NBzCw6G61gVb__tc0-ezs891z3t9a_3nI2-AvbTbjE_Zm44L36j-cC16Uzq3py_jSmYEv-zI0A/s320/Generic+Half+Yearly+.jpg" /></a></div><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></p><blockquote><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“All the hard-work and safety measures were worth it and we </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">felt great about the opportunity to experience our in-person work. After such a long time, we were connected with schools and distributed the materials just like pre-COVID days.”</span> </blockquote><blockquote><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">— Deepesh Ovhal, Toybank Inventory Team</span></blockquote><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><p></p><span><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></span><h3 style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span><u>Teachers hope for the best</u></span></span></h3><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span>Our partner teachers are pleased with the quality of the materials. As our teacher-in-charge from Valnai Colony Municipal Tamil School Tamilselvi Singaraj said, <i>“We are grateful to you for sending such beautiful materials that we were eager to distribute to our children.” </i></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span><i><br /></i></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiryvklRPh2M8eNZ2Zs5E-GwXUGalZy42dCDVvfX8ZY0CpasQk4YczZPIs2zOp61naoYTDNXM5FW6d22f525E6FG0Tn3SsbnZzrdJlTdnXeQm9spreB5lQApsyFjvBD6GZaNOsU/s939/20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="699" data-original-width="939" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiryvklRPh2M8eNZ2Zs5E-GwXUGalZy42dCDVvfX8ZY0CpasQk4YczZPIs2zOp61naoYTDNXM5FW6d22f525E6FG0Tn3SsbnZzrdJlTdnXeQm9spreB5lQApsyFjvBD6GZaNOsU/s320/20.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></span></div><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span><br /></span></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Principal Ms. Shraddha Parap from Kurar Marathi School adds that the games will be useful in </span><a href="http://blog.toybank.org/2020/06/playing-solo-why-you-must-encourage.html" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">breaking the monotony</span></a><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> children have been facing for more than a year. <i>“With these games, they have something new to do. This will ensure that they do not get restless,” Ms. Parap points out.</i> </span></span></p><span><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><span></span></span></p><blockquote><span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">“As most of our children live in slums, keeping them in the house becomes a challenge for parents. But the games that Toybank distributed will help them be occupied indoors, play and be safe. They can use their time doing something productive. We thank Toybank for providing these games even during these tough times, when it is most needed.”</span></span></blockquote><blockquote><span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; white-space: pre-wrap;">—Ms Poonam, Teacher, Rani Sati Marg School</span></span></blockquote></span><p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><span face="Quicksand, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>Toybank Indiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14444795750345543854noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18159433.post-86823064274974323792021-05-11T11:12:00.007+05:302021-05-18T16:27:38.776+05:30Play2Smile Games Distribution: Healing, mental well-being, and resilience through Play<div style="text-align: justify;"><div>While children are innately resilient, coping with ailments usually takes a toll on their mental well-being. Now, COVID-19 has added to their woes. With the outbreak of the pandemic, we had to halt games replacement and restocking—usually conducted every quarter—at our partner hospitals of the Toybank Play2Smile Program. Though, early this year, when the hospital staff reached out to us with their requirement for games for the children’s OPD, we instantly swung into action. </div><div><br /></div><div>Right before the second wave of the pandemic hit India, in March and April, with our partner Cipla Foundation's support, Team Toybank distributed <b>1,095 games</b> to Bai Jerbai Wadia Hospital and SRCC in Mumbai, and Bharti Hospital, Sasoon Hospital, Indrayani Hospital, and CPC Center in Pune. While distributions typically take place at Play2Learn Centers, during the recent visit, children at these hospitals went home with craft and art games as keepsakes, to continue staying engaged.</div></div><h3 style="text-align: justify;"><u><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaLrtjsfsnOTRLCTqx8jxEen-MwTa2G_eVboFtAbhzSjZWMHwQVuiBVeQEFuI-yHsCNFF4ku_C9Qd9a3fcb_QB3EqbRQzfZJNRo_uMZzSmjT62EcxpqTHFDZeTKOiETpBMGVcI/s1024/9.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="391" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaLrtjsfsnOTRLCTqx8jxEen-MwTa2G_eVboFtAbhzSjZWMHwQVuiBVeQEFuI-yHsCNFF4ku_C9Qd9a3fcb_QB3EqbRQzfZJNRo_uMZzSmjT62EcxpqTHFDZeTKOiETpBMGVcI/w521-h391/9.jpg" width="521" /></a></div><h3 style="text-align: justify;"><u>Curating play for every child’s needs</u></h3></u></h3><div style="text-align: justify;">Every child or group of children has unique needs. The games for distribution are as meticulously curated as they are for our Play2Learn Centers. For instance, we provided wooden toys as they are handier, durable, and harmless, and games that promote audiovisual sensory to the physiotherapy ward. Mosaic Fun with small pieces that need to be inserted into slots thereby developing children’s fine and gross motor skills, was provided to the palliative care ward.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><h3><u><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihyphenhyphensVK5I59p8sWTwhRI_aoY1bkLLFfS5oiVBQo9Tj7PTBNA1xgpHjtoB_ngtlxMn1J2ABuTCLnXg8b5qjfyQMqfs7yVrrkT5Fk-kH1_kMgh5sU_wxwmgwRnP7yUSCwkOVmZz8i/s765/13.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="765" data-original-width="634" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihyphenhyphensVK5I59p8sWTwhRI_aoY1bkLLFfS5oiVBQo9Tj7PTBNA1xgpHjtoB_ngtlxMn1J2ABuTCLnXg8b5qjfyQMqfs7yVrrkT5Fk-kH1_kMgh5sU_wxwmgwRnP7yUSCwkOVmZz8i/w332-h400/13.png" width="332" /></a></div>Planning during a Pandemic</u></h3><div>Distributing the games was immensely gratifying for the team. Everything was carefully planned from the coordination, logistics, and management following utmost hygiene and safety measures for the children and the team. While it made things more arduous, the team took it in their stride and put their best foot forward. It was no less than all hands on deck as the leadership, management, inventory and the program teams charted out the nitty-gritty to ensure the games reached the children. </div><div></div><blockquote><div><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOqSf4LMiNSHWSQxxSTkDSVhiR4xvlHXly0VTLf6RcsB5u71NvoJNHyFShD1GgEJAWrZw_sIfQRy4jPc0Pb-u590sfNC2kh1xFDfboy61AEwQVlzzW1WxZl4H5jU5T8g_6HKQf/s765/12.