Volunteer Trips: Activities to do with Kids

So you're going on a missions (or volunteering) trip! In less time than you think you have, you are about to find yourself to immersed in a new culture, exported from your comfort zone, and, most likely, surrounded by...KIDS! Kids you've never met. Kids from a culture you may have never contacted. Kids who may speak a completely different language!

But have no fear...

CREATIVE WAYS TO REACH OUT TO KIDS

Have some more ideas? Post a comment!

Kids who Speak a Different Language than You

• Balloons and Balloon Animals

Learn How: Tutorials available here and here, or in library books
Supplies: balloons, pump
Words to Learn: colours, and names of the animals/figures you'll be making
References: a list of figures you know, an instructional book or sheet

• String Figures

Learn How: click here for external instructional PDF.
Supplies: scissors, lots of coloured yarn
Words to Learn: colours, the names of the figures you'll be doing
References to Take: a list of figures you know, an instruction book or sheet (optional; although you could leave such a book at the mission base when you go home.)
Tip: wind lots of little balls of different coloured string and fill a big ziplock bag with them! The yarn will come in handy for other creative activities, such as bracelet-making.

• Coloured Paper

Supplies: Paper, scissors, tape or gluesticks, markers or stickers (optional)
Words to Learn: colours, the names of the crafts or activities, words for supplies like "scissors" and "glue"
Activities:
-Paper chain
-Paper planes
-Paper puppets, dolls and finger puppets (why not let them fly around in paper planes?)
-Paper weaving
-Helicopters
-Colouring
-Origami (Learn how online:)
http://www.origami-make.com/index.php
www.origami-fun.com/learn-origami.html
www.origami-instructions.com/
-Paper flowers and bouquets
-Cards, pop-out cards
-Paper object lessons
-Stepping through a piece of paper
 (some fairly good instructions are available here)
-Picture books
-Paper crafts (check out sites like this http://www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/papercrafts/ for inspiration. Keep in mind to chose activities that are culturally appropriate!)

• Skipping

Supplies: Skipping rope
Words to Learn in Local Language: counting, faster/slower, a skipping song

•  Other Activities

• Bubbles
• Soccer
• Frisbees
• Juggling (Learn how here)
• Keeping a balloon in the air
• Language lessons: they'll love teaching you colours and numbers and giggling at your pronunciation!
• Sing alongs (learn a Sunday School song or two in their language)
• Mime skits! Try miming some goofy scenarios, such as:

-Climbing a ladder, falling, being frustrated and climbing again...and again...and again...
-Telephone conversations: This involves speaking, but is a good way to use the words you know-- "hello," "goodbye," "thank you" etc. Also try using "no!" "why?" "because?" and "ok."
-Bumping into an invisible wall
-Trying to fix or build something (pretend to drop things on your feet or hit your thumb with a  hammer)
Be creative! Be dramatic. You'll get the hang of it.

Activities that are Easier when No Language Barrier Exists

All of the activities listed above, plus...

• Make up, write down and illustrate stories
• Teach art lessons, instrument lessons, or anything else you know--or let them teach you!
• Sing alongs
• I Spy
• Make up and preform a play or puppet show
• Charades