By Nicole Palmer
The Budding Q student volunteers are on the road! The student volunteers have been visiting partner primary schools with a mission to support foundation phase teachers in developing learner’s fine motor skills. Movement is known to be essential to the development of young children. Budding Q aims to address this through play-based activities.
The student volunteers show up at the schools energized and well-prepared for a fun-filled time.
BuddingQ sessions involve multiple activities, from kicking tennis balls around cones to throwing bean bags and passing around imaginary ‘hot potatoes.’ Teaching these children skills encourages improving their balance, coordination, and posture.
When asking some student volunteers why they decided to join this programme, they say it is because of the excitement; they want to encourage children to be open and branch out of their shells. What are their hopes, you may ask? It is for children to speak their minds and not miss opportunities.
Although the student volunteers were excited, they acknowledged their challenges with managing large groups of children and facing problems with commanding their attention. For many students, it was their first day of volunteering, so the room for improvement was not discouraging.
Some volunteers described this experience as the best part of their day, leaving them with a serotonin boost and setting them up for the rest of their day.
The Budding Q volunteers don’t just show up. They show heart. With each game, they planted seeds of confidence and connection.
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