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="765" data-original-width="575" height="371" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOqSf4LMiNSHWSQxxSTkDSVhiR4xvlHXly0VTLf6RcsB5u71NvoJNHyFShD1GgEJAWrZw_sIfQRy4jPc0Pb-u590sfNC2kh1xFDfboy61AEwQVlzzW1WxZl4H5jU5T8g_6HKQf/w279-h371/12.jpg" width="279" /></a></div>“This was an out-of-the-ordinary project for us because we gave children games to take away. The planning was a lot of hard work but an amazing experience. The inventory team sorted, mapped, and catalogued 5,000 games. We had to be mindful of the games we were giving, keeping children’s vulnerability to infections in mind. Besides, we only wanted to give them games that would meaningfully engage them"</i> </div></blockquote><blockquote><div>—Rashmin Shaikh, Toybank Program Officer</div></blockquote></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><u>Relieving stress for the staff, children, and caregivers</u> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div>Despite the Play2Smile Center at the hospital, COVID has been making children, their caregivers, and the hospital staff anxious about contracting the virus. Hence, these spaces are almost always deserted. Seeing children at her hospital playing carefree after a long time, Dr. Bela from SRCC messaged us saying, <i>“Thanks for the craft kits. The kids are really happy.”</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS9ZsGCRZF7i3FRMBWhTg10XIVBjX9UoUMaDNjk0dH1QOzJD9niaekmywrm859boSDehZvsJvaA-067t-UupUynXrdzcZGtPZ_RhxrnHiIyxi8VeufSQNpMJI_4bK9QUukWNVN/s1024/5.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="321" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS9ZsGCRZF7i3FRMBWhTg10XIVBjX9UoUMaDNjk0dH1QOzJD9niaekmywrm859boSDehZvsJvaA-067t-UupUynXrdzcZGtPZ_RhxrnHiIyxi8VeufSQNpMJI_4bK9QUukWNVN/w428-h321/5.jpg" width="428" /></a></div></div><div><br /></div><div>Apart from expressing themselves, children stay engaged independently and feel secure as their parents are busy with the doctors and formalities. They also derive joy from the pop of their favorite colors in the dreary milieu.</div><div><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;">A photograph speaks a thousand words and the images of children playing and smiling at the hospital filled the team with happiness. The wide-eyed wonder and the broad smiles on being able to play when they receive the games is the greatest reward for us.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>Toybank Indiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14444795750345543854noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18159433.post-73573025422220423232020-12-16T19:06:00.001+05:302020-12-16T19:06:44.360+05:30Reimagining Child-friendly Spaces| Toybank Bridge Series Webinar II<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7_i6ouI-vPl0juq-6m8bLwSTUx2ysE9XRenBDLqqfnuVy6JDPFY-Zcgl-kiskhmxr4bWB9TZkcWfyiNS0yMjLw0f-GiqAlhKs5fC-Mr5TrrMoA17ekWyYRO8BW6ZHfqYscuCQ/s940/GenT+screenshot+%25281%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="788" data-original-width="940" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7_i6ouI-vPl0juq-6m8bLwSTUx2ysE9XRenBDLqqfnuVy6JDPFY-Zcgl-kiskhmxr4bWB9TZkcWfyiNS0yMjLw0f-GiqAlhKs5fC-Mr5TrrMoA17ekWyYRO8BW6ZHfqYscuCQ/s16000/GenT+screenshot+%25281%2529.png" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><b>I</b></span></span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">n the first webinar of the Toybank Bridge Series, </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Gen T: The Generation that Thrives</span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, our panelist and Play2Learn Center child Prince Yadav expressed that the authorities need to facilitate opportunities for children to have easy access to learning and play. The thought set the tone of our second webinar, </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Reimagining Child-friendly Spaces.—In Conversation with Ratan Batliboi and Arzan Khambatta</span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. </span></span><div><span id="docs-internal-guid-a9dc91dd-7fff-7eff-7e63-a6cd254de90f"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">On December 10, to observe Human Rights Day and remind people of children’s Right to Play, eminent architect Ratan Batliboi, artist-sculptor and an architect himself Arzan Khambatta chatted with Tobank CEO and Founder Shweta Chari about why children need to be included while creating child-friendly spaces. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Playing is like breathing</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Moderated by drama teacher, actor and acting coach Shaun Williams, the webinar started with calling out why play is so important. Shweta said, “Play is like the air we breathe but never pay attention to. If kids don’t play, what kind of people will they grow up to be and become part of society?” She added that unless a child’s mind is stimulated, it won’t process anything. Humans are always playing but as we grow older, play is dismissed as pastime and frivolous. Shaun pointed out that play helps children build friendships, culture and community, which is equivalent to nation building. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUyuN9dT0eKd7_PFlz2QEplDn0iSZUEZ8qM6dKmW4vj3dr98jcNFIMAiKDojxCgRQBLn67ry2_vkHpZZeps2dlD3LaVdaekgIph48X_y7k2cstF2LVBfDlGdrUKMZXGAU0g64L/s1057/Stock+image-+about+designing+spaces.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="705" data-original-width="1057" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUyuN9dT0eKd7_PFlz2QEplDn0iSZUEZ8qM6dKmW4vj3dr98jcNFIMAiKDojxCgRQBLn67ry2_vkHpZZeps2dlD3LaVdaekgIph48X_y7k2cstF2LVBfDlGdrUKMZXGAU0g64L/w400-h267/Stock+image-+about+designing+spaces.png" width="400" /></a></div><b>Overdesigning play spaces is boxing a free spirit</b></span></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Just like play is a natural activity, Ratan emphasized that play areas must allow for children to be free-range. They needn’t have swings, slides and other such additions. “Children will always find a way to find the play in that space. Let imagination free and kids will make something out of nothing,” he says. “It’s not about the play space but the mental space and childlike attitude. We enforce our adult conditioned approaches to decide what colored slides, swings or trapeze children would like but who are we to decide?” Similarly, over-designing places that overstimulate is conditioning and boxing in a free spirit. </span></span></p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Arzan said that as kids, he and his companions used to be left out in the open with just one tree and one shade somewhere. “Throughout the day we would be devising games and reinventing things to suit our play needs,” he reminisced. In Shweta’s opinion, it’s unfortunate that we have to make extra efforts to provide a play environment for children and it doesn’t come naturally to us. “In the absence of such play opportunities, we don’t even process that something is missing. The need, therefore, is to get play into our consciousness,” she states alluding to Toybank’s Play2Learn Center model where existing spaces are transformed into play spaces. </span></span></p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz2R3-rrjaV7-KBWrAkokL9cOQG_6p_D8qpQmuj0PYsgIdALHE80y4ueq4Ehzk5kmcYy_ft_14aLyWxoKrxlmqIdPYllzH3fNULerbM37Oj4vVcZBZT5I1QKoMQx40AehZlcZX/s1280/expanded+air.