Helping out with the Childcare program at Hogar is not exactly as fulfilling as teaching. I try it out and realize very quickly that they don't actually need me-- me meaning volunteers in general. The facilities are good, they're well stocked with supplies and games and toys and things like that. They have TV's. The kids are all wearing little red and blue uniforms. There's a plan for the day and the teacher pretty much has things under control.
Of course it never hurts to have an extra person around, but I know everything would run just fine if I weren't there. There's nothing for me to do and I contribute nothing other than my presence: I pretty much just hang out with the kids. I am in fact probably a distraction more than anything else, because the kids want to climb on me instead of getting into a line or whatever.
The counterargument to the whole I'm-useless theory is that the reason I'm there is to give them some affection they don't get at home, to just generally make them feel loved and appreciated. And it's good for them to be around someone who's different. But I'm pretty sure the majority of these kids have families and only get dropped off for the day while their parents are at work. Those kids don't live at the school. I'm told it's the older kids who have generally had a much tougher time.
But holy hell I love kids. The ones in my class are around three to four years old. They're all little Colombian children with dark hair and brown eyes and adorable faces. They're all incredibly cuddly and love you immediately. I walk in like hola, me llamo Raquel (it's easier for them to say than Rachel), and they basically rush me. The boys first. The girls are a little shyer and hang back, but the boys are on me like I'm an ice cream truck, climbing on my lap and playing with my hair and asking to be picked up. I really could hang out with kids all day.
Of course it never hurts to have an extra person around, but I know everything would run just fine if I weren't there. There's nothing for me to do and I contribute nothing other than my presence: I pretty much just hang out with the kids. I am in fact probably a distraction more than anything else, because the kids want to climb on me instead of getting into a line or whatever.
The counterargument to the whole I'm-useless theory is that the reason I'm there is to give them some affection they don't get at home, to just generally make them feel loved and appreciated. And it's good for them to be around someone who's different. But I'm pretty sure the majority of these kids have families and only get dropped off for the day while their parents are at work. Those kids don't live at the school. I'm told it's the older kids who have generally had a much tougher time.
But holy hell I love kids. The ones in my class are around three to four years old. They're all little Colombian children with dark hair and brown eyes and adorable faces. They're all incredibly cuddly and love you immediately. I walk in like hola, me llamo Raquel (it's easier for them to say than Rachel), and they basically rush me. The boys first. The girls are a little shyer and hang back, but the boys are on me like I'm an ice cream truck, climbing on my lap and playing with my hair and asking to be picked up. I really could hang out with kids all day.
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