Today's Edition
SARA ALZAABI (ABU DHABI)
The Abrahamic Family House on Saturday hosted a series of workshops under the title Children Creativity Park with the aim of kindling the creativity and imagination of children by fostering their understanding and appreciation of acceptance, tolerance, and togetherness.
The event, held at The Forum, included Mask-Making Workshop, Sign Language for Children, Creative Games Corner and Children’s Storytelling, in addition to a session for parents titled “Parents Cafe.”
Speaking to Aletihad, Tariq Khan, a TESOL certified instructor and Head of Coordination at Skilldeer, said that learning sign language at an early age strengthens the bond between mother and baby, enhances language skills, supports cognitive development, and increases comprehension and independence.
The event also featured a session titled Hands of Hope: Promoting Deaf Awareness during Parents Café.
According to Khan, sign language’s use of hands makes it engaging. “Everybody can do it at the same time. Also, we chose vocabulary and activities that they could find easy and interesting,” he added.
The Hands of Hope workshop comprised open discussions, personal stories, and video clips to represent key facts and real-life experiences of deaf individuals.
As for the Creative Games Corner workshop, trainer and instructor Mohamed Abdel Nasser explained that it was designed to expand vocabulary, ensure safety of items, and engage children through colourful activities.
By focusing on touch, the workshop helped children explore and identify items with colourful materials like blocks, pencils, and art supplies, sparking their creativity and motivation through fun, interactive presentations and storytelling.
“We only focus on one sense, which is touch. Visual sense can vary between people, but touch is something we all have and in very rare cases do we lose touch. The fact that the children were reaching inside the box and taking their time is an equalising opportunity,” he said.
Dr. Lamya Tawfik, a Kids Life Coach and storyteller, shared a story about trust and unlikely friendships during the Children’s Storytelling workshop.
The story, involving a mouse and cat’s unusual friendship, urged children to think critically and behave well.
“My style of storytelling is quite high-energy, humourous, and depends on interaction; all of these elements together help keep children engaged throughout the session,” Tawfik said.
The Parents Café session shared experiences and knowledge about various facets of parenthood.
During its Parent’s Storytelling: Books and Bonding session, Tawfik shared tips for engaging storytelling.
The workshop focused on the importance of reading stories at home and provided strategies for effectively connecting with children.
The tips include discussing the story’s context, connecting with the child, and choosing books based on relevant themes and expert recommendations.
“Discussing the character’s behaviours, motivations, and alternative ways of conflict resolution are all examples of using books to get into the child’s world and their way of thinking. By doing so, parents can indirectly teach their children, which is the best way to teach,” she said.
During the Mastering Positive Communication workshop, Natasha Ramchandani, Parenting and Lifestyle Coach, delved into effective parenting styles and improved communication through active listening and empathy mapping.
The workshop covered six modules: empathy mapping, active listening, positive language, clear boundaries, conflict transformation, and positive behaviour strategies.
“The child’s perspective takes centre stage, with their feelings and needs central to the communication process. It involves active listening, empathy, and positive language to ensure that children feel seen, heard, and validated,” she said.