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz2R3-rrjaV7-KBWrAkokL9cOQG_6p_D8qpQmuj0PYsgIdALHE80y4ueq4Ehzk5kmcYy_ft_14aLyWxoKrxlmqIdPYllzH3fNULerbM37Oj4vVcZBZT5I1QKoMQx40AehZlcZX/w640-h360/expanded+air.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What constitutes a play environment?</span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Instead of embellishing the space with structures and strappings, one has to look for open air with good lighting, shades, security and landscape spaces, Ratan suggested. Leave the control out of the equation and let the children be on their own. Instead of being structured all the time, they will learn to use their imagination, Arzan added. To facilitate such areas, keeping the dearth of spaces in mind, Ratan opines that instead of expecting the government or the state admin to give us what we want, we must approach them for permissions to use spaces differently.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Let’s normalize play</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The panelists concluded that we need to inculcate play as a state of mind that lasts beyond the first three years of children’s lives. Play should be so normalized that there shouldn’t be the need to work on it as it is the most basic and simple yet powerful thing. </span></span></p><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div></div>Toybank Indiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14444795750345543854noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18159433.post-69899776399828440942020-11-06T13:23:00.000+05:302020-11-06T13:23:16.316+05:30 5 games to build empathy in children<p><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4kmNT-uPIFaTvHesW0runPETfRCwoPzwBBGPrMRO3Q3lFdG4Yr3On63FskApq3eMdUsZ9sM-YGbaXpwIZWrZTag0feh7W1KiIYC9D6HcW3Rf-C_1Cv8RvtiHizsn1wALLDFeO/s1080/International+Day+of+Peace.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4kmNT-uPIFaTvHesW0runPETfRCwoPzwBBGPrMRO3Q3lFdG4Yr3On63FskApq3eMdUsZ9sM-YGbaXpwIZWrZTag0feh7W1KiIYC9D6HcW3Rf-C_1Cv8RvtiHizsn1wALLDFeO/w400-h400/International+Day+of+Peace.png" width="400" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;">Empathy is an important life skill that must be inculcated in children early on. Thus, fostering it finds an important spot at Toybank Play2Learn Sessions. </span><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">While peace is our capacity to solve conflicts without violence, empathy is a virtue that makes us human and the world needs in abundance<span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. This emotion is not just about one’s own feelings but it also helps us understand and share what someone else is going through. Even though innate, empathy develops over a period of time. Social-emotional skills play a crucial role in connecting one with other people and building healthy relationships through empathy. The ability to connect with others at an emotional level should be taught at a young age when kids learn the best. </span></span><p></p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-e830fa67-7fff-8aaf-c370-115a40f42f3a"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Interacting with others through Play is known to be among the most effective ways to build social-emotional skills and thus empathy in children. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Toybank here’s a look at games that can make kids more empathetic, as </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">they stay away from peer groups and playspaces during COVID-19. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><h3 style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Emotional Charades</b></span></h3><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Essentially, this is where a player acts out a certain emotion and the others guess it. This will help children identify emotions that people could go through and make them more considerate and respectful towards others’ feelings.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHijiVZfMjfa0LjI1kBrdsARck8vb2eUW1_dUXg2MHzJddzjD4RikD7Azy-AnJxF7qqyP8RderlV833L6g0kyfCx8qLiUXBqBmKbEe1D6qs1qg0TeLRke-Z-9gS9UOzeJdzMFc/s1040/WhatsApp+Image+2020-11-06+at+1.14.29+PM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="780" data-original-width="1040" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHijiVZfMjfa0LjI1kBrdsARck8vb2eUW1_dUXg2MHzJddzjD4RikD7Azy-AnJxF7qqyP8RderlV833L6g0kyfCx8qLiUXBqBmKbEe1D6qs1qg0TeLRke-Z-9gS9UOzeJdzMFc/s320/WhatsApp+Image+2020-11-06+at+1.14.29+PM.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><h3 style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><br /></b></span></h3><h3 style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Passing the Ball Conversation<br /></b></span></h3><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">In this game, players form a circle and the player with the ball will start a conversation. This player will pass the ball to someone else in the circle and the recipient will respond to the conversation with a contribution of their own. Throughout the game, children must make eye-contact with the player they are passing the ball to. This will allow them to be attentive to the person speaking and understand what they are going through. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><h3 style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Story-based discussions about emotions</b></span></h3><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">The children will read a story with some emotional content and talk about it afterwards. For example: Why did the main character get angry? What kinds of things make you get angry? This will help them reflect on the emotions that they feel as well as learn about how people react differently. <br /><br /></span></p><h3 style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Yoga</b></span></h3><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Not only is Yoga good for physical as well as mental health but it has poses that represent phrases that </span><span id="docs-internal-guid-e830fa67-7fff-8aaf-c370-115a40f42f3a" style="text-align: left;">will help children calm down and manage their emotions in a fun and effective manner. For example: </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: left; white-space: pre-wrap;">the Warrior Pose is associated with the feeling, 'I am Strong.' Or the Tree Pose that says, ‘I am calm and kind.’ </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: left; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnjB1LxTHiLpTJaTa4cQIo9bi_a9ygms03nK7WAdFrGtRFUIOuDLKy8wmJYynvJWxEHY1YOoeaiyq-HF1FG9uHf5qFjj5TD_CoiL0qaSVIvYyVbVdSD3DAiICAAa76mNa9vYqs/s1080/WhatsApp+Image+2020-09-30+at+17.52.07.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1058" data-original-width="1080" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnjB1LxTHiLpTJaTa4cQIo9bi_a9ygms03nK7WAdFrGtRFUIOuDLKy8wmJYynvJWxEHY1YOoeaiyq-HF1FG9uHf5qFjj5TD_CoiL0qaSVIvYyVbVdSD3DAiICAAa76mNa9vYqs/s320/WhatsApp+Image+2020-09-30+at+17.52.07.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div></span><p></p></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></p><h3 style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><span style="font-family: arial;">Paper Plate Emotions Masks</span></b></span></h3><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Each paper plate will be cut into halves and have a stick at the back. In the front, the children will draw out a face representing a specific emotion, like sadness, happiness, etc. This will help them understand what different feelings look like. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 18pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Social-emotional skills are important for children to learn and this can be done by keeping them engaged. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial;">— Zina Colabawalla (Volunteer) </span></span></p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /><br /></span><br /></div>Toybank Indiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14444795750345543854noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18159433.post-53045041062083480632020-07-15T20:38:00.000+05:302020-07-28T21:07:49.553+05:30How aggression and early childhood development are connected<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="color: #0e101a; font-family: arial; font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">When we read about violence, like in the Sathankulam custodial death cases of Jayaraj-Bennix, we often wonder where that anger came from. What the history behind this act is. How could this person even begin to think like this and do something so gruesome?</span></div>
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<span style="color: #0e101a;">Truth be spoken, these behavior patterns develop over the years. They start early. They stem from behavior patterns from </span><span style="color: blue;"><a href="https://www.webmd.com/parenting/news/20010212/early-abuse-leads-to-later-aggression#2"><span style="color: blue;">our childhoods</span></a><span style="color: #0e101a;">. </span></span><span style="color: #0e101a;">Watching a sibling slap a friend over a bag of chips could lead to young adults kicking up an innocent person in a back alley to a professional policeman slashing a rod into a victim's body parts.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #0e101a; font-family: arial; font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Yes. This is a reality.</span></div>
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Yes, there are years of research and evidence to support this. And no, we won't be silent about this. No, we won't just simply jail the criminal and let this remain a closed case not to be spoken about again. No, we won't just remain silent spectators to small acts of violence that magnify later.</div>
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<img height="147" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/qpIgq4TZgt2WtzkpfxeQVpghhPVb9h63CewCkAe3UQJYo99FsAsy40Wnvmm9rWEdtCs2ah794lj4YUMe86lxw73jG7JIrv1GrVAMmnmnK9HNmMZlTVPMTVYYG0GEJvE65rJv91Lc" style="font-size: 11pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="602" /></div>
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<span style="color: #0e101a;">As I read this article in </span><a href="https://theprint.in/india/after-jayaraj-bennix-deaths-80-tamil-nadu-policemen-taken-off-duty-for-behaviour-therapy/451622/"><span style="color: blue;">The Print</span></a><span style="color: #0e101a;"> </span><span style="color: #0e101a;">where the policemen (adults) have been taken off duty for behavior therapy to tap into their past (their childhoods) and their upbringings, I strongly remember Toybank’s ethos inspired by Frederick Douglass—It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #0e101a;">Eighty policemen were selected to be a part of this therapy because of three factors—poor anger management, talking to the public in an impatient manner using offensive language, and use of force. All of these are seen in classrooms, at home and in everyday life. But are we being mindful of changing these? Do we want to wait 30 years down the line to realize this could have been avoided simply through a couple of hours of Conscious and </span><a href="https://www.childandfamilyblog.com/early-childhood-development/play-deprivation-early-child-development/" style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="color: blue;">healthy play</span></a><span style="color: #0e101a;"> </span><span style="color: #0e101a;">during our childhoods?</span></div>
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<span style="color: #0e101a;">What we ought to do is plug these behavior patterns before they latch on to impressionable minds. Let's save our children and their childhoods. Don't dismiss their behavior as 'they're just kids' or 'boys will be boys' or '</span><i style="color: #0e101a;">Ye toh bas mazak hai</i><span style="color: #0e101a;">.'</span></div>
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<span style="color: #0e101a;">We need to </span><a href="http://www.child-encyclopedia.com/aggression/according-experts/development-physical-aggression-early-childhood-adulthood" style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="color: blue;">start early</span></a><span style="color: #0e101a;">. Teach kindness, empathy and compassion. Teach children to manage their emotions in a safe space—for themselves and without putting others in harm's way. Help them cope with negative situations more constructively. Fight for themselves and their rights, fiercely—YES, but not violently. We need to teach them the right kind of power. Not the controlling kind. We need to be leaders that lead with peace and not brutal enforcement.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #0e101a; font-family: arial; font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">And this isn't a far fetched dream, that isn't possible to achieve. I have seen children transform over six months, over a year. From being absolutely stubborn brats to being kind and inclusive to their classmates. From never sharing a seat, to deep diving into a game of Twister. From believing women can't do anything, to letting his sister take the reins in building a Mechanix aircraft. From always blaming her faults on others, to finally owning up and making a conscious effort to get better. From storming out of the classroom to taking deep breaths and approaching a situation with composure.</span></div>
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These are children who come from tough backgrounds, but even tougher potentials to do amazing things. These happened simply and almost naturally, during play moments at Toybank's Play Centers.
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—Christine Rodricks, Toybanker</div>
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Toybank Indiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14444795750345543854noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18159433.post-13061897000192251272020-06-08T19:22:00.001+05:302020-06-08T19:22:19.608+05:30Playing Solo: Why you must encourage independent play during the lockdown<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPU4M1GnH8TcClRHcaKwGlBxCx4mLQWIDpYpPw_NIVaHasqbQMl9zn9sVcD9b4cRc3_BLL8CwZeQZd3hyY9DamJbUqRbhLpe4w06op8vCSfzZZyOx8bWAUu1fkhFRj1fnCQP0Z/s1600/solo1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="772" data-original-width="720" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPU4M1GnH8TcClRHcaKwGlBxCx4mLQWIDpYpPw_NIVaHasqbQMl9zn9sVcD9b4cRc3_BLL8CwZeQZd3hyY9DamJbUqRbhLpe4w06op8vCSfzZZyOx8bWAUu1fkhFRj1fnCQP0Z/s400/solo1.jpg" width="372" /></a></div>
Play is our brain’s favorite way of learning—whether structured or unstructured. While group play enhances social skills, when a child plays alone (without parents, siblings or friends), they are paving a way for self-growth and becoming self-sufficient adults. This is why experts often emphasize it might be a good idea to let children get bored and find ways to entertain themselves. This builds in them solving problems independently. It helps them grow into curious, creative, healthy, more organized and happy adults equipped with important life skills including time management.<br />
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Though independent play is crucial for children, it often needs to be inculcated. Children can be more uninhibited and creative when an adult isn’t directing things. Since they don’t need to follow rules or explain their play, they can just go where their imagination takes them. Thus, free play teaches children self-reliance, confidence, and improves focus.<br />
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<b>Why independent play is important, especially during the lockdown</b><br />
Play is known to relieve stress and keep children mentally stimulated as well as engaged, which is the need of the hour. With no gap in their play experiences, readapting to normal routine would be smoother. Play will have mitigated anxiety, making the start of the school year less stressful. Parents are often unable to engage in quality playtime with kids. For such times, they need to encourage their child to play independently. Especially during the lockdown when people need to work from home and homeschool too.<br />
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Independent play helps children grow into curious, creative, healthy, more organized and happy adults</blockquote>
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If you want to know how to encourage your child to play independently, here are things to keep in mind:<br />
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<b>Start realistically</b><br />
Encouraging independent play starts with a practical plan so that you don’t overschedule for yourself or your child. Pick times when your child is most likely to be relaxed, and not when they are overtired, hungry, sleepy or have just been away from you for a while.<br />
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<b>Clarify expectations</b><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimulssHqLHnLCajvWOK6wTdAfivWbjApPmMkymUKDH57fc9xaWbR1i_oPP56AbJIeKgWh0hfMQkVB4_wWa85wWFyRosDgS1yO0DVDK4EMkYwtLzEffVTMVlogxdexLo2ApTjCo/s1600/pinwheel.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="350" data-original-width="200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimulssHqLHnLCajvWOK6wTdAfivWbjApPmMkymUKDH57fc9xaWbR1i_oPP56AbJIeKgWh0hfMQkVB4_wWa85wWFyRosDgS1yO0DVDK4EMkYwtLzEffVTMVlogxdexLo2ApTjCo/s400/pinwheel.png" width="227" /></a>If your child only plays with you and not unsupervised yet, try a gradual approach. Move just a few feet and only leave for a few minutes. Check in on them or join them in their play. Increase the time and space away as they get more comfortable playing on their own. Explain to your child what the expectations are—that they need to play by themselves for 10-30 minutes every day. Ensure that your child knows that this is NOT a punishment and explain why it is important.<br />
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<b>Choose engaging and age-appropriate games</b><br />
There are many simple toys for single child that can keep them busy. If you have a toddler, make sure<br />
to supervise them so that they don’t hurt themselves but give them their space to explore on their own. Building materials such as blocks, one player puzzle games, animals, trains or art materials for older preschoolers are great for engaging their imagination and problem solving with minimal support or mess.<br />
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<b>Brainstorm activities together</b><br />
Since the idea is to keep the child engaged, they need to enjoy the activities or games. Sit down together and make a list of things they can do by themselves and would have fun doing, whether it’s a toy, game, puzzles, word searches or drawing.<br />
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<b>Set boundaries</b><br />
Make sure your child understands what they are not allowed to do while playing independently. For example, are they allowed to use scissors or glue? Enter the kitchen? Keep all such objects out of their reach. If their activity involves something they are not allowed to do unsupervised, encourage them to choose a different activity or help them with parts of it before they start.<br />
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<b>Make Play a habit</b><br />
Include Play as part of the child’s daily routine. Even if it’s without toys or games, encourage them to be by themselves and explore in their own way.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQKvxfiPCupdEENch7Eay2FYXllnZaBXx0ehciiTXiRW_ldjD3z7DZ8LEFPo6mp6L3ozEkJqrTTPysnQJIZdqHY9bmDbX4MA0lbf7Cabfu-ueIExl7UkxW-ILmntmS4GjbUsR-/s1600/WhatsApp+Image+2020-04-11+at+12.33.46+%25282%2529+%25281%2529.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="744" data-original-width="780" height="381" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQKvxfiPCupdEENch7Eay2FYXllnZaBXx0ehciiTXiRW_ldjD3z7DZ8LEFPo6mp6L3ozEkJqrTTPysnQJIZdqHY9bmDbX4MA0lbf7Cabfu-ueIExl7UkxW-ILmntmS4GjbUsR-/s400/WhatsApp+Image+2020-04-11+at+12.33.46+%25282%2529+%25281%2529.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
<b>Do not correct their play</b><br />
If you’re sitting with your child, avoid correcting their play. Even if they want to make wings on a fish, let them. It’s their way of expressing. Correcting them will make them under-confident and not try to explore. They need to feel like their play matters to feel motivated and confident to play.<br />
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<b>Praise them at the end</b><br />
When the time limit is up, pay complete attention to your child and show genuine interest in what they have done. The best way of changing anyone’s behavior and motivating them is by acknowledging their effort and praising them. Children are likelier to do things when they know they will be noticed and praised.<br />
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<b>Conclusion </b><br />
Whether structured or unstructured, Play is the brain’s favourite activity. Group play builds social skills, but independent play has many benefits:<br />
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<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>Solving problems independently</li>
<li>Enhances self-confidence, curiosity, creativity</li>
<li>Inculcates time management and organizational skills</li>
</ul>
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Independent Play is especially beneficial during the lockdown<br />
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<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>It helps when parents cannot engage in playtime with children</li>
<li>Alleviates anxiety, boredom and stress, by keeping kids mentally stimulated and engaged, thus building resilience</li>
<li>No gap in play experiences will ease readapting to normal routine and make the start of school year less stressful</li>
</ul>
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While encouraging your child to play independently:<br />
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<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>Let the child know it’s not a punishment</li>
<li>Pick a time when the child is not tired, sleepy or away from you for too long and don’t move away too far or too long</li>
<li>Brainstorm with them to choose engaging and age-appropriate activities they’d enjoy </li>
<li>Set boundaries like off-limit things and places but don’t correct or direct their play</li>
<li>Make play a part of their routine</li>
<li>Praise them at the end</li>
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Toybank Indiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14444795750345543854noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18159433.post-37876877416389880112020-05-24T22:28:00.001+05:302020-05-24T22:28:56.851+05:30Play for Transformation: Toybank Round Table Discussion Part II<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Read <a href="http://blog.toybank.org/2020/04/the-need-to-make-play-mainstream-and.html">Play for Transformation: Part I</a>.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5p7Mrl3WxXFoNHBaiRQeKl7eT_69h8wpO7AuGEn5mvAqCMKe125TH-kfoEmAZf_3v_IZ1KkHPH9MpdoPiLrkFI3nYYGFQlecy6pDo4kERiLJC0cUIN0ITvB0aJFnYZpmWYA4U/s1600/Round+Table+1.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5p7Mrl3WxXFoNHBaiRQeKl7eT_69h8wpO7AuGEn5mvAqCMKe125TH-kfoEmAZf_3v_IZ1KkHPH9MpdoPiLrkFI3nYYGFQlecy6pDo4kERiLJC0cUIN0ITvB0aJFnYZpmWYA4U/s400/Round+Table+1.png" width="400" /></a></div>
While the panelists identified why Play is undervalued in
India, they also discussed the need for a systemic change to make it mainstream.<br />
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<b>More government initiatives to promote Play<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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Apart from parents and teachers appreciating the
significance of Play in a child’s life, there’s a need for more government
initiatives to promote it. Play also needs to permeate into rural areas where
children are usually idle and easily manipulated into bad habits and social
evils. To catch the attention of a larger populace, there’s a requisite for a
driver or an evangelist. The message has to hit home to multiple stakeholders.
Mainstreaming Play would include how that is achieved. The larger the message,
the more successful the endeavor would be.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Link outcomes of Play to families and communities<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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Sumangali Gada averred that constituencies like toy
manufacturers, libraries or organizations working in the space of Play need to
pick a common message and tie it all together. Seema believes that Play must
not just be linked to outcomes in isolation but also be combined with the
positive impact on families and communities. She reasoned that with all the
research going on around mental health, Play, self-development and resilience
are hugely important to potentially prevent some of those issues.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Upholding Play to the same rank as Right to Education<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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Toybank Founder & CEO, Shweta Chari observed that Play
would become mainstream if it’s upheld to the same rank as the Right to
Education. Only when it’s deemed an absolute by everyone—irrespective of their
class and whether urban or rural—will play become as natural as breathing air.
Looking at it in the same reformed way as people treat education and health
these days, will go a long way in making it more customary.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Finally, the speakers recommended the following points to
bring about the needed change:<o:p></o:p></div>
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<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>Simple messaging about Play’s values since quantification
is currently impractical<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiU_WW2ILV9C88jk0H2Yb1-V6PWer5R8hGQc7Bel50b6LJIRiqgUePukY9ZkvJMUBViUdW2GsdjH0YbPmX9UC0vFQtQFKZ-T7b1JrfCOFTAX0slogL3eBFvojNHB9iTwwBp7Oe/s1600/IMG_20200206_145146.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiU_WW2ILV9C88jk0H2Yb1-V6PWer5R8hGQc7Bel50b6LJIRiqgUePukY9ZkvJMUBViUdW2GsdjH0YbPmX9UC0vFQtQFKZ-T7b1JrfCOFTAX0slogL3eBFvojNHB9iTwwBp7Oe/s400/IMG_20200206_145146.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
</li>
<li>A deliberate program around the merits of structured play</li>
<li>Convincing the older generation that play is vital</li>
<li>Connecting the benefits of play to something substantial,
like employability</li>
<li>Speaking the language that would resonate with the lesser-privileged—like, Play improves language skills to succeed in job interviews</li>
<li>Providing data that proves tangible progress caused by
play</li>
<li>Standardized tests to evaluate parameters like learning
ability, language, Maths.</li>
<li>Making play a part of the curriculum and report card as India is exam-oriented</li>
<li>Project-based schools that promote free play and other
programs to support education</li>
</ul>
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Toybank Indiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14444795750345543854noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18159433.post-56134471832038877332020-04-28T21:47:00.000+05:302020-04-30T12:36:04.931+05:30Self-care and productivity tips as you work from home<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz9tdno3r0EEZlQFIgAQSTyzLDUkGv-i7Dd27373AAnUXOR883-6gnWDzt4iaAZTG4MWd5sUX6JSyne7BedDJ7IcjzxWq8DnaOungVBqNkSx5QmdVZd86l7nOiqu3TUQvDi7hw/s1600/1.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz9tdno3r0EEZlQFIgAQSTyzLDUkGv-i7Dd27373AAnUXOR883-6gnWDzt4iaAZTG4MWd5sUX6JSyne7BedDJ7IcjzxWq8DnaOungVBqNkSx5QmdVZd86l7nOiqu3TUQvDi7hw/s400/1.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #0e101a;">As homes have turned into workplaces for most of us, self-care is key for our physical as well as mental well-being. On World Day for Safety and Health at Work today, the United Nations is focusing on addressing the outbreak of infectious diseases at work, especially on the COVID-19 pandemic. The International Labour Organization (ILO) is also raising awareness on the adoption of safe practices in workplaces and the role that occupational safety and health (OSH) services play. If your workplace is still open, the ILO recommends </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=16&v=LjBGLkagFbs&feature=emb_logo"><span style="color: blue;">these measures</span></a><span style="color: #0e101a;"> to slow down the spread of the virus as you continue to work.</span><br />
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Since the outbreak of the pandemic, all these steps were adhered to at Toybank even before we started working from home. A sensitization session gave the employees a lowdown on COVID-19 but also safety measures such as maintaining hygiene at the workplace as well as home. With field visits restricted, the team self-quarantined and started working remotely to stay safe ourselves and to ensure others' safety as well.</span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> As we continue to deliver play to our beneficiaries through our digital ToybankPlayAtHome Kit with DIY games, activities, quizzes, art and craft among others, we are keeping track of our work while also checking in on our teammates’ well-being. Our conference calls and virtual townhalls are as much about work discussions as for connecting with each other personally.</span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Since WFH is the new normal, here are some tips to ensure productivity along with physical, emotional and mental well-being.</span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii39yNCUSh69j0VrIoXHl-XJsnI1JG0eAgYGkWWkZuZAIDyLQJTgB4j9-xbuLD1CoA_9kk7JbU48Q-ftfVO_NiG-NszLWGEJ2wjSxusjm8MHilkGxUuD1oJtYbFmLQRNMfCPPB/s1600/WhatsApp+Image+2020-04-28+at+19.57.16.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii39yNCUSh69j0VrIoXHl-XJsnI1JG0eAgYGkWWkZuZAIDyLQJTgB4j9-xbuLD1CoA_9kk7JbU48Q-ftfVO_NiG-NszLWGEJ2wjSxusjm8MHilkGxUuD1oJtYbFmLQRNMfCPPB/s320/WhatsApp+Image+2020-04-28+at+19.57.16.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Maintain a consistent sleep schedule</strong></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">When you’re at home, sleep schedule is the first thing tossed out of the window. Sleep at a decent hour and wake up early! Even if your morning is freer, be up and about. Resist the temptation of snoozing in the afternoon and say no to binge-watching at night. You will always feel fresher and your day will be more productive. </span></div>
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<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Assign yourself a dedicated workspace</strong></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Having a dedicated workstation in the house will prep your mind to be in work mode. Make sure it’s neat and organized and it’s not a bed or a couch. A proper chair will keep you more attentive and energized. </span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Make a to-do list</strong></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">A ton of tasks and no colleagues to motivate you can make your feel overwhelmed and shoot your stress levels up. Prioritize your work. If you’re swamped but there’s something you can deal with later, don’t burden yourself by doing it immediately, as long as you do not flout the deadline. </span></div>
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<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">A meaningful morning routine</strong></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">If you wake up at your regular time, you are saving the commute time. After all, how long does it take to walk up to your desk in the same room or even another? Use your morning to do something meaningful or relaxing. A cup of coffee, reading, or better still, working out. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzhbHRpmdQ3PB2_3etHA4iWYRkUPl6VVRa9ErxVny3iYqlwr8s0mZzHvAJ3uLvKlnr60NgcGn6qfx16qMmfzJEYYJMGw9896e0E7WfkVQVc-bNpBpvi10G9K2qT8DLltoetUDx/s1600/4.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzhbHRpmdQ3PB2_3etHA4iWYRkUPl6VVRa9ErxVny3iYqlwr8s0mZzHvAJ3uLvKlnr60NgcGn6qfx16qMmfzJEYYJMGw9896e0E7WfkVQVc-bNpBpvi10G9K2qT8DLltoetUDx/s320/4.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Work in a workout</strong></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">No matter how busy you are, a 15–20-minute daily workout will beat the stress, energize you and add to your productivity. Do simple home exercises or stretching and be diligent.</span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
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<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Take regular breaks</strong></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Being chained to the desk for hours on end will only cause physical and mental fatigue. Every hour, stand up and stretch a bit. Walk around for about 10 minutes every couple of hours. It will be rejuvenating and you will resume work with vigor. </span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Set boundaries</strong></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Even under normal circumstances, it’s difficult for most professionals to strike a work-life balance. Turns out, that’s a trap one falls into even when working from home. Set boundaries and demarcate work hours and downtime. Stick to the clock-out time to prevent overworking and burnout. </span></div>
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Toybank Indiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14444795750345543854noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18159433.post-31093219989842213452020-04-27T16:55:00.002+05:302020-05-24T19:50:28.193+05:30Play for Transformation: Toybank Round Table Discussion Part I<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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The need to make Play mainstream and an integral part of society can never be emphasized enough. After all, play improves the educational, health and employability outcomes for children. Driving on this notion, Toybank hosted its first-ever Round Table, to discuss ‘Play for Transformation’ and how to make it mainstream. The session was attended by Toybank’s trustees, board members and supporters. The first questioned posed was whether the concept of Play is understood and prominent in India.</div>
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Before incorporating Play in a child’s lifestyle, one needs to understand what is Play. Notions like it is creativity and a kid creating something is playing restricts its definition. If we redefine play, it may have a greater impact on children. The panel reckoned it’s a state of mind that can give you clarity of thought and minimize frustrations, which can be implemented in different aspects of life.</div>
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<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">WHAT’S PLAY-GUING PLAY?</strong></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Play has been mainstreamed only in Scandinavian countries that have recognized its power. In India, it’s still as sidelined as mental health. The reason for play being just tangential indicated several issues it’s dealing with.</span></div>
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<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">It comes at a cost </strong></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Even though the right of every child, Toybank Advisory Board Member Vivek Jhangiani and CEO at United Toys, President of The All India Toy Manufacturers Association (TAITMA) and Ambassador for Value of Play in the Indian toy industry, pointed out that play is accessible only to the affluent. There’s a considerable gap between India and the world when it comes to the commercials of play. "In India, the per capita of games, toys or sports-related products on a single child does not cross $3 a year, as opposed to $300-400 in the US. The mindset of an average Indian towards play comes partly from limited resources," Vivek states. </span></div>
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<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><i>"In India, the per capita of games, toys or sports-related products on a single child does not cross $3 a year, as opposed to $300-400 in the US" — Vivek Jhangiani, Toybank Advisory Board Member & </i></span><i>CEO, United Toys</i></blockquote>
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<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Advisory Board Member Ratan Batliboi, Board Chair and Hon. Trustee at CRY, further stated that we do not need props, money, space or urban planning to play. It’s an innate behavioral shift that needs to transpire. The critical issue is how one can communicate the long-term change in a parent body and students.</span></div>
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<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Play v/s sport</strong></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Parents consider academics and extra-curricular activities as important and play does not figure in the scheme of things unless it’s a sport that can be taken up as a career. As key enablers, it’s important that parents understand why play is important. The fun of participation is initiated in a child through play, along with the joy of winning and learning from defeat; later come personality development, extroversion, etc. Learning to play with others and making new friends help make better kids. However, India is yet to realize these benefits; unlike Africa, which is comparable with us in terms of poverty and other issues. But they have a culture of sports that brings them out of their miseries and makes them better athletes.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ1sATL0MVqYNrccUoAOKyLibQYGGS4GUHeb4AXfIItadYVCwYdZY63ezSVbovgdjuj4aJPNgHxqbCEL79bR5Ruae9Xf0Rdx6k0kBDANfduSK3jCs84222sJZi5B1rsywqaxTR/s1600/IMG_20200208_110520.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="739" data-original-width="1600" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ1sATL0MVqYNrccUoAOKyLibQYGGS4GUHeb4AXfIItadYVCwYdZY63ezSVbovgdjuj4aJPNgHxqbCEL79bR5Ruae9Xf0Rdx6k0kBDANfduSK3jCs84222sJZi5B1rsywqaxTR/s400/IMG_20200208_110520.jpg" width="400" /></a><strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">We do not value play</strong></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">The ecosystem for play is not quite conducive in India. Policies, lack of urban planning as well as encouragement by parents to send kids to play are some other issues. Toybank supporter Sumangali Gada, Founder and trustee at the PRAJA Foundation, reasoned that even if we get the why of play, we do not value it. "Though we want children to learn empathy, critical thinking and such values, we are at sea about how to actualize these qualities. There are barely any schools that walk the talk and espouse the values that play entails," says she. </span></div>
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<strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Performance over play</strong></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">One of the primary reasons why children do not get enough benefits of play is competitiveness. Nimesh Sumati of Caring Friends says we need to urge parents to not make kids compete but just play. This tendency has percolated to the lower strata of the society, with children facing peer pressure, with performance given more importance than play.</span></div>
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<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><i>Lack of urban planning and parents encouraging children to play are other issues preventing the mainstreaming of Play.</i></span></blockquote>
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<strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Play is an add-on </strong></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Taking Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs into consideration, with basic issues like food and literacy that India is faced with, play does not get the prominence it deserves, Samonnoi Banerjee, Bain Capital, Managing Director in the Healthcare and Technology, Media & Telecommunications Verticals stated. Play will always be an add-on. It will always be equal to recreation and not a conscious mechanism of development. Unless it is brought into people’s consciousness through a communication or a big campaign like Swachh Bharat, we may never fully comprehend its importance. He further observed that we are looking at a large-scale impact. Accessibility and affordability can be solved through some other ways if we admit that play is important and makes a difference.</span></div>
